I love to bake {maybe because I love sweets?} and my kids love to bake with me. It’s a fun {and messy} activity that produces the best kind of results {edible ones}. We made some Autumn treats yesterday that were super easy and equally tasty that I think you’ll enjoy as well.
The recipe came from Real Simple last year {although this was my first time making them}. You use a box cake mix, add in pureed pumpkin instead of the water and a dash of pumpkin pie spice for extra fall flavor.
The batter was a pretty lumpy, but came out just fine.
Yum : don’t they look good even without frosting? Ryan thought so {and he might have stolen a few}.
I have recently discovered {thanks to my friend Dee} that piping on frosting is much easier than spreading it and it makes the cupcakes look fancy.
You just need a pastry bag and a piping tip {which you can get at any craft store}.
Start on the outside and swirl around {at least that is how I did it!}.
While I piped on the frosting, this little guy enjoyed the beater and this little girl played with the remote
![IMG_6927[4]](https://jonesdesign.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_69274.jpg "IMG_6927[4]")
{anything to keep them busy!}
Once the cupcakes were frosted
#3 was pretty excited about adding the candy corn
DE-LISH!
Here is the recipe if you want to give them a try:
{your family & tummy will be happy if you do}
Oh I loved seeing your son with icing-mouth-face! Reminds me of my little ones when we eat cupcakes. : )
Correction – BATTER face, even better…
I made these tonight and they were amazing! :)
I made these wonderful cupcakes this week, but I made them gluten free by substituting the Betty Crocker Gluten Free yellow cake mix. They turned out so yummy and I had tons of requests for the recipe! I think it’s because they looked so cute. For the first time ever, I piped on the icing. It was just as easy as you said. Mmmmm….mmmmm…I think I might have to go eat another. :)
a remote! That is a staple toy in our house! :) Nothing occupies them more than a remote.
I just came across your blog and am loving it! Wanted to say, I make a similar recipe after seeing the Cake Mix Doctor lady on TV years ago. Her recipe is one box of spice cake mix (I’ve also used carrot cake mix), one can of pureed pumpkin, and one egg. Mix all together, place in cupcake tins, and bake according to the cupcake time on the back of the cake mix box. This is one of my son’s favorite treats! I’ll occasionally add in raisins, dried cranberries, and/or chopped nuts. Oh my. It’s almost 86 degrees out but now I want pumpkin muffins! Thanks for your blog! It’s very inspiring. :-)
super great idea! next time you pipe frosting, try making a backwards capital G and it will help build a foundation for your frosting to make that “ice cream swirl” effect. i looooove reading all your great ideas!!
This is the third time I’ve made these since your post. Today I put orange zest in my frosting..so yummy! Thanks for posting it Emily!
Just put them in the oven and even decided this was a good kid help project…fun w/my 3 boys. Looking forward to cupcake time!
Wondering if there is a purpose behind you using the 2 cupcake liners per cupcake or was that just for pictures?
No purpose. Just found the pumpkin ones in my pantry and forgot they were there so I stuck them in them.
The last time I used papers for cupcakes the muffin stuck to the papers …any ideas before I mae these ?? Thanks emily LOVING your blog !!!
You might try a small squirt of spray oil in each muffin cup before you add the batter. Makes them a bit oily-so might not be good for kids at a party but sure makes them easier to get out of the paper..works for our breakfast muffins!
Yummm! these were so fun to make:) I would almost add more sugar to the frosting though…but I didn’t because I felt guilty!
Made these last night with my little one. They were amazing, my husband was in cupcake heaven! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Yummy is right. I use Spice cake to bring it up a notch. FYI, you can drop the eggs and turn them into cakie (sp?:) cookies! Going to pipe my frosting next time!
