Oh my cupcakes! Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

The very first homemaker’s challenge was issued on Friday. I am just glowing with excitement. I have had this baby (homemaker’s challenge) tucked away for a long time and to see it finally come to fruition is just such a joy! What is even better is to see how excited you all are to participate!

Now this is my cupcake. Yours can be whatever interpretation of a cupcake your little mind can muster. The key here is originality and your ability to convey that in a post.

I call her the Belle of Fall Sweetness! mmm hmm…

These are Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting. How do these represent me? Let me count the ways.

1. I really like the pumpkin flavor because it brings such an earthiness to the cake. I try to be as down to earth as possible. I try to always be real and stay true to my roots.
2. The cinnamon and nutmeg give it that little bit of kick; that little something extra. I try to go above and beyond in most things. That could be the perfectionist in me or it could be that I’m nice. Sometimes I am unsure.
3. I added chocolate chips. I usually try to do something that is unexpected and this cupcake was no exception. Okay, okay so the truth is that I will put chocolate in most anything. But it works in this.
4. The icing is off center. I really did do that on purpose. I don’t like symmetry. I love to look out at nature and just admire God’s creation. I have never seen a symmetric tree or mountain. We are all “off center” in some way. It is what makes us unique and…
5. Being that the icing is off center you can see the spice and sugar blend underneath. I think when we reveal our weaknesses or inconsistencies then that is when the beauty of what is inside is exposed. Had this icing been right on center then it’s beauty would not have been revealed.
6. It has chocolate sprinkles: lots of them. Sometimes I tend to do a bit much and things overflow. Like yummy chocolate those things are sometimes very good but they don’t all necessarily fit in my schedule – or on my cupcake.
7. I am very practical. Ryan’s birthday was Sunday so I pulled double duty with these cupcakes. They were blog post material and birthday goodness!

Recipe

Cake ingredients:

• 16 ounces (2 cups) canned solid-pack pumpkin
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup coconut oil
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups chocolate chips

Spice top blend:

• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 5 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups powdered confectioner’s sugar
• 2-4 teaspoons milk
• shredded chocolate for topping (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Combine pumpkin, sugar, and oil. Add eggs and mix well.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients.  Add to pumpkin mixture and beat well (medium speed for 30-45 seconds should do).
4. Fold in chocolate chips.
5. Using a spoon or scoop, add to greased muffin tins or cupcake wrappers. Sprinkle spice top blend over the top of cupcakes. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cake tests done with a toothpick. Cool on a wire rack.
6. To make frosting, beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in a mixing bowl until smooth. Gradually add sugar, mixing well. Add milk until frosting reaches desired thickness.
7. Frost cooled cupcakes and sprinkle with shredded chocolate if desired.

This post is a part of Homemaker’s Challenge: Cupcake Edition