How to Make Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Fall is here and so is pumpkin everything!  My husband began experimenting with pumpkin desserts last fall.  These Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with were a huge hit!  Whip up a batch of our cream cheese frosting to top them off!

If I could bottle up the scent of these while they were baking, I’d be a millionaire.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

• 1-1/3 cups flour
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp coarse grain salt
• ¾ tsp cinnamon
• ¾ tsp ginger
• ½ tsp ground clove
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp allspice
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup unsalted butter melted
• 2 eggs
• 15 ounces pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place cupcake liners in a cupcake pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices.
3. In another bowl, beat together butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Add in pumpkin puree, buttermilk, and vanilla extract and beat some more.  Add the eggs one at a time while beating.
4. Thoroughly combine the dry and wet ingredients.
5. Fill cupcake liners three quarters of the way up.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.
7. Allow cupcakes to cool completely then apply frosting using recipe below.

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

• 4 ounces softened butter
• 8 ounces softened cream cheese
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Beat together butter and cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth.
2. Add vanilla extract and beat a little more.
3. Slowly add sugar while beating and then beat until desired consistency.
4. Optional:  Add ½ cup of real maple syrup (not the maple flavored corn syrup varieties) for an added fall twist! 

Now you can eat your pumpkin spice cupcake with your pumpkin spice latte and all will be right with the world. Enjoy!
Make sure to check out more of our favorite fall recipes here:

• Cranberry Turnovers
• Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins
• Easy Fall Cake Mix Cookies
• Best Fall Soup Recipes
• Apricot Pecan Yams

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Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Everyone’s favorite fall flavor paired with a creamy, rich cream cheese frosting!

Ingredients

Cupcakes

• 1-1/3 cups flour
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp coarse grain salt
• ¾ tsp cinnamon
• ¾ tsp ginger
• ½ tsp ground clove
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp allspice
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup unsalted butter melted
• 2 eggs
• 15 ounces pumpkin puree – see note**
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 4 ounces softened butter
• 8 ounces softened cream cheese
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Cupcakes

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place liners in a cupcake pan
• In a mixing bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices.
• In another bowl, beat together butter and sugar until it becomes light and fluffy. Add in pumpkin puree, buttermilk, and vanilla extract and beat some more. Add the eggs one at a time while beating.
• Thoroughly combine the dry and wet ingredients.
• Fill cupcake liners ¾ way up.
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.
• Allow cupcakes to cool then apply frosting (see cream cheese frosting recipe below)

Cream Cheese Frosting

• Beat together butter and cream cheese until smooth.
• Add vanilla extract and beat a little more.
• Slowly add sugar while beating and beat until desired consistency

The post Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting appeared first on Create Craft Love.

Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies

My favorite candy is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups!  They are chocolate-y, peanut buttery morsels of heaven.  And I have no idea why they test better in the egg or pumpkin form.  When challenged to make a recipe using left over Halloween candy, I knew I had to incorporate these yummy little nougats.  

These brownies consist of 3 layers. The bottom layer is brownie mix, middle layer is pretzels and peanut butter cups and finally the top crunchy layer. They are so easy to make!

I loved the idea of using pretzels to change these into Take Five tasting brownies!

Use your favorite brownie box mix to create the bottom layer of these brownies.

While they are baking, cut up your Reese’s pumpkins.  I used 14 of them.  Place them in a bowl and set aside. Break up about a cup of pretzel sticks and added them to the peanut butter cup dish.

Take the brownies out of the oven about 5 minutes early and sprinkle the peanut butter and pretzel mixture on top to create the middle layer.  Return to the oven for the remaining 5 minutes.

Once they get all melty, spread the mixture out on top.

Then melt the chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter together. Finally add the rice krispies to create a crunchie topping. Spread the chocolate/peanut butter/rice krispie mixture on top.  

Chill in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.

Yummy, deliciousness!

Am I the only one who raids the kiddo’s candy for Reese’s PB cups?

