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You are here: Home / sweets / Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting

September 11, 2017 by Abby

Perfectly sweet cupcakes with a ribbon of creamy filling and a topping of decadent frosting. You’ve got to try Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting!

Perfectly sweet cupcakes with a ribbon of creamy filling and a topping of decadent frosting. You've got to try Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting!

A friend asked me recently to make cupcakes for a wedding shower she was hosting. Because I’m always up for spending time in the kitchen creating decadent treats, I immediately said yes. And then I spent the next couple weeks narrowing down my flavor choices.


I knew right away I wanted to do some sort of spin on my to-die-for Triple Chocolate Cupcakes, and I knew I had to a berry version with cream cheese frosting. It was only at the last minute that I decided to whip up these Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting, too.

Perfectly sweet cupcakes with a ribbon of creamy filling and a topping of decadent frosting. You've got to try Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting!

The pumpkin in these cupcakes is subtle, but not underwhelming; they’re perfect for those who haven’t yet seen the light when it comes to the magic of pumpkin desserts. Plus, nothing helps win over pumpkin skeptics quite like a ribbon of rich cheesecake filling. Top the whole thing with made-from-scratch salted caramel frosting, and who can resist?

Whether you’ve got a fall party coming up, or a tailgate to attend, or you just want to surprise your coworkers or family, these Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting are the perfect treat.

Perfectly sweet cupcakes with a ribbon of creamy filling and a topping of decadent frosting. You've got to try Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes

1 box yellow cake mix
3 eggs
1 3/4 cups pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla extract

For the Cheesecake Filling

8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp cloves
(substitute 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice for all spices listed above)

For the Frosting

3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 tbs vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
3/4 tsp salt
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, pumpkin, sour cream, milk, oil, and vanilla. Mix until ingredients are well-combined and few lumps remain. To make the cheesecake filling, combine all filling ingredients in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer for two to three minutes, until fluffy.

Scoop one tablespoon of cupcake batter into cupcake pans prepared with muffin liners. Add two to three teaspoons of cheesecake to each liner, and then add more cupcake batter until liners are about three quarters full. Bake cupcakes for 17-21 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Allow cupcakes to cool in pans for five minutes, and then transfer to a cooling rack.

Prepare the frosting while the cupcakes cool. In a medium saucepan, combine butter, heavy cream, vanilla, brown sugar, and salt. Place over medium-heat and cook, stirring frequently, until butter and sugar are melted and the mixture begins to simmer. Remove from heat and allow to cool. When caramel is room temperature, set three tablespoons and add the rest to a large bowl with the powdered sugar. Mix on low until sugar and caramel are combined, and then increase speed to medium and mix for five minutes, until frosting is fluffy.

Frost the cooled cupcakes and drizzle with remaining caramel (warm caramel in the microwave to make it thin enough to drizzle). Garnish with candy pumpkins, if desired.

Notes

This recipe yields approximately 24 cupcakes.

If you forget to reserve some of the caramel sauce, use a store-bought jar instead.

Tools I Used

  • Cupcake pans
  • Muffin liners
  • Cooling racks

Pin these Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting for later!

Perfectly sweet cupcakes with a ribbon of creamy filling and a topping of decadent frosting. You've got to try Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting!

(this post contains affiliate links; to learn more, see my disclosure policy)

Filed Under: food, in the kitchen, recipes, sweets — Tagged With: caramel, cupcakes, dessert, desserts, pumpkin, recipe, recipes, salted caramel, sweets

Comments

  1. Analida Braeger says

    September 11, 2017 at 8:30 pm

    These look so fun to make! I need to take a batch the the office for Halloween. Pinned!

    • Abby says

      September 11, 2017 at 8:58 pm

      Thanks, Analida! Your coworkers would love you forever!

  2. Gunjan says

    September 12, 2017 at 10:14 am

    Oh my goodness! look at that deliciousness. These cheesecake cupcakes are simply irresistible.

    • Abby says

      September 12, 2017 at 8:17 pm

      Thanks, Gunjan! That’s what I thought, too, as they sat on my kitchen counter. 🙂

  3. Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says

    September 14, 2017 at 4:02 pm

    Now that is one cupcake I would not be able to resist! I really like the taste of salt with the sweet — it cuts it down and boosts the flavor. This recipe is really a tribute to Fall.

    • Abby says

      September 24, 2017 at 8:57 pm

      Thanks, Marisa! I found the flavor combination irresistible, too.

  4. Sasha @ Eat Love Eat says

    September 15, 2017 at 10:53 am

    These cupcakes sound divine! Anything salted caramel and I’m sold. I’m quite new to pumpkin desserts (they’re not so prevalent here in the UK!) so I need to try!

    • Abby says

      September 24, 2017 at 8:57 pm

      You need to be the one to introduce everyone you know to the magic of pumpkin! They’ll be indebted to you forever.

  5. Prasanna Hede says

    September 17, 2017 at 2:43 am

    so cute! such perfect recipe for Halloween party.

    • Abby says

      September 24, 2017 at 8:58 pm

      Thanks, Prasanna! These would definitely be a hit for a fall party.

  6. Kim @ Three Olives Branch says

    September 17, 2017 at 12:23 pm

    What a fun idea to combine so many great desserts! And salted caramel is the perfect addition, yum! Can’t wait to make it!

    • Abby says

      September 24, 2017 at 8:58 pm

      I’m a sucker for salted caramel anything. Thanks, Kim!

  7. Monica | Nourish & Fete says

    September 17, 2017 at 2:32 pm

    These sound delicious – I’m especially drooling over that caramel frosting. Yum! So festive, too. 🙂

    • Abby says

      September 24, 2017 at 8:59 pm

      I could – and maybe did – eat that frosting with a spoon. SO good.

  8. Christine says

    September 17, 2017 at 5:24 pm

    Ahh! All the pumpkin things!!! These look AMAZING. So perfect for this season!

    • Abby says

      September 24, 2017 at 8:59 pm

      Thanks, Christine! If I’m going to jump on the pumpkin bandwagon, I’m going to do it big.

  9. Donna says

    September 17, 2017 at 10:34 pm

    I am sure these will go down a treat, they sound absolutely delicious!! Love that salted caramel frosting 🙂

    • Abby says

      September 24, 2017 at 8:59 pm

      Thanks, Donna! They were certainly a hit.

  10. Michelle says

    September 17, 2017 at 11:46 pm

    these look so amazing! I love the little pumpkin candy on top , and a salted caramel frosting?!?! I’m dying!

    • Abby says

      September 24, 2017 at 9:00 pm

      The candy pumpkins were a last-minute idea. I love them, too!

  11. Jodie Morgan says

    September 19, 2017 at 8:24 pm

    Love this! I’m a sucker for anything pumpkin and these sund delish! Thanks so much for sharing!

    • Abby says

      September 24, 2017 at 9:02 pm

      Thanks, Jodie! I find pumpkin irresistible, too.

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