How To Make Hallowe'en Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes - Recipe

pumpkin puree

🥗Healthier: butternut squash puree

💰Cheaper: canned pumpkin

Canned pumpkin is often more affordable and readily available.

cream cheese

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: ricotta cheese

Greek yogurt provides a tangy flavor with fewer calories.

chocolate chips

🥗Healthier: dark chocolate chips

💰Cheaper: chocolate chunks

Chocolate chunks can be less expensive and still melt well.

all-purpose flour

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: cake flour

Cake flour can yield a lighter texture for cupcakes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).

In a bowl, mix together the wet ingredients: 1 cup of pumpkin puree, 1/2 cup of cane sugar, 2 eggs, and 1/4 cup of melted butter until smooth using a mixer for about 30 seconds.

In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients: 1 1/4 cups of flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder, and a dash of nutmeg. Mix to distribute the ingredients evenly.

Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined, ensuring all flour is incorporated without overmixing.

Add 4 ounces of broken chocolate into the batter and mix until evenly distributed.

Prepare muffin tins with cupcake papers and fill them with the batter, ensuring even distribution among the papers.

Place the filled muffin tins in the preheated oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, checking for doneness with a toothpick.

Once baked, remove the cupcakes from the oven and let them cool for about 30 minutes on a cooling rack until they reach room temperature.

To make the icing, beat together 6 tablespoons of room temperature butter and 6 ounces of room temperature cream cheese until fluffy, about 1 minute.

Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla to the mixture and then gradually mix in 2 1/4 cups of icing sugar until smooth and spreadable, adjusting the consistency as needed.

Once the cupcakes are cool, generously frost them with the icing using a spreader.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens