11 Best Pumpkin Cupcake Recipes

Pumpkin cupcakes are perfect for fall but honestly taste great any time of year. The canned pumpkin makes them super moist and they stay fresh longer than most other cupcakes. These 13 recipes give you tons of options from classic versions to fancy flavor combos that’ll impress everyone. Most pumpkin cupcakes freeze well before frosting, so you can make the cupcakes ahead and frost them when you need them.

Classic Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

These are the perfect fall cupcakes with all the classic spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. The cream cheese frosting is tangy and balances the sweet spiced cake perfectly. The pumpkin keeps these super moist and gives them that beautiful orange color. These are what most people think of when they hear “pumpkin cupcakes” and they never disappoint. Perfect for Halloween parties, Thanksgiving, or anytime you want that cozy fall flavor.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

Adding chocolate chips to pumpkin cupcakes might sound weird but it works so well! The chocolate gets melty and creates little pockets of sweetness throughout the spiced cake. Kids especially love these since they get the fun of chocolate chips. The pumpkin and chocolate combo is surprisingly good – kinda like chocolate pumpkin bread in cupcake form. These are less “fancy” than most cupcakes but still really tasty. Great for school parties or casual get-togethers.

Caramel Pumpkin Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting

These are seriously decadent with caramel mixed into the pumpkin batter and a rich salted caramel frosting on top. Some recipes include a caramel filling in the center too which makes them extra special. The salt in the frosting balances all the sweetness and makes the caramel flavor pop more. These are definitely special occasion cupcakes – they’re rich and impressive looking. Perfect for adult parties or when you really want to wow people.

Pumpkin Maple Cupcakes with Brown Butter Frosting

The maple flavor in these comes from real maple syrup which gives them a more complex sweetness than just using sugar. The brown butter frosting has this amazing nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with both pumpkin and maple. Browning the butter for the frosting takes a few extra minutes but it’s so worth it. These taste like fall in a cupcake and have more sophisticated flavors than basic pumpkin spice. Great for dinner parties or fancy brunches.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes

These taste like cinnamon rolls but in cupcake form! There’s usually a cinnamon sugar swirl in the batter and the frosting tastes like the glaze on cinnamon rolls. Some recipes include a layer of cinnamon filling in the middle of the cupcake. These are perfect for breakfast or brunch since they taste like a morning pastry. The combo of pumpkin and cinnamon roll flavors is really good. Kids and adults both go crazy for these.

Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes with Pumpkin Buttercream

These have cocoa in the batter along with pumpkin which creates this rich, moist chocolate cake. The pumpkin buttercream on top is orange colored and tastes like pumpkin pie. The contrast between the chocolate cake and pumpkin frosting is what makes these special. These look really pretty with the orange frosting on dark cake. Perfect for Halloween since they’ve got the orange and black thing going on.

Pumpkin Pecan Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

The chopped pecans in these add great texture and nutty flavor that goes perfectly with pumpkin. The maple cream cheese frosting combines the best of both worlds – tangy cream cheese and sweet maple flavor. Some recipes sprinkle extra pecans on top of the frosting which looks pretty and adds crunch. These taste like pecan pie mixed with pumpkin pie in cupcake form. Great for Thanksgiving or any fall gathering.

Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream

These use extra spices beyond just the usual pumpkin pie spices – sometimes cardamom, star anise, or extra ginger. The cinnamon buttercream is smooth and creamy with a warm cinnamon flavor that complements the spiced cake. These have more complex flavors than basic pumpkin cupcakes and taste really warming and cozy. Perfect for cold fall days when you want something that tastes like a warm hug.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes

These are like mini pumpkin cheesecakes in cupcake form. Some recipes layer pumpkin cake with cheesecake filling, while others make the whole thing cheesecake-style with a graham cracker crust bottom. Either way they’re rich and creamy with that distinctive cheesecake texture. These are more work than regular cupcakes but worth it for special occasions. They need to be kept in the fridge which makes them nice and cool and refreshing.

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting

These use almond flour or a gluten-free flour blend to make them safe for people with celiac disease. The pumpkin helps keep them moist which is important since gluten-free baked goods can get dry. They don’t rise quite as high as regular cupcakes but still taste great. The vanilla frosting is simple and lets the pumpkin flavor shine through. Good for brunches when you have friends with different dietary needs.

Pumpkin Bourbon Cupcakes with Bourbon Buttercream

These are definitely adults-only cupcakes with bourbon in both the cake and frosting. The bourbon adds depth and warmth that goes really well with the pumpkin spices. Most of the alcohol cooks off during baking but there’s still some in the frosting. These have a more sophisticated flavor that’s less sweet than most cupcakes. Perfect for adult Halloween parties or when you want something with a little kick. My personal favorite for fall dinner parties.