Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Tis the season to eat pumpkin and this pumpkin cupcake recipe is as "semi-homemade" as it gets. These will be a hit at any fall gathering, birthday party, or school event, and there is no batter or icing making from scratch, making this a go to desert recipe for any parent. The biggest plus, people will think hours of prep work was spent on these cupcakes, when in truth, there was some help from Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines.

Ingredients:

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 3/4 cup canned pumpkin pie mix
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar (this adds a nice extra kick)
• 24 cupcake liners (Craft stores usually offer good deals on holiday liners and a better selection than the local market)

For the Icing:

• 1 1/2 containers whipped or Butter cream, white, or Vanilla Frosting
• 2 1/2 Tablespoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 24 Chocolate Pumpkins (such as Russell Stover Pumpkin Pie, Snickers or Reese Pumpkin shapes, or even Pumpkin spice M&M's) for topping

Directions:

1. Spray 24 cupcake pan very lightly with baking spray (this can be skipped, this is just a precaution and usually makes it easier to get the liner out)
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Place liners in the cupcake pan.
4. Mix the cake mix, pumpkin pie mix, water, vegetable oil and eggs in a large bowl, with a standing mixer, hand mixer, or whisk (helps get the lumps out). For 2 minutes on medium speed.
5. Using a Ladle, place about half a ladle into the cupcake liners until each is full and all are evenly filled.
6. Sprinkle the brown sugar on top of the cupcakes and bake 19-25 minutes.
7. Let cool completely (2 hours is usually good, 3 might be better).

Frosting:

1. Mix the frosting and pumpkin pie spice by hand in a large bowl.
2. Using a spatula or butter knife or even bagging the icing, spread a generous amount onto each cupcake.
3. Place chocolate candy on top and prepare to serve.

Instead of mixing the pie spice in with the frosting, it could be sprinkled on top of the cupcakes. Also, if using M&M's. Hershey Kisses, or Reese, those could be baked into the cupcake, giving it an extra sweet surprise when bitten into. Happy Fall Ya'll!!