Make Ahead

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Goat Cheese Frosting

by:
November 11, 2010
4
4 Ratings
  • Makes 12 cupcakes or one 9" cake
Author Notes

I once made a Pumpkin Goat Cheese Cheesecake that was really unusual and delicious. Here are the same flavors, in cupcake form. Sometimes, I dip the tops of the nekkid cupcakes into a simple cinnamon and powdered sugar icing, to keep the cupcakes vegan. —mrslarkin

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • pumpkin cupcakes
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
  • 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • turbinado sugar, for decorating cupcakes
  • goat cheese frosting (makes quite a bit of frosting; reduce the recipe according to your needs and wants)
  • 6 ounces goat cheese, room temperature
  • 2 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup Marshmallow Fluff
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • 3 cups sifted powdered sugar, or more
Directions
  1. pumpkin cupcakes
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with Pam. Line with paper cupcake liners and spray the liners.
  3. Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well.
  4. Here's an easy way to measure liquids and wet solids together: In a 2-cup measuring cup, measure out the 1/2 cup water and 3/4 cup oil. Add the 3/4 cup pumpkin puree. You should be at the 2-cup line now. Add the vinegar and stir together the wet ingredients.
  5. Stir wet into dry until smooth. Fill cupcake liners evenly. Lick the bowl, if you so desire.
  6. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. I rotate my cupcake pan half way through the baking time. Let cool 5 minutes, then remove cupcakes to a cooling rack and cool completely.
  7. If you’d like, you can bake the batter in a 9” cake pan, sprayed with Pam and lined with parchment, for about 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
  8. Frost. Lick the bowl, if you so desire. Lightly sprinkle turbinado sugar over top.
  1. goat cheese frosting (makes quite a bit of frosting; reduce the recipe according to your needs and wants)
  2. In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle, beat the wet ingredients together until smooth.
  3. Add the sifted powdered sugar. Pulse mixer slowly at first, then increase speed until frosting is thick and spreadable to your liking. If too runny, mix in a spoonful of powdered sugar at a time.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • PeachyCallahan
    PeachyCallahan
  • TheWimpyVegetarian
    TheWimpyVegetarian
  • Table9
    Table9
  • monkeymom
    monkeymom
  • TiggyBee
    TiggyBee

13 Reviews

charlotte C. November 16, 2011
Any substitutes for the marshmallow fluff?
 
mrslarkin November 16, 2011
I'd probably just omit it.
 
PeachyCallahan March 30, 2011
These are so awesome! And surprisingly easy. I subbed sweet potatoes for pumpkin, and also I was out of apple cider vinegar so I used some raspberry wine vinegar left over from a failed attempt at eating more salad. I made them yesterday as a thank-you gift to my roommates, but we ate them all before I could make the frosting. So as a high-five to me for being such a good roommate, I will be making the frosting and eating it myself.
 
mrslarkin March 30, 2011
That's so great to hear, PeachyCallahan!! Glad you liked them. Careful with the frosting - it is crazy good!
 
TheWimpyVegetarian November 16, 2010
I love goat cheese and would never have thought to make it into a frosting! I've GOT to try this. Do you use the soft chevre style?
 
mrslarkin November 17, 2010
Yep! Just make sure you bring to room temp, so it's easy to beat.
 
Table9 November 13, 2010
I love goat cheese, I would have never thought to make in into icing. Very clever. Very clever.
 
mrslarkin November 13, 2010
It's really yummy! Try it!
 
monkeymom November 12, 2010
nekkid cupcakes. that's awesome.
 
mrslarkin November 12, 2010
:)
 
TiggyBee November 12, 2010
I'm a goat cheese fiend, I tell you, fiend! Killer combo here!!
 
mrslarkin November 12, 2010
me too! I've got a bowl of the frosting in the fridge, and, well, it's mysteriously vanishing....
 
Lizthechef November 13, 2010
Likewise! Great minds think alike...