Easy Pumpkin Pecan Cupcakes

Pumpkin Pecan Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting is a delicious and festive combination of all your favorite Fall flavors.

I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the #FallFlavors recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

Pumpkin puree, spice cake and chopped pecans blend perfectly for a moist and flavorful base. Cinnamon and vanilla cream cheese frosting is piped on top and decorated with either chopped pecans or a fun and festive sprinkle mix.

Pumpkin Pecan Cupcakes:

These cupcakes are one of my go-to Fall creations. While I love making cakes and cupcakes from scratch, there is no shame in doctoring up a box mix, in my opinion. I love being able to bake and create cupcakes in a couple hours, and this recipe makes it easy. I used almost the exact same recipe in my Pumpkin Pecan Pie Layer Cake last year. It turned out so good, that I had to make it in cupcake form this year!

The cupcake has both butter and oil, and has a nice tender crumb. I love the crunch of pecans from Millican Pecan. They not only provide a great flavor in the cupcake, but also as a garnish on top. I always have a supply of pecans year-round for baking. They can last approximately 6 months in the refrigerator or 1 year in the freezer when sealed properly.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:

I could eat enjoyed this Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting with a spoon. Let’s be honest, I am definitely one of those people who can grab a small spoonful of frosting and be happy with that. I don’t need gobs of it. This frosting is the perfect pairing for the cupcakes. It has just the right amount of spice, but feel free to add up to a teaspoon more if you want. It is smooth and sweet and tangy and creamy. I love piping it too. The French star piping tip is quickly becoming a favorite tip to use.

I chose to have a variety of toppings for the decoration. I left a third of the cupcakes plain, because the French tip makes such a beautiful design. Another third was decorated with chopped pecans, to tie into the cupcake flavor. The last were decorated with a fun Autumn sprinkle mix from my favorite sprinkle company. You can also frost these with an offset spatula and dip them in pecans or sprinkles to cover the top.

Tools, Tips, and Tricks for Pumpkin Pecan Cupcakes:

• Cookie scoops or dishers make portioning out the cupcakes easier and more even
• French star piping tip adds a fun and whimsical design.
• Disposable piping bags are my favorite for an easy cleanup.
• All ovens are different, so be sure to watch the cupcakes so they don’t overcook.

Easy Pumpkin Pecan Cupcakes

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 17 mins

Servings 24

Ingredients

  

Pumpkin Pecan Cupcakes

• 1 box 15.25 oz spice cake mix
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup Millican Chopped Pecans

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 5 cups powdered sugar
• chopped pecans or sprinkles to garnish

Instructions

 

Pumpkin Pecan Cupcakes

• Heat oven to 325F for dark/coated cupcake tins. Prepare cupcake tins with greaseproof liners. Set aside.
• In stand mixer, add spice cake mix, eggs and butter and mix to combine on low speed. While on low, add in pumpkin, water and oil. MIx on low, then slightly increase speed to medium for 1 minute. Stir in pecans. Divide batter between cupcake tins.
• Bake for 17-19 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in pans for 10-15 minutes then turn out on wire rack to cool completely.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

• In a stand mixer, beat butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy. Add in 2 cups powdered sugar and mix slowly to combine. Add in vanilla and cinnamon and 2 more cups powdered sugar. Mix to combine. Scrape down sides of bowl to make sure everything is incorporated. Add last cup of powdered sugar, mix, then scrape down sides of bowl. Beat on medium for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
• Prepare piping bag with French start piping tip and pipe on frosting. Alternatively, use an offset spatula for more rustic looking frosting. Garnish with chopped pecans or sprinkles. Refrigerate if not eating immediately. Before serving, let sit at room temperature for a few minutes so frosting is not solid and cupcake is not cold.

Welcome to Flavors of Fall where we celebrate all things associated with fall like squash, apples, pecans, sweaters, football; you get the idea!  Ellen from Family Around the Table and Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures have gathered 24 bloggers who have over 100 recipes they’re sharing this week in celebration of cool weather and sweatshirts.  We hope you find many must make recipes so get your pinning, tweeting, and sharing fingers ready!

Here’s what we made for Saturday:

Beverages
Pumpkin Spice Margarita by Family Around the Table
Breakfast
Sweet Potato Cinnamon Buns by Love and Confections
Savory
Acorn Squash and Fig Salad by The Redhead Baker
Maple Cinnamon Butternut Squash & Spinach Salad by Simple and Savory
Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Sweet Potato Fries with Bourbon Pecan Pie Barbeque Dipping Sauce by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
White Castle Stuffing by Palatable Pastime
Wild Rice Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing by Red Cottage Chronicles

Dessert
Autumn Spice Mocha Cake by Daily Dish Recipes
Butter Pecan Macaron by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Easy Pecan Tarts by Everyday Eileen
Maple Coffee Brownies by Daily Dish Recipes
Sweet Potato Dutch Baby by Jolene’s Recipe Journal

Make sure you like Fall Flavors on Facebook and follow the Fall Flavors on Pinterest, too!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prize 1 – Door County Coffee and Tea Company

Founded in 1993 in Door County, WI, Door County Coffee and Tea Company is a small family owned business. Roasting a variety of flavors for 26 years, one winner will receive three full pot bags of all of their fall flavors. 21 bags in all! Their mission through the years has been to produce high quality, best-tasting coffee using only Specialty Class 1 Arabica coffee beans. Combine that with superior roasting technology and you get a wonderfully even and perfect roast every time and that means the perfect pot of coffee. A $40 value.

Prize 2 – Millican Pecan Tower of Treats Gift Tins

Originally founded as the West Texas Pecan Nursery in the late 1800’s, Millican Pecan is now in 5th generation ownership. Located in San Saba, TX, the family continues the tradition of pecan farming while also branching the business into the online world. The family also enjoys educating people about pecans. One winner will receive The Tower of Treats Gift Tins. The tower includes 3 decorative gift tins stacked on top of each other. The bottom tin includes our 2 lb. Chocolate Pecan Sampler, the middle tin is our Flavored Pecan Sampler and the top tin is a 8 oz. tin of Milk Chocolate Caramillicans (similar to Turtles). An $80 value.

Disclaimer:

Two (2) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. Bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. Winners have 24 hours to respond once notified by email, or they forfeit the prize and an alternate winner will be chosen. The #FallFlavors bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members living in the household cannot enter or win the giveaway.

Entries will be verified. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Open to US Residents only. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter the giveaway. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #FallFlavors posts or entry. Thank you to our sponsors Millican Pecan and Door County Coffee and Tea for providing prizes.