Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

We had a chill weekend at home all day Saturday. I was attempting to sleep in when Moekitty woke me up at 8:23 to be fed! So waffles for us & kitty food for Moe and the couch it was. We watched lots of football games, took a few naps, and I got caught up on some Real Simple & O magazine reading. I’ve decided that I’m growing up; I like and feel like I relate to those magazines than the Marie Claire & Glamour I used to subscribe to. I ripped out a couple of recipes to try from both magazines, including this one.I’m looking forward to trying this recipe this week for a Chi O alum dinner club & also to give to then NCSU Chi O new member class retreat this weekend. It sounds easy & I’m thinking the pumpkin puree will make the cupcakes very moist. I’m going to double the recipe, but here’s the 24 cupcake recipe from Real Simple.

Cupcake Ingredients
1 box yellow cake mix (plus ingredients called for in the package directions)
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
15 oz can pumpkin puree

Frosting Ingredients
2 8 oz bars cream cheese, at room temperature
2 c confectioners’ sugar

24 pieces of candy corn

Directions
Heat oven to 350F. Put cupcake liners in cupcake pans. Prepare cake mix as directed, but add pumpkin pie spice & substitue the can of pumpkin puree for the water.

Divide batter amoung the muffin tins and bake until toothpick comes clean. Usually 18-22 minutes. Let cool.

Meanwhile, using the electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Spread frosting on top of cupcakes and top each with a piece of candy corn.

Real Simple says that the cupcakes can be made up to 2 days before hand; just store at room temperature and keep covered. Frost up to 12 hours before serving.