This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our privacy policy.
It’s certainly no secret that I wholeheartedly adore Fall. The colors, smells, and textures make this season my absolute favorite time of year. Although I obviously love to bake regardless of the season, there’s just something really special about the intoxicating aromas and flavors of autumn spices.
I have a bin of spices that I store in a cabinet above the refrigerator that is completely dedicated to fall baking. It’s brimming with cinnamon, cloves, allspice, crystallized ginger, cardamom – and that’s just naming a few. Towards the end of summer, I pull the bin down and conduct and inventory of my Autumn arsenal – I kind of have a quirky obsession with spices and spice organization. Too bad this “organization” only lasts for about 2 weeks, then I’m back to blaming Brian for hiding my whole nutmeg.
I stumbled upon this recipe for Pumpkin Ginger Cupcakes about 6 months ago and tucked it away in a file folder on my desk. When I came across the recipe months later, I knew it would be absolutely perfect for the Spice Islands Holiday Recipe Exchange. Spice Islands is definitely one of my absolute favorite spice companies. I find them to of the highest quality and most flavorful spices on the market – and trust me I have tried a lot of different companies. And I have bulging cabinets to prove it!
These Pumpkin Ginger Cupcakes are enthusiastically spiced, incredibly moist and just perfect on their own – in fact I ate them for breakfast! But we all know that I have a difficult time leaving well enough alone, so I just had to top them off with a swirl of Ginger Cream Cheese Frosting. This little addition made these cupcakes my favorite new Autumn addiction!
Now , we want you to share your favorite recipe using fall spices and be sure to head over to Good Life Eats, because Katie has a glorious recipe for Orange Spice Pumpkin Muffins waiting for you!
Pumpkin Ginger Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- ⅓ cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
- ¼ cup water
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 3.4 ounce package instant butterscotch pudding mix
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 1 cup white sugar
- ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 1 ½ - 2 pounds confectioners’ sugar sifted
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ginger syrup from above recipe
Instructions
For the Cupcakes
- 1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tins with paper liners. Place crystallized ginger and water in Pyrex measuring cup and heat in microwave for 2 minutes. Remove from microwave and set aside.
- 2. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, pudding mix, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ground ginger and allspice. Set aside.
- 3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time until thoroughly incorporated. Add in vanilla and pumpkin puree beating until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
- 4. With the mixer on low, gradually add in the flour mixture, mixing until just combined, scraping sides of bowl as needed.
- 5. Use a small mesh sieve to strain the ginger from the sugar syrup. Keep syrup for cream cheese frosting. Mince the ginger and use a rubber spatula to gently fold it into the batter.
- 6. Using a large cookie scoop (3 tablespoons) divide the batter between the prepared muffin wells.
- 7. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-22 minutes or until golden and the tops spring back when lightly pressed. Cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.
- 8. When cupcakes are cool, prepare the frosting.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1. In a the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream together cream cheese and butter until well combined.
- 2. With the mixer of low, slowly add the confectioners’ sugar until thoroughly incorporated and smooth. Add vanilla and ginger syrup and mix to combine.
- Store cupcakes in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Remove to room temperature one hour before serving.
Notes
You may also like
How To Participate
For a chance to win a Spices Baking Gift Set (details of prize specifics below):
- Write and post a recipe on your blog featuring FALL SPICES (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom, etc.).
- Include “Come join the fun at the My Baking Addiction and GoodLife Eats Holiday Recipe Swap sponsored by Spice Islands.” in your blog post.
- No blog? Just leave your recipe in the comments section.
- Add your link to the widget on either GoodLife Eats or My Baking Addiction (we have the same widget code, so only add it on one site).
- Submit your post before Nov. 9, 11:59 PM.
- Anyone can participate in the link up, but the prizes will ship to US addresses only.
- More detailed info are available here.
Link Up Your Recipes:
Love any of the recipes featured in today’s Holiday Recipe Exchange? If so, be sure to to use the Ziplist Web Recipe Clipper to add your holiday favorites to your online recipe box.
‘);
// ]]>
This Week’s Prize:
Spices included will vary slightly from what is depicted in the photo. See below for a listing of what is included in the Holiday Recipe Exchange Treasure Chest of Spices.
Treasure Chest of Spices:
- Ground Allspice
- Whole Allspice
- Beau Monde Seasoning
- Ground Cloves
- Cinnamon Sugar Grinder
- Poultry Seasoning
- Whole Nutmeg
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Mint
- Rosemary
- Sea Salt
- Rosemary Garlic Blend
- Orange Peel
- Lemon Peel
- Ground Cardamom
- Sage
- Pumpkin Pie Spice
- Pure Vanilla Extract
Prizes provided by Spice Islands.
Recipe Theme Schedule:
Fabulous recipe. I made these for Christmas last year, and people were practically smuggling them home. 5/5 stars! Making them again this year as gifts.
Emily-
I’m glad the recipe was such a success for you. Thanks for visiting!
-Jamie
Jamie – These cupcakes look scrumptious! I love the simple way you frosted them. I’d like to bite a cupcake right through my computer screen! What frosting tip number do you use and what manufacturer?
Thanks for sharing,
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl, as it says at the bottom of the recipe, cupcakes were piped using the Large Round Tip from Bake It Pretty. Thanks for stopping by!
– Jamie
I made these thinking that I would be the only one in my family who would like them because I am typically the only one who loves ginger. They were gone in two days! Everyone absolutely loved them. I am going to try substituting the butterscotch pudding with the new limited edition pumpkin spice pudding that I found at Walmart.
My icing came out rather thin (not sure why) but still tastes wonderful and a little icing is enough for us, so it works.
Donna-
I am so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe – thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback! Have a great weekend.
-Jamie
Hi Jamie,
These look awesome! Question, in the recipe it calls for 1 cup butter. I just wanted to double check, but that would be unsalted butter? Thanks!
Sara-
Yes, I typically use unsalted butter. Thanks for stopping by – I hope you enjoy the recipe.
-Jamie
I made this as a cake (2 8-inch pans) and subbed an egg yolk (put in with the other eggs) about 1/2 cup powdered sugar (with the dry ingredients) for the pudding mix and it worked out wonderfully. I also ran out of vanilla making the cake, so put a teaspoon of rum in the frosting instead and it was great as well! Can’t go wrong with rum. I only used 1/2 the amount of frosting.
I just made these cupcakes for my son’s 1st birthday party which was yesterday 9/15 loved them and made them with a cream cheese frosting. I happened upon this recipe on http://www.allrecipes.com. These cupcakes are absolutely delicious!!
Jennifer-
Glad to hear that you enjoyed the recipe – thanks so much for visiting an leaving your feedback! Have a great day.
-Jamie
I love the look of that frosting! It’s so fluffy; I thought it was marshmallow fluff for a second there. I can’t wait for fall baking to begin :)
quick question about the ginger. do you know how I could substitute fresh ginger? i grow it and need to harvest it soon – its getting too big for the pot! haha,
thanks!!
Angela-
Thanks for stopping by! Unfortunately, I don’t know the exact proportions of substituting fresh ginger. Personally I would just grate a little in and keep tasting until it was perfect. Best of luck to you! Have a great day.
-Jamie
I’m also interested in butterscotch pudding substitute?
This is so good. Best cupcake I’ve ever had.