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Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies

Course Dessert

Keyword brownies

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 1 box brownie mix
• 14 reeses peanut butter cups
• 1 cup pretzel sticks broken into pieces
• 1 bag semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1¼ cup peanut butter
• ¼ cup butter
• 1½ cup rice krispies

Instructions

• Use your favorite brownie box mix to create the bottom layer of these brownies.
• While they are baking, cut up your Reese's pumpkins. lace them in a bowl and set aside. Break up about a cup of pretzel sticks and added them to the peanut butter cup dish.
• Take the brownies out of the oven about 5 minutes early and sprinkle the peanut butter and pretzel mixture on top to create the middle layer.  Return to the oven for the remaining 5 minutes.
• Once they get all melty, spread the mixture out on top.
• Melt the chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter together in the microwave. Finally add the rice krispies to create a crunchie topping.
• Spread the chocolate/peanut butter/rice krispie mixture on top.  
• Chill in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.

Stop by and check out these other AMAZING recipes using leftover Halloween Candy!

More amazing dessert recipes:

• Jell-o Pie Recipe
• Lemon Cake Mix Sweet Rolls
• No Bake Banana Pudding
• Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

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Apple Cider Cups

Ingredients for Apple Cider

• 1 cup apple juice

• 1 Tablespoon Torani Caramel Syrup

• Dash of cinnamon

• 1 cinnamon stick

• Shark Bite Drink Recipe

• Mai Tai Mocktail Recipe

• Caramel Apple Sangria

• Fizzy Strawberry Lemonade

• Mint Chocolate Affogato

The post How to Make Delicious Apple Cider Cups appeared first on Create Craft Love.

Ice Cream Sandwich Monsters

I love quick and easy recipes!   As many of you know, I don’t cook. So the easier, the better. Plus it’s always fun to see the look of surprise on their faces when it’s out of the usual. Let the kids help you make these cuties. They will love decorating and eating their little monsters.

Make your own Ice Cream Sandwich Monsters

Ingredients:

• Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix
• Icing
• M&Ms
• Vanilla ice cream

First of all, if you haven’t tried the Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix, you need to.  It’s amazing and so easy to work with.  So much better than the refrigerated stuff. I used the drop cookie recipe on the back of the package.  

Directions

1. Combine the ingredients for the cookies and bake per directions.
2. Allow cookies to cool completely before assembling the Ice Cream Sandwich Monsters. (You don’t want the ice cream to melt!)
3. Decorate the cookie with colored icing.  Use white icing for the eyes and add M&Ms.
4. Once your cookies are decorated, add your ice cream.  

*I used a small carton of Ben and Jerry’s (or your favorite ice cream) and sliced through the carton to get the ice cream in circles! Much easier than scooping and trying to manipulate the ice cream.

Aren’t they the cutest things ever?  This is a fun and easy recipe to get the kids involved! You could even make a variation of these for birthdays by leaving off the eyes and rolling the edges in sprinkles.

If you liked this easy recipe, you might like our Homemade Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches!

More Easy Kids Recipes

You can never have too many fun and easy recipes for kids on hand! Here are a few more of our favorites:

• No Bake Bumblebee Oreos
• Salted Caramel Ice Cream Float
• Edible Olympic Medals
• Teddy Bear Toast Kid’s Breakfast
• Easy Hot Cocoa Dip
• Hand Dipped Ice Cream Cones

What are some of your favorite easy kids recipes?  I’d love to hear them, and if you get a chance feel free to share them over in our Facebook group!

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Oreo Mummies

Who doesn’t love Oreos?  Not only are they delicious in their own right, but they are so versatile!  How to make Oreo Mummies

You can make so many things with these delightful morsels. As you can see, we love coming up with new cute desserts. Check out our Faux Petit Fours that we made for 4th of July or our fun Bumblebee Oreos!\

Ingredients

• Package of Oreos
• Vanilla icing
• Ruffle piping nozzle
• Candy eyeballs

We love easy recipes.  Less stress and even the kids will have fun making these fun Oreo Mummies!

