Pumpkin cupcakes with a marshmallow buttercream frosting, two weeks out from US Thanksgiving. Is there really anything else I need to say? Well, besides that we had our Thanksgiving here in Canada a few weeks ago when I made these. Pumpkin spice is a THING this time of year, but as someone who absolutely loves pumpkin things, but doesn’t drink coffee, tea, or any of its many iterations, I miss out on the whole pumpkin spice latte season. I had to adapt. Obviously with cake.
Pumpkin Cupcakes…like, for real?
Pumpkin muffins, sure, everyone’s had those before. But not everyone’s had pumpkin cake, or pumpkin cupcakes. One of my favourite things to make around Christmas and hand out to friends and teachers is my pumpkin spice cake. Sometimes I get a weird look, but I ALWAYS get a message after telling me how much they loved it.
In our house we eat that cake year round. It freezes so well, I make a bunch of loaves, freeze them, then defrost one a week for the kids to devour after school (or in their lunches). So, why not take that recipe, tweak it a little bit, and create some light, fluffy, perfectly spiced cupcakes.
It’s like a slice of pumpkin pie you can just walk around with, holding in your hand.
Marshmallow Frosting…yes, for real!
I mean, if we’re going to be walking around with a cupcake equivalent to a slice of pumpkin pie, you’re damn right that I’m going to find a way to top it with something as good or better than whipped cream. There was only one answer here: marshmallow frosting.
This was so much easier to do than I thought it might be. I was worried it would take forever to get the texture right, or it would somehow end up sticky, or too sweet. I was over thinking things though. I went back to basics with a bakery style buttercream (butter and icing sugar base), and then added the magic ingredient: Marshmallow Fluff.
If you haven’t tried that before, you’re welcome and I’m sorry. Whoever invented a spoonable version of a marshmallow was both a genius and a villian in my life story. Did you know you can just take a graham cracker, throw a piece of chocolate on it, some fluff, and then torch the top (optional) and you have a s’more? Also, s’more dip made with fluff instead of real marshmallows is SO MUCH easier to scoop!
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