Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Posted Dec 21, 2011 | By Michele Fellows |

Prior to having my beautiful children, I enjoyed cooking with loads of cheese, milk, nuts, eggs, etc. Like all of us, having a child with a food allergy threw me for an absolute loop and I basically had to learn to cook all over again without those ingredients that could potentially be deadly. No problem, I’m up for the challenge.

Baking, however, was another story.

Baking to me was opening up the freezer, getting frozen cookie dough and popping it into the toaster oven. That was it! In fact, my mother gave me a KitchenAid mixer that sat untouched for four years – literally. I had no desire, not until I realized that if I didn’t make a delicious allergy-free sweet for my daughter, she may never have one, and I’ve been baking ever since.

Then came the holidays and the traditional pies!  Well, let’s just say that I have yet to master an allergy-free pumpkin pie that can fool the elders … but I have created amazing Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes that’ll blow the socks off any cupcake challenge, and I’m sharing it with you! So bake in confidence, enjoy and happy holidays.

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Cupcakes

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup  sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) safe margarine, melted and cooled
• 2 eggs or substitute
• 1 (15-oz.) can pumpkin puree

Frosting

• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) safe margarine
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 T. milk or milk alternative
• 2 T. water as needed

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° .  Line cupcake pans with paper liners. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients, except sugar.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar and wet ingredients.
3. Combine and mix wet and dry ingredients.
4. Divide batter among liners, filling each about ½ to ¾ full.  Bake until tops spring back with touched, about 20 to 25 minutes.
5. Let cool completely and top with frosting. Garnish in cinnamon.

Enjoy!