How to make Oreo Mummies

1. Begin by using a small amount of icing on the cookie.  Use this icing as glue to adhere your candy eyeballs.
2. Set aside and allow icing to solidify or dry.
3. Change to a ruffle piping nozzle to add the frosting “guaze” to the cookie.
4. Begin icing on one side of the cookie.  Pipe left to right at an angle.  Switch and repeat the same process from right to left.  Continue alternating your way down until the cookie is covered.  This will create the overlapping gauze look you see on mummies.
5. Continue the above process until desired amount of cookies are covered.
6. Allow to icing to harden before storing in an airtight container.

Easy and fun!! Let the kids try and make their own mummies. They will love this simple recipe!  

These Oreo mummies are such a fun and simple way to celebrate Halloween. If your school doesn’t allow homemade items, save these for lunches or your own costume party.  

You can even use colored icing if you really want a POP!

More Favorite Halloween Recipes

What are some of your favorite Halloween recipes? Share them over in our Facebook group! Here are some of our other Halloween favorite crafts and recipes:

• Halloween Wreath {aka Nevermore}
• Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats
• Easy Halloween Appetizers: Wrapped Mummy Peppers
• Gross Halloween Party Food: Dirty Earwax Q-Tip Treats
• Candy Corn Necklace
  

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Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats

Ya’ll know I love an easy recipe! I don’t even know if you can classify this as a recipe. But since it involves food, we will just go with it. These would be cute to make for a Halloween party!

You can also include our Oreo Mummies!

Ingredients needed for Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats

• Rice Krispie Treats
• Green candy melts
• Candy googly eyes
• Rolos
• Chocolate icing
• Angled spatula

You can of course make these fun halloween Rice Krispie treats from scratch but in a pinch, it’s so nice to be able to use the premade ones. You can buy the individually wrapped Rice Krispie treats or they also have these huge Rice Krispie treat blocks that we love! (thank you to SheSaved for telling us about these… they make these so much easier and fun!!)

Instructions

1. After you unwrap all of your rice krispie treats, set aside and begin melting your candy melts. Follow the instructions on the package for melting in your microwave.
2. Using an angled spatula, gently ice the tops of the rice krispie treats.
3. Before the green candy re-hardens, add your candy googly eyes to the face.
4. Next add, the rolos for the bolts on the side of his head. I used the chocolate icing as glue. Dab some icing on the unwrapped rolo and adhere to the side of the treat. Repeat for the other side of his head.
5. To finish Frankenstein, I iced on some hair and a mouth. I have to tell you he turned out cuter than I imagined!
6. Finally, you can add a paper straw or popsicle stick to the bottom to make handling him a little less sticky. Do this before he dries otherwise you will be able to see cracks! I would advise doing this before you even start icing.

Everyone went crazy for these treats! Not only were they super festive and fun for decor, but they were also delicious! Highly recommend these for your Halloween party!
Here are some other favorite Halloween party recipe ideas:

• Halloween Chocolate Covered Pretzels
• Oreo Mummies
• Candy Corn Cupcakes
• Spooky Spider Halloween Sugar Cookies
• Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Halloween Mini Donuts

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Halloween Mini Donuts

Hello Create Craft Love!  I’m so excited to be back again this month sharing another fun and easy recipe!

Perhaps it’s the fact that I grew up visiting cider mills in Michigan, but there is something about fall that just makes me want to bake donuts.  

My favorites are apple cider donuts, but it’s hard to find good cider here in Vegas.  

My family loves my blueberry donuts, but those are more of a spring time treat.   So last Sunday afternoon I gathered the kids in to the kitchen and we made Halloween mini-donuts.

I usually bake donuts in a heart shaped donut pan, but I  have a serious addiction to small kitchen appliances and I recently bought this Babycakes Mini-Donut Maker.

I love anything I can bake in and not have to fire up my oven.

I adapted a recipe in the booklet that came with the donut maker and it turned out great!  

This is basically a buttermilk pumpkin donut and it’s full of fall flavors.  I mixed all of the ingredients in one bowl, which made it super easy to make.

I tried a couple of different ways to get the dough in to donut maker.  It’s a pretty runny batter similar to a cake mix.  

