Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting - SRC

October?  Is it really October already?  I love all things October except for what comes after October in the midwest, winter!  One of my favorite things about October is pumpkin!!

For October's Secret Recipe Club (SRC), I was assigned The Hobo Kitchen.  If you're not familiar with what SRC is all about, you can read more about it here.  The blogger behind The Hobo Kitchen is Ellie.  Ellie was  born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas and lived there until she was 16. She moved to the US back in the late 90's resides in Hoboken, NJ.  She's been a blogger since 2008!  There's so many great recipes on her blog, check it out!!!

Not sure what it says about me but when browsing Ellie's recipes, I was immediately drawn to her Boozy Cupcakes section.  I guess it's because booze and cupcakes happen to be two of my favorite things, don't think bad of me Ok?!!.    Since it was October, her Pumpkin Beer Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting, seemed like the perfect recipe. 

Ellie said the recipe wasn't quite as sweet as she would have liked, so I added 1/2 cup more white sugar.  I found the sweetness just right, not too sweet and the spices were perfect.  I was really excited about the Maple Cream Cheese Frosting.  Like Ellie, I wish the frosting had a bit more maple flavor but it was still delicious.

Pumpkin Beer Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon all-spice
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup pumpkin puree
12 ounces (1 1/2 cups) Sam Adams Octoberfest beer (or a similar seasonal beer)
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2) Combine the cinnamon, all-spice, nutmeg and cloves in a small bowl or contain

3) In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together, then set aside.

4) Use an electric mixer to cream the butter for several minutes, until white and fluffy.

5) Beat in sugars and spices and mix for about 3 minutes. It will look grainy at first, but just keep beating.

6) Add the eggs one at a time, beating for ~1 minute after each addition.

7) Beat in the pumpkin puree.

8) Add the flour mixture in three additions and the beer in two additions. Alternate between adding the flour mixture and the beer. Beat after each addition.

9) Beat the batter on high speed for 30 seconds. The batter will be loose and smooth.

 10) Pour the batter into cupcake liners and fill about 2/3 of the way.

11) Bake 18-20 minutes.

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1/4 cup maple butter (I used regular butter)
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

1) Using a mixer, beat the butter for several minutes until white and fluffy.
2) Add cream cheese and beat until incorporated with the butter.
3) Add the maple butter and maple syrup and beat until incorporated.
4) Slowly add the confectioner's sugar. You can add more or less sugar depending on how sweet you like your frosting. Beat until fluffy.

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