Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes
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Recipe type: Dessert
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: approx 30
 
Calling all PSL lovers! A yummy spiced pumpkin cupcake topped with a creamy coffee flavored cream cheese buttercream.
Ingredients
CUPCAKES
  • 3 c flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 Tbsp instant coffee
  • 1 Tbsp cinnamon
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground all spice
  • 1 tsp ground nutmeg
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 c sugar
  • 1 c light brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 1 c vegetable oil
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla
  • 2 c (or one 15½ oz can) pumpkin puree
  • ½ c chai tea (or Pumpkin Spice flavored coffee or tea), hot
COFFEE BUTTERCREAM
  • 4 oz (1/2 a brick) cream cheese, softened, but not warm
  • 1¼c butter (2½ sticks) butter, room temperature
  • 4 - 5 c powdered sugar
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • ¼ c heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tsp instant coffee
Instructions
CUPCAKES
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake pans with liners.
  2. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, instant coffee, cinnamon, ginger, all spice, nutmeg, cloves, and salt into a medium bowl and set aside.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the sugars until no lumps remain.
  4. Add the oil and mix until incorporated.
  5. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  6. Add the pumpkin puree and vanilla and mix well.
  7. Turn the mixer to low speed and add the flour mixture a third at a time. Add more just before the last addition is incorporated. Turn the mixer off when the last of the flour mixture is almost finished incorporating.
  8. Add the hot tea and fold in with a spatula just until the batter is smooth. Don't over mix.
  9. Using a scoop, scoop the batter into prepared pans to about ¾ full.
  10. Bake in preheated oven for 15 - 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
  11. Allow the cupcakes to cool for a couple minutes and remove them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
COFFEE BUTTERCREAM
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese and butter and mix until well combined on medium high speed.
  2. Turn the mixer down to low and begin adding the powdered sugar one cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
  3. After adding 2 cups of the powdered sugar, add the salt and vanilla and mix well.
  4. Add 2 more cups of powdered sugar (one at a time) and beat on high until well incorporated.
  5. Dissolve instant coffee in the heavy whipping cream and add to the buttercream, gradually increase the speed to high and beat til light and fluffy.
  6. If the buttercream is too loose, add more powdered sugar ½ c at a time until desired consistency is reached. (*TIP- cream cheese frosting can be finicky. If it's too warm that pop it in the fridge for 15 minutes and then mix it again to fluff it when you take it out.)
  7. Pipe a swirl of buttercream on the cooled cupcakes and dust with cinnamon.
*Store cupcakes in the refrigerator until about 20 minutes before serving if they won't be served right away.
Recipe by The Red Eye Baker at https://www.theredeyebaker.com/2015/11/pumpkin-spiced-latte-cupcakes/