I found that a piping bag worked best, but I think something like this Wilton Decorator would work best.  Otherwise, just use a good old fashioned tablespoon!

I got about 18 donuts out of this batch, I think.  A few ended up being eaten before I could get everything counted.

The Babycakes comes with a little cooling rack and a fork that makes getting the donuts out super easy.

The top of the donuts did not bake up nice and brown like the bottoms.  I tried a few different things and nothing seemed to work.  No worries, though, just put frosting and sprinkles over the pale side.

I used a tub of vanilla frosting and Halloween jimmies to decorate the donuts for Halloween. Of course, you can frost them however you want so they are very versatile.  

Definitely don’t limit yourself to eating these just for Halloween!  

If you love this recipe, make sure to check out my blog, Growing Up Gabel, for more delicious inspiration.

More Favorite Donut Recipes

Donuts are always the perfect treat for fall. Here are more of our favorite donut or doughnut (whichever you prefer) recipes: 

Homemade Donut Recipes

Unicorn Donut Recipe

Easy Homemade Boston Cream Donuts

Spooky (and EASY!) Donuts

Easy Homemade Apple Doughnuts Recipe

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Halloween Mini-Donuts

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil I use avocado oil
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• Splash of vanilla extract
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• Frosting and sprinkles

Instructions

• Plug in Babycakes donut maker and allow to pre-heat. You may need to pre-treat with oil. Check the directions.
• In a large bowl beat together sugar and oil using a wooden spoon or spatula. Add in egg, vanilla, and buttermilk and beat until combined.
• Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and pumpkin pie spice. Mix batter until combined and lumps are gone.
• Spoon batter in to a piping bag or just use a spoon to fill each donut cavity with batter. Close donut maker and bake for at least 3 minutes or according to the instructions on the maker. When done, remove donuts and allow to cool.
• Frost with desired frost and decorate.

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I had so much fun putting together the Patriotic Charcuterie Board post that I knew I needed to do a Halloween one!

Fun fact: Did you know that charcuterie implies you are adding meat? We will call these snack boards since not all of them include meat…some just contain candy! I think that is why these boards have taken off so much in the last couple of years. What a fun way to present your guests with treats this Halloween!

As always, please pin from the original source.

Festive Halloween Charcuterie Board from Jennifer Maune

Halloween Charcuterie Board from A Tufted Life

Spook -cuterie Board from Party Pinching

Halloween Board from Mama Loves Food

Halloween Charcuterie Board from Favorite Family Recipes

Halloween Charcuterie Board from Simply Delicious

Halloween Charcuterie Board from The College Housewife

Charcuterie Board for Fall from Number 2 Pencil

Halloween Charcuterie Board from The Creative Bite

Halloween Char-booterie Board from The Vivacious Life

Spooky Snack Board from The Baker Mama

Halloween Candy Charcuterie Board from Pint Sized Baker

Halloween Charcuterie Board from The Toasty Kitchen

Halloween Dessert Charcuterie Board from I Am A Honeybee

The Ultimate Halloween Charcuterie Board from Southern Made Simple

Killer Halloween Charcuterie Board from Brittany Stager

Halloween Charcuterie Board from Paleomg

Halloween Cheese Board from Bless This Mess

Easy Halloween Charcuterie Board from Hilda’s Kitchen Blog

Fun & Spooky Halloween Charcuterie Board from My Texas House

Halloween Charcuterie Board from Melissa’s Healthy Kitchen

Kid Friendly Halloween Board from Love and Confection

Halloween Charcuterie Board from A Pumpkin and a Princess

Halloween Candy Board from Sage to Silver

Halloween Themed Snack from Howe We Live

Halloween Charcuterie Board from My Rustic Retreat

The post Halloween Snack Board Ideas for Your Spooky Party appeared first on Create Craft Love.

Halloween candy is my downfall.  It calls to me in the night.  I’m pretty sure my husband and I eat more of it than the kiddo.  But instead of letting it get out of control.  You can bake it up in any of these amazing desserts!

As always, please pin from the original posts!

