Cupcake Stand: Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon-Cream Cheese Frosting...

Well those who follow know - I LOVE to cook and bake!! Being that this is one of my greatest passions - I subscribe to several magazines that monthly give me ideas of new items to try and plenty of cooking/baking tips! One of my favorite subscriptions is a small little magazine that comes out quarterly by Kraft - "Food & Family". It was a free publication for many years, but like every other good thing...that too came to an end. Last year do the increase in...well everything....they began charging for their quarterly magazine. It's only $6.00 a year...and it's SO worth it for all the wonderful recipes and ideas you get! Last week I was thrilled when I opened my mail box and found the Fall, 2011 edition waiting for me to crack open! I become giddy when new food magazines arrive! :) So many yummy ideas and recipes for Autumn (my favorite season!) - but one particular stood out, and I knew I had too try this recipe sooner rather than later...Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon-Cream Cheese Frosting!

Recently C-bus has been experiencing the cooler mornings and evenings that come with this time of year...typical late August/early September weather in these parts! So I've been thinking of getting the kitchen warmed up with delicious yumminess again! (While I love to cook/bake the Summer is always so busy and super hot - so I don't cook/bake as much as I do throughout the rest of the year!) Last night was a good night to turn on the oven and bake! There was a steady cool breeze blowing in the window - so it made standing in a warm kitchen bearable. After the last night of the Girls Summer Bible Study - I ran to the store to pick up a few items that I didn't have on hand - and was thankful that I had stocked up on a few cans of pumpkin last Fall...since they didn't have it available yet in the store! I was very eager to get home and try this new recipe. As soon as I opened the Spice Cake Mix - I could smell Autumn swoosh out of the box. Instantly the room was filled with the aroma of hearty pungent spices. Then when the can of pumpkin opened, it was as if Thanksgiving had just walked into the room! The aroma of baking pumpkin and spices filled all three levels of Villa de Megalicious, in what felt like an instant - even this morning the smell lingered in the kitchen!

I've shared the finished product them with a few people - and they are no longer lurking around VdM waiting for me to consume...which my diet appreciates! There reactions were all very similar "mmm" and "oh this is really good" - all with the first bite still in their mouth!

If you love pumpkin - this one is for you! It would compliment a hot cup of coffee or a warm cup of tea! Enjoy!

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon-Cream Cheese Frosting
(Source Kraft - Food & Family Fall, 2011)
Makes 24 cupcakes (although I got 30 out of my batch)

1 package (2-layer size) spice cake
1 cup Sour Cream (I used Kroger Brand)
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin
1/4 cup oil
3 eggs
1 package (8 oz) Cream Cheese, softened (I used Kroger Brand)
1/4 cup butter, softened (I used REAL butter - its the only kind to use when baking/cooking)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 package (16 oz) powdered sugar (again Kroger brand)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Heat oven to 350*

Beat first 5 ingredients with mixer until well blended; spoon into 24 paper lined muffin cups. (I use the Pampered Chef large scoop when filling cupcake/muffin tins).

Bake 20 to 22 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min.; remove from pans. Cool completely.

Beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla in a large bowl with mixer until well blended. Gradually beat in sugar. Blend in cinnamon. Spread over cupcakes.

Store frosted cupcakes in refrigerator.

**TIP: When making muffins and cupcakes - to reduce air pockets in your batter...once tins are filled lightly tap the pan on the counter a few times to reduce bubbles, helping to reduce empty pockets of air in your finished product. This also works for cake batters.**

P.S. My mom has already requested these be at our family Thanksgiving!!