Fall is here! Whether you celebrate the new season with a cup of pumpkin spice coffee or a slice of pumpkin pie, nothing is better than trying out a new seasonal recipe at home and tasting the full flavors of fall.
For those who feel a pumpkin pie is too predictable, why don't you try Giada De Laurentiis' new recipe for pumpkin cupcakes with chocolate cream cheese frosting? This recipe will surely double your happiness because, like she said on Instagram, "pumpkin + chocolate = ❤️"
This is a simple two-part recipe: one set of steps for cupcakes and another for the frosting. While this may sound intimidating, Giada's recipes are very beginner-friendly. Even if you've never baked before, this recipe calls for basic ingredients — including boxed cake mix and canned pumpkin — with straightforward instructions. For that reason, you can get 36 miniature cupcakes done in an hour, making them perfect for a small fall get-together.
The cupcakes themselves only require three steps: mix ingredients, fill the molds and bake. The frosting? Even less complicated. Just mix the ingredients well and spread the frosting on the top of the cupcakes. Keep in mind, however, that you'll want the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting, otherwise the frosting will melt.
Then comes the fun part. Decorate your cupcakes with any add-ons you like. Giada recommends mini-chocolate chips, sprinkles, colored sugar and small candies. These 80-calorie cupcakes are not only a perfect not-so-guilty sweet treat for cravings, but also a must-have to indulge in the season's flavors.
They're also perfect to share with loved ones. A basket of pumpkin cupcakes with chocolate frosting says "I love you" and "thank you" for you. Read the full recipe here.
