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Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes Recipe

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Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes are fun, festive, and flavorful fall treats made easy with a boxed cake mix, pumpkin puree, and warm spices. Topped with rich orange cream cheese frosting and cute candy decorations, they’re perfect for Halloween, Thanksgiving, or cozy autumn baking.

  • Author: Tina
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 18 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 24 cupcakes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

1 box yellow cake mix

1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice (or 2 teaspoons cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg)

1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree

3 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1/3 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the Orange Cream Cheese Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3–4 cups powdered sugar

Orange food coloring

For Decoration:

Tootsie Rolls

Green Apple Laffy Taffys

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin pan with orange cupcake liners.
  2. In a large bowl, sift the cake mix to remove lumps. Add pumpkin pie spice, pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla extract. Stir until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
  3. Fill each cupcake liner about 3/4 full with batter.
  4. Bake for 15–20 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
  5. Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
  6. To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese and softened butter until smooth. Mix in vanilla extract and 3 cups of powdered sugar. Add more sugar if needed to reach your desired consistency. If the frosting becomes too thick, add a splash of milk. Tint with orange food coloring to desired shade.
  7. Frost each cupcake all the way to the liner, creating a rounded dome shape.
  8. Mold a Tootsie Roll to resemble a pumpkin stem and press it into the center of each frosted cupcake.
  9. Shape green apple Laffy Taffy into small leaves and vines, then press them into the frosting for a pumpkin patch look.

Notes

  • Use spice or chocolate cake mix for a flavor twist.
  • Skip food coloring or use natural alternatives like carrot powder or turmeric.
  • Replace Laffy Taffy with green fondant, licorice, or gummies if needed.
  • Bake cupcakes ahead of time and frost the day of serving.
  • Chill frosting if too soft before spreading or piping.
  • Make gluten-free by using a gluten-free cake mix and ensuring other ingredients are compliant.
  • Store frosted cupcakes in the fridge; unfrosted cupcakes can be stored at room temperature or frozen.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cheftinaskitchen.com/pumpkin-patch-cupcakes-recipe/