Sometimes it's your boyfriend's birthday...
... and sometimes this means you have to bake.
Today is my boyfriend's birthday, and so although I have much grander confectionary plans in mind for the celebration with friends, I could never show up on his birthday empty-handed, could I? Enter: cupcakes.
(Don't worry, I got him a real gift. But I hope he likes these, too!)
He likes pumpkin, and he likes cream cheese, and he isn't a huge "cake" person, so I found a recipe for pumpkin cupcakes with a cream cheese frosting. Perfect!
They're not super sweet but are oh-so-tasty, so I think he'll enjoy the flavors.
And I think you will, too.
While those are baking, you have just enough time to make the cream-cheese frosting!
That's optional. They're also delicious as muffins (without the frosting), or could go with vanilla or chocolate frosting if cream cheese flavor isn't your thing.
Don't bite yet--too hot! Let them cool for a bit.
Looks like they could've been filled with more batter. Next time: Go big or go home.
Pin It
Frost and sprinkle, if you please.
Pin It
Perfect density.
Packed and ready to go! Will put candles in tonight. =)

Read more for the recipe. PLUS the Hanukkah surprise ...
... and sometimes this means you have to bake.
![]() |
dry ingredients |
Today is my boyfriend's birthday, and so although I have much grander confectionary plans in mind for the celebration with friends, I could never show up on his birthday empty-handed, could I? Enter: cupcakes.
![]() |
wet ingredients |
(Don't worry, I got him a real gift. But I hope he likes these, too!)
![]() |
The star has arrived |
He likes pumpkin, and he likes cream cheese, and he isn't a huge "cake" person, so I found a recipe for pumpkin cupcakes with a cream cheese frosting. Perfect!
![]() |
Ready, set... combine! |
They're not super sweet but are oh-so-tasty, so I think he'll enjoy the flavors.
![]() |
Mix. |
And I think you will, too.
![]() |
Pour. |
While those are baking, you have just enough time to make the cream-cheese frosting!
That's optional. They're also delicious as muffins (without the frosting), or could go with vanilla or chocolate frosting if cream cheese flavor isn't your thing.
![]() |
Almost ready? |
Don't bite yet--too hot! Let them cool for a bit.
Looks like they could've been filled with more batter. Next time: Go big or go home.
Pin It
Frost and sprinkle, if you please.
Pin It
Perfect density.

Read more for the recipe. PLUS the Hanukkah surprise ...
Pumpkin Cupcakes
Based on a recipe on Epicurious. I doubled it (reflected below, with my other health- and flavor-related changes), and it made 12 medium-sized cupcakes.
Ingredients:
Based on a recipe on Epicurious. I doubled it (reflected below, with my other health- and flavor-related changes), and it made 12 medium-sized cupcakes.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- As much cinnamon as your heart desires. The recipe calls for 1/2, but my heart desires a lot of cinnamon and less ginger/nutmeg, so I just loaded on the cinnamon. With a splash of pumpkin pie spice.
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- A few squeezes of honey
- 2 Tbsp "butter" of choice, softened. I used Olivio spread
- 2 egg whites
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree. (This is way more than the recipe called for, but can you really call them "Pumpkin Cupcakes" if you only use 1/4 cup??)
- 2 Tbsp "milk" of choice, fat free
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare nonstick muffin cups or baking tray.
- Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, (ginger, nutmeg,) and salt until combined.
- In another bowl, mash sugar, honey, and "butter" until combined. Stir in egg whites first, then pumpkin, "milk," and vanilla, until mixed well.
- Add dry ingredients; stir until combined.
- Pour batter into muffin cups -- I poured until 3/4 full, but probably would have been better if they just about reached the tops. Bake until cupcakes spring back when touched, about 15 minutes.
- Let cool before eating or frosting.
Cream-cheese frosting:
(makes enough to cover 12 medium-sized cupcakes)
Ingredients:
- 4 Tbsp lowfat cream cheese, at room temperature
- 4 tsp trans-fat-free margarine (or sub)
- 4 Tbsp confectioners' sugar
- 4 Tbsp nonfat plain yogurt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions
UPDATE: Sometimes your boyfriend's birthday falls on the first night of Hanukkah, and so you have to improvise.
Happy Hanukkah!
- In a bowl, beat cream cheese, margarine, and sugar until smooth.
- Add yogurt and vanilla; stir until combined.
- I added a tiny drop of pumpkin in, here. Unite the flavors!
- When cupcakes cool, frost!
Happy Hanukkah!
I love this!!!! Great creativity! Hope u sign up for the 10k and just do what u can
ReplyDeleteThanks, Steph! I just did :)
ReplyDeleteThese are PERFECT. Love love love. Beautiful pictures, too, mer!
ReplyDelete