Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes

These pumpkin spice latte cupcakes are the perfect autumn dessert. If you’re first in line when Starbucks brings back their pumpkin spice lattes each fall, you’re going to love this delicious, edible version of your favorite hot beverage!

Fall is my favorite season. I love the mild weather, the gorgeous colors of the changing leaves, and the warm, comforting smell and taste of fall’s most popular flavor — pumpkin spice.

Of course, aside from the satisfying fall flavor, the best thing about Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte is the coffee! When I said this cupcake is the edible version of a pumpkin spice latte, I meant it.

I haven’t made it a secret that I’m a coffee lover. I’ve been sharing recipes for this Nutella Frappuccino and this Hazelnut Frappuccino.

AND I have an espresso frosted brownie coming up soon! For me, the addition of coffee as an ingredient in my kitchen has been a wonderful part of my foodie creations.

I also love drinking it. (Daily)

And I’m equally obsessed with fall. as you can see since I’ve been baking up Pull Apart Pumpkin Bread and putting together Mini Indian Harvest Pumpkin bundles.

 These Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes are a great copycat of the popular Starbucks fall drink. The pumpkin, coffee, and spices go together so well. And who can resist a cute cupcake with a fun straw?

Fall seems to be all about the Pumpkin Spice. While I love a piping hot coffee as much as anyone, what if you could combine all those flavors into a baked good?

Well I just did! These Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes  contain real pumpkin and a punch of real coffee. You may want to eat these pumpkin spice cupcakes for breakfast, and that’s fine with me. No judging here!

So now you can have your Pumpkin Spice Latte, and eat it too.

I hope that everyone enjoys these as much as we did! We’re looking forward full of pumpkin festivities this weekend. Hopefully, we’ll be painting/carving pumpkins, provided that we can find the perfect pick.

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes 

 Ready to get started? Okay, first make sure you have all the necessary ingredients.

Ingredients Needed for the Cupcakes:

• 1 box of Perfectly Pumpkin Cake Mix
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup unsalted sweet cream butter (softened)
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup strong coffee
• Fall cupcake liners

Ingredients Needed for the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1/2 cup room temperature butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 to 5 cups powdered sugar
• Paper straws and pumpkin pie spice for decoration

Step 1: Prepare

Before we get to baking, we need to preheat the oven (set it to 350 degrees). We also need to line two muffin tins with cupcake liners.

Step 2: Make Cake Batter

Next, combine all of the cupcake ingredients EXCEPT the coffee in the bowl of your stand mixer. If you don’t have one, you can simply use a large bowl and regular hand mixer. Beat on medium speed until smooth (about two minutes). Now it’s time to add the coffee. Stir it into the batter to slowly incorporate it.

Step 3: Bake Cupcakes

Fill the cupcake liners 3/4 full with the batter. Bake for 16 to 20 minutes. You’ll know the cupcakes are done when you can insert a knife into the center of one and it comes out clean.

Step 4: Prepare Frosting

Set the cupcakes aside on a wire rack to cool while you make the frosting.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter together on high speed for 2 minutes using your machine’s whisk attachment. Then, add the vanilla extract and four cups of powdered sugar. If the frosting is too thin, slowly add more powdered sugar until it reaches your desired consistency.

Step 5: Frost Cupcakes

Make sure you let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting them, otherwise, you’ll end up with a runny mess.

Once they’re completely cool to the touch, spoon the frosting into a Ziploc bag (you can also use pastry bags if you have them) and snip off the corner. Pipe the frosting onto each cupcake.

Finally, insert a straw into each cupcake and sprinkle on some pumpkin pie spice. 

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes Recipe

Prefer to print the recipe? Just click the “Print” button in the recipe card below.

Not ready to make these just yet? Pin it for later and enjoy this delicious dessert all through fall!

Prefer the pumpkin spice mocha latte? You’re going to LOVE these Pumpkin Spice Mocha Latte Cookies!