A Healthier Pumpkin Cupcake.
Last fall, I made some delicious pumpkin cupcakes. I made them over and over and over again. And then I ate them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
My goal yesterday was to try another pumpkin cupcake, but this time make it a bit on the healthier side. That way I could really eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
One thing I am not good at: staying out of cake and cookie batter. Major fail.
Chew gum. It helps.
Loved the way these turned out. All whole wheat flour, much less sugar, and no oil. Of course, there is still butter. I mean, who do you think I am?
The cupcakes were still fluffy and moist. I put them in the fridge and snuck eighteen a few bites. They got just a tiny bit dry in the fridge, but as soon as I left them out at room temperature again, they were as fluffy as clouds.
They tasted so incredible, I could barely tell they were a healthier version.
Of course I couldn’t leave it at that. Me let things be? Never.
I whipped up some pumpkin spice cream cheese frosting to pile on top. It made the cupcakes much happier. They feel whole. It keeps them warm.
A Healthier Pumpkin Cupcake
makes 48 mini cupcakes or 24 regular cupcakes
1/2 cup butter
1 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup pumpkin
1 large banana, mashed (about 2/3 cup)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Preheat oven to 350.
In a stand mixer cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and blend. Add pumpkin and banana. Stir in flour, baking soda and powder, and spices. Add milk and mix until batter is smooth. Fill baking cups 3/4 full. Bake mini cupcakes for 11-13 minutes and regular cupcakes for 20-25.
Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Frosting
1/4 cup butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
2-3 cups powdered sugar, depending on desired consistency
Cream butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add vanilla and pumpkin spice. Gradually add in sugar and mix until desired consistency is reached. If mixture is too thick or dry, add some milk 1 tablespoon at a time.
I’m taking these cupcakes on a road trip today to visit some very special people. Hope they are a hit!
68 Comments on “A Healthier Pumpkin Cupcake.”
Thank you thank you for making a healthy cucpake…now we definitely won’t feel guilty having a couple…or more. And pumpkin cream cheese frosting? That’s SUCH a great idea…!
Awww, they are perfect!!!! But….how many times did you double dip your finger in the batter?? ;) CAN’T WAIT FOR TODAY!! xo
Looks delicious!!!
Yum! Would you eat the cupcake as a muffin, or do you think it needs the icing?
yum! we don’t have goof pumpkins here yet but Im waiting and I cant wait to try your version! I love healthified recipes ;)
-Amalia
http://buttersweetmelody.wordpress.com
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Ooo yay for more pumpkin! These sound incredible, and love the fact that they are healthy…I’m sure I’ll just use that as an excuse to eat more. Oh well! :-)
These look amazing! And I’m with you, I’d have to have some pumpkin spice cream on top too!
How did you know I bought 6 cans of pumpkin at the store this week? Due to the talk of a shortage and people having trouble finding it, I stocked up! Anyway, this healthier version looks like the perfect recipe to make with some of my pumpkin stash! :-)
That frosting sounds awesome!!
Cream cheese frosting & pumpkin cupcakes were meant to be!
Mmmmmm, I bet with the Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Frosting on top, these just MELT in your mouth! I’m quite sure they will be a hit!! :)
So good! I make an adjusted version of Tina (carrots n cake)’s vegan pumpkin muffins and am obsessed with them. They are seriously good any time of day. Your frosting job is beautiful :)
Are you trying to tease me or what?
If I were on a feeding tube, I’d want for the tube to be filled with that frosting.
I just made pumpkin chocolate chip muffins! I hate pumpkin but the boyfriend loves it. They smell good… for pumpkin. LOL
I’m SO a raw batter/dough eater. Salmonella be damned. I ate probably 2 cookies worth of raw dough today.
Maybe I should start vegan baking. Then I’ll be guaranteed against salmonella. Awesome.
i have an impossible time resisting baked goods – i think too many years of extra strong willpower
Oooh! Those cupcakes look fantastic. I’ve decided I need to make something with pumpkin, I just haven’t decided WHAT, yet. I LOVE cream cheese frosting, too. YUM!
