Pumpkin Cupcakes with Kahlua Cream Cheese Frosting

Halloween is right around the bend!  I wanted to highlight one of my favorite tasty Halloween recipes that would be a perfect treat for your festivities!  The delicious, creamy Kahlua cream cheese frosting is for adults only, so if you are serving children, simply leave out the Kahlua.  

Ingredients:
Yields 12 cupcakes


Cupcakes

• 1 c pumpkin puree
• 1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 c brown sugar 
• 1/2 c white sugar 
• 1/3 c milk (I used skim)
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil 
• 2 tbsp applesauce 
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 c chopped walnuts

Frosting

• 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 c butter, room temperature
• 2 tbsp Kahlua 
• 2 c confectioners' sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

In a separate large bowl, whisk the egg, brown sugar and white sugar together, until smooth.  Stir in the milk, vegetable oil, applesauce, vanilla extract, pumpkin and walnuts, until combined.  Do not over mix.

Fill a cupcake pan with the batter 4/5 full.  Bake in the oven for 16 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool.

While the cupcakes are cooling, make the frosting.  In a large bowl, beat the the cream cheese, butter and kahlua together using an electric mixer.  Gradually add in the confectioners' sugar until smooth and creamy.

Frost the cupcakes.  Serve and enjoy!