Looks yummy!! Making them tonight for dessert! I’m going to let our company’s children and our children decorate a few with sprinkles and candy for Halloween! :o)
Emily,
Thanks sooo much for posting this recipe. I am incredibly obsessed with making cupcakes lately and these are perfect for the season. I’ve been loving your blog for a while now and just wanted to say thanks because your blog brightens my days. :)
-Leslee
I made these today for my office – BIG hit! Thanks for sharing!! ~Erin
I am a newish reader to your blog and wanted to say how much I enjoy it. I love your stenciled office and decided to try a feature wall behind my TV and am featuring it today, it you want to check it out.
I love everything pumpkin so I will definitely be trying these!
xx
Emily,
I am so glad you posted this recipe! I have been craving pumpkin cupcakes and these are perfect. I’m hosting a party tonight and these are in the oven……. I have an amazing pumpkin chocolate chip bar recipe that is to die for! I’ll have to send it to you!
Adorable and they sound so good. We just made pumpkin bread last night! Yum!
do you think chocolate chips would work with this? Pumpkin and chocolate are my favorite together!
mmmmm!!!! yum! i love pumpkin! and i love pumpkin muffins! i might have to use a smaller icing tip to insert some cream cheese goodness!
Yum!!
i make pumpkin muffins constantly this time of yeaar. except my recipe calls for a box of spice cake mix {instead of the yellow cake and then having to add the pumpkin spice}.
hmmm, i might have to go make some right now!! :)
I have that recipe saved from Real Simple too, but haven’t tried it yet. Love the idea of piping on the frosting – I have to do that next time! Thanks for sharing. Now I’m hungry!
I LOVE pumpkin- flavored stuff!!!!
I actually saw that recipe but skipped over it {what was I thinking?!}
You should check my blog out – over the next month and a half or so, I’m posting my favorite pumpkin recipes! This week’s was a pumpkin spice latte! yumm-o! http://sunnysideoflife.wordpress.com/2010/10/19/try-this-pumpkin-delights/
Ok I went back and looked at the picture showing the mix and the pumpkin and there were the three eggs!!
I am going to try it right now! No eggs? Just the pumpkin???
Thanks for sharing! I was just thinking today that I needed to look for a pumpkin cupcake recipe now that fall is officially here. You saved me a ton of legwork : )
Going to have to try this! Lov the mouth of frosting in the photo where he is putting on the candy corn!
Yum! I may have to stop at the grocery store tonight and make these! They look amazing!
Those look fabulous!! I have to second your suggestion of using the piping bag. I’ve used them for the past 3 birthday parties for my girls, and they look beautiful…and I didn’t spend a ton of money! :)
Yummy! This is very similiar to a cake I make called an Autumn Spice Cake. All the same ingredients, just in cake form. Super easy and super fallish! Is fallish a word? :)
for sure! fallish is a great word.
I love this recipe and its so easy! I make it with a spice cake mix and you don’t even need the frosting, but of course, frosting is soooo good. :-) Actually, without the frosting, the cupcakes are pretty low cal and the pumpkin adds fiber.
I LOVE Pumpkin! These look yummy! I have all the ingredients..I am so making them today! :)
I have that same page ripped out of Real Simple! I have made the peanut butter cookies, but have never gotten around to making the cupcakes. You have convinced me it’s time!
These sound delish! You can also try an even easier recipe with a box of spice cake mix, can of pumpkin, and 1/2 bag of choc. chips. Bake for about 15 minutes at 350. Mmmmmm, and they make the house smell so good!!
These look so yummy! Love the frosting.. I must make!
Those look fabulous. My bestie convinced me to use the pasty bag too. I love it. So fancy but so easy!
Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Happy Fall!
Emily! You have me in stitches laughing at Mason while he was applying the candy corn….did you notice the rim of frosting around his mouth, how adorable is that! Those moments are what make baking with kids so much fun! Thanks for sharing and bringing a big huge smile to my face!
I like how you double the cupcake papers for a little extra ruffle. Thank you for a simple, yummy, (and pretty!) recipe.