Leftover Halloween Candy Recipes

Loaded Candy Bar Brownies from I Heart Nap Time

Snickers Bar Blondies from Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Candylicious Cookies from Lil Luna

Candy Bar Brownie Pie from The Gold Lining Girl

Twix Caramel Brownies from Two Peas and Their Pod

Candy Oreo Monster Blondies from Life Made Sweeter 

Candy Bar Trifle from Lil Luna

Kitchen Sink Halloween Chocolate Bark from Camille Styles

Vanilla Halloween Ice Cream with Smarties and Sprinkles from The Cookie Writer

Crispy Butterfinger Cookies from Two Peas and Their Pod

Leftover Halloween Candy Cookie Bars from Together As Family

Candy Oreo Monster Skillet from Life Made Sweeter

Leftover Halloween Candy Pie from Pies Before Guys

Peanut Butter Candy Bar Fudge from Mom on Timeout

Candy Bar Pie at Crazy for Crust

Halloween Oreo Candy Bark from A Pumpkin and A Princess

Reeses Monkey Bread from Rare

Candy Corn Pretzel Bites from Live Well Bake Often

Halloween Kit Kat Ice Cream Cake from Family Spice

Peanut Butter M&M Truffles from Sally’s Baking Addiction

Candy Cookie Pie from Your HomeBased Mom

Peanut Butter Cup Bark from Six Sisters Stuff

Brown’s Butterfinger Bundt Cake from Mighty Mrs

Apple Nachos from Inside Bru Crew Life

Monster Cookie Cheeseball from Shugary Sweets

Butterfinger Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars from Bakers Royale

PB Cup and Pretzel Brownies from Create.Craft.Love

Overloaded Mars Bar Cake from The Cookie Writer

Snickers Cookie Bars from If You Give a Blonde a Kitchen

Butterfinger Brownie Pizza from Fake Ginger

Candy Bar Ice Cream from Your Homebased Mom

Halloween Candy Muddy Buddies from It Bakes Me Happy

Milky Way Bar Cupcakes from Taste and Tell

Monster Candy Milkshake from Everyday Dishes

Leftover Halloween Candy Granola by Pip and Ebby

Halloween Muddy Buddies from Create.Craft.Love

Skinny Candy Dip from Crazy for Crust

Halloween Candy Cake from Cookies and Cups

Take away tips for using leftover candy…

1. Chocolate should never go to waste!  Make something yummy!
2. Brownies are a great option for leftover candy.
3. Hide the candy from the kids to make these recipes!

I’m pretty sure I gained 10 lbs writing this post.  But OMG – totally worth it!  I can’t wait to try that skillet!  Looks delish!

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Make Your Own Halloween Chocolate Covered Pretzels!

Pretzel rods
Orange and black candy melts
Microwave safe bowl
Halloween sprinkles

I love easy holiday treats!  My family loves my Halloween Muddy Buddies.  But chocolate covered pretzels are my favorite!

No matter how many times I use candy melts, I always forget how to melt the candy melts.  The package instructions take FOREVER on my microwave and I inevitably end up doing my own thing.  No wonder I can’t remember!  So if you’re a rule follower, follow the package instructions.  If you’re inpatient, like myself, do your own thing.

Once the candy is melted, I pour some onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet.  This allows for easier “dipping” than using the bowl.

Now you can simply, roll the pretzel rod through the melted candy instead of trying to dip in the bowl.  This method also makes for much prettier looking pretzels in the end. Dipping in a bowl tends to leave the candy melt all clumpy and lumpy.

Once the pretzels have been rolled in the candy melts, I place them on a baking rack set on a cookie sheet to add the sprinkles.  The cookie sheet will catch MOST of the rogue sprinkles but not all.  I guess I could do it over the sink but then I can’t reuse the ones that I catch in the cookie sheet.  Carefully sprinkle on your Halloween sprinkles and allow the candy to harden.

Allow the chocolate to harden completely. Store the finished pretzels in an airtight container!

I love making these ahead of time for holidays and parties!  They keep well and taste great!

What is your favorite Halloween treat? Or what is you go to recipe for parties?

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