Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Cup-Caking is a Verb


Ever since receiving Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World earlier this month, I've basically been a cup o' cake maniac.

Our neighbors look hungry for cupcakes, don't they?

Adam's lab-mates really like lemon desserts. Maybe I should make them some cupcakes?

We don't celebrate trash day enough. Bring on the cupcakes!

And finally, the best and most ultimate excuse to bake these pint-sized desserts: a baby shower.

Baby showers are filled with pastel colors, lots of booties, and plenty of cheesy games. It's high time we add cupcakes into the mix. And since I'm planning a March baby shower for my pal Liz, I made an executive decision to feature a cupcake buffet at this baby-lovin' event.

This means I'll have to do some dreaded prep-work: you know, recipe-testing, baking, and tasting lots of cupcakes. It's such a hard life, isn't it?

I used the basics from my new cupcake bible to create a Pumpkin-Pecan Cupcake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting this weekend. Results were overwhelmingly positive, including a unanimous "yes" to be included in the March cupcake buffet.

So let's get cup-caking my friends. Because if "cup-caking" wasn't a verb before, it most certainly is now.

Pumpkin-Pecan Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
(inspired by the lovely ladies of Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World)

These cupcakes are so moist and tender, and cinnamon cream cheese frosting is simply essential. This miniature dessert would make the perfect addition to your fall party spread...or a March baby shower :)

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 2 TBSP nonfat vanilla yogurt
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup milk (I used skim)
  • 1 - 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 - 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
  • Extra pecan halves for garnish
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 1/3 cup cream cheese (I used 1/3 reduced fat cream cheese)
  • 3 cups confectioner's sugar
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 - 2 TBSP milk, if needed
Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.

2) In a large bowl, stir together the pumpkin, oil, yogurt sugar, milk, and vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients with a spoon until well-combined. Fold in chopped pecans.

3) Fill cupcake liners two thirds full and bake for 22 - 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack completely before frosting.

4) To prepare frosting: Beat the butter cream cheese together. Add the vanilla and cinnamon. Beat in the confectioner's sugar in 1/2 cup increments. Add milk and/or more sugar to reach desired consistency. Frost cupcakes, and top each with a pecan half.

14 comments:

  1. These look glooorious! As usual :) Pumpkin and pecan are so often relegated to their own individual desserts, it's nice to see them playing together for once! The cinnamon just seals the deal. Nom.

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  2. I wish you were my sister. Like seriously. It would be so nice to have you bring me treats everyday!!

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  3. Lady, I'm so down with your new cupcake-centric outlook on life. Adore.

    I think we can all agree that if we knew all of these goodies were going to come from that cookbook, we probably all would have chipped-in and sent it to you a LONG time ago!

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  4. That's a rough job, but someone has to do it. :) Cupcakes are definitely the perfect treat for many occasions. These pumpkin pecan ones look scrumptious! Cup-cake away!

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  5. Love the title of this post (and the recipe looks grea!)

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  6. Cupcakes are my favorite food! Especially with pumpkin :)

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  7. Those look incredible!! I love cup-caking :) And I want that cookbook!!

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  8. Wow your cupcakes look and sound amazing! I def need to get that cookbook!

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  9. Your blog makes me happy :) I so very much desire a cupcake, this is on target.

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  10. haah Cup Caking.. I love it!!!!

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  11. Keep the cupcakes coming girl--they sound delicious! I bet everyone was super happy :-)

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  12. That frosting sounds finger licking good. I bet it's fantastic with those cupcakes. I have a linky party on my blog every week called "Sweets for a Saturday" and I'd like to invite you to stop by tomorrow and link this up.

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  13. you're having such a hard time testing all kind of combos for the cupcakes, let me ease you job and send them to me for testing :D

    the cupcakes sounds and look delicious Kylie. Thanks for sharing

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  14. I've never been the biggest fan of baby showers, but I'd be counting down the days if I knew there'd be a cupcake buffet! These sound so yummy! Looking forward to seeing what other kinds your cupcaking will bring on. :)

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