These would be gone in a heart beat…you wouldn’t even know they’d been in my house! …well, the fact that the kitchen would probably be a mess might give it away.
JEALOUS.
Of the trip, not the cupcakes as I could give two craps about anything pumpkin. Have fun!!!
Jessica–these look like perfection! I’m so excited to finally find a healthier version of pumpkin cake (or, cupcakes in this case!). And in my world, frosting on cupcakes is never optional :) Thanks for sharing another great one!
I always go for healthier. Thank you! :)
These look so great, I wish I had one right now! I love that they are healthier.
These look to die for! I must try them!
The cupcakes sound great and they look really pretty!!
Those are so cute. I love mini’s, they are a perfect portion controlled bite.
Those are adorable!! Do you have any tips on how to “healthify” recipes? I know good substitutes for oil, butter, or sugar are yogurt, honey, bananas, or applesauce, but I wasn’t sure if there was a generic rule of thumb on ratios.
Can either of those healthier subsitutes be used for either of their ‘less healthy’ counterparts? (ex: replace butter with either bananas or yoghurt?)
Thanks!
Yum! Perfection as always Jess :)
I love “healthy” baked goods. Snacking on them actually makes you feel FULL, instead of like you’re on a sugar high. These look yummy!
and when u make them really decadent and mini, u dont feel guilty about having a few :P :P hehe <3
I’m going to say “healthier” means you can justify eating 4 in a row… ;)
These are so cute. :) I love the sugar sprinkled on top (I think that’s sugar?)
Those look amazing…too bad it isn’t me you are coming to visit! :)
jessica those look sso amazing I dont even have words…i also just read your post from a few posts back about work and you have no idea what a strong person you are. I mean i kow you probably have some idea, but really it takes such a strong, level headed person to stop doing someting even though you are making money—if you are miserable this is no way to live life. I truly wish you lived closer to me, i want to meet you like you would NOT believe <3
I think my pumpkin bread I made last night is less healthy than this. I could eat the whole batch in one sitting though. I’m a pig like that.
These look wonderful! I love when fall rolls around so that I can start frosting things with pumpkin buttercream. :-)
they look great and i just posted today about “healthifying” recipes…you do a great job on it and clearly i wish i was eating those! :)
These are the perfect thing to bring to a fall get together! Thanks for the idea!
This is the first recipe of yours i’ve made! I usually just stalk them out and drool, but tonight I got on my baking (insert clothing item you tackle baking with) and went to town! These were so yummy, I just substituted applesauce for the butter and it seemed just fine! I threw walnuts in mine so they were a tad more like a muffin I suppose but still delish. I may have eaten one, or two, or three smothered in almond butter already…
whatever it’s the weekend :)
I hope you have a great start to your week tomorrow-thinking of you!
OMGaaa, I want to pop 20 of those into my mouth. Right.now. I’m bad about eating batter while I bake, too. If the ingredients are supposed to make 24 cookies, I usually end up with 12 ;)
Those sound and look delicious!
These look like fall perfection. I’d say the frosting is a must-have. Wishing I could eat one for breakfast, lunch and dinner tomorrow :)
“They feel whole. It keeps them warm.” That made me ROFL. Seriously. I LOVE pumpkin anything, so this recipe makes me very happy. I can’t wait to make them!
I’ve tried the chewing gum trick – didn’t work so well for me either! My sweet tooth always wins :) I am on a serious pumpkin kick lately – I have been prowling the streets for every place that serves pumpkin-flavored goodies and have been adding in pumpkin to my food like it’s going out of style. This morning it even made its way into my french toast. That being said, I need to whip some of those bad boys up asap!
You had me at “healthier”. This looks really really good, but still has a 1/2 cup of butter and then some, despite the fat, they still look yummy!!!!
Great job!
Since these are healthy, I think I could easily eat the whole pan. Hey, they’re good for me! ;-)
Can I just have the icing?
How is it already OCTOBER 4th and I have not made ONE single pumpkin recipe yet?!? Gotta fix that ASAP
Yum this look great and I have about 1/2 cup of pumpkin in the refrigerator now that I need to use to make these….perfecto!