Sharing a quick and easy cupcake recipe for fall today, these Pumpkin Cupcakes can be made with any type of cupcake batter and decorated to look freshly picked from the patch!

Easy Pumpkin Cupcake Recipe

While I sometimes enjoy more complicated dessert designs (like my recent Halloween Macaron Cake), for the most part I need ideas that are super simple and quick to whip up – and even better if it’s an idea that the kids can help with, too!

These super easy pumpkin cupcakes can be made with any type of cupcake batter. While I shared my recipe for homemade vanilla cupcakes below, feel free to swap that out for your favorite recipe – or even a boxed cupcake recipe! The real difference comes down to the frosting, and while I’m all for that boxed cake mix – I draw the line at canned frosting!

Homemade buttercream frosting makes all of the difference in this recipe and if you’ve never made it, I really encourage you to give it a try. It’s super easy to whip up and it’s worlds away from that goop they sell in the baking aisle.

This is a fun recipe to make for a party – or even let the kids decorate their own at the party!

Personally, I whipped these up as a fun after-nap project for my daycare kids. My non-nappers helped me make the actual cupcakes, and then everyone got a chance to decorate a couple with the frosting, pretzels and jelly beans. The results were cute and delicious, and the kids were so excited to bring a few home with them at the end of the day. (I got several texts that night from parents who were pleasantly surprised with how tasty the cupcakes were, too.)

You can also freeze the unfrosted cupcakes for up to a month if you want to make these for a party. Just freeze in containers or large ziplock bags and let thaw at room temperature for at least 2 hours before you frost them.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Cupcakes

2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the vanilla buttercream:

1 cup butter, softened
3-4 cups icing sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
pinch salt
2-3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
Orange food dye

For the garnish:

6 large pretzel sticks
12-24 green jelly beans

Tip: swap out the from-scratch vanilla cupcakes for a boxed cupcake mix, if desired.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

Measuring cups and spoons
Mixing bowl
Electric mixer
Cupcake tin
Offset spatula
Sharp kitchen knife

How to Make Pumpkin Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 375F.

Line a muffin tray with cupcake liners.

Cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy, about 2 minutes; beat in eggs one at a time, then vanilla. Set aside.

In a small bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt.

Add half of the flour mixture to the butter-sugar mixture, then the milk, then the remaining flour mixture.

Portion out into the cupcake liners, about 1/2 cup each liner.

Bake for 18-22 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

For the buttercream:

Place softened butter into a bowl and beat in 2 cups of icing sugar. Add 2 Tablespoons heavy cream and vanilla.

Add remaining icing sugar 1/2 cup at a time until you reach your desired consistency. Add food colouring until you reach a pumpkin color you like.

Spoon the frosting into a piping bag with no tip or a circular tip.

Swirl the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes.

Break the large pretzel sticks into 3-4 pieces, insert one piece in the center of each cupcake. Add a jelly bean (or half a jelly bean) for a small “vine” garnish.

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Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes

Ingredients

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the vanilla buttercream:

1 cup butter, softened
3-4 cups icing sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
pinch salt
2-3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
Orange food dye

For the garnish:

6 large pretzel sticks
12-24 green jelly beans

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F.
Line a muffin tray with cupcake liners.
Cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy, about 2 minutes; beat in eggs one at a time, then vanilla. Set aside.
In a small bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt.
Add half of the flour mixture to the butter-sugar mixture, then the milk, then the remaining flour mixture.
Portion out into the cupcake liners, about 1/2 cup each liner.
Bake for 18-22 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
For the buttercream:
Place softened butter into a bowl and beat in 2 cups of icing sugar. Add 2 Tablespoons heavy cream and vanilla.
Add remaining icing sugar 1/2 cup at a time until you reach your desired consistency. Add food colouring until you reach a pumpkin color you like.
Spoon the frosting into a piping bag with no tip or a circular tip.
Swirl the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes.
Break the large pretzel sticks into 3-4 pieces, insert one piece in the center of each cupcake. Add a jelly bean (or half a jelly bean) for a small "vine" garnish.

This fun pumpkin cupcake recipe can be made using any flavor of cupcake batter, so whether you like pumpkin flavor or just want the look – you’ll love these cupcakes! They are such a fun addition to your fall parties, or make a fun fall treat for the kids to help make.

For more fun fall recipes kids can help make, check out our Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats or our Pumpkin Pie Dip.