My friend Clara is an excellent baker. Every time I am at her apartment, there is either something in the oven, something that has just come out of the oven, or something that needs to be taste-tested. Recently, she made these amazing pumpkin cupcakes that kicked off pumpkin-flavored-everything season perfectly. As the weather starts to cool off, they pair perfectly with a cup of warm cider, chai, or mug of tea.

Clara’s Pumpkin Cupcakes

Ingredients

Wet

– 1/2 cup non dairy milk- I like soy

– 1/2 cup canola oil

– 2/3 cup canned pumpkin

– 1 t apple cider vinegar

– 1 t vanilla

– 1 t maple syrup

Dry

– 1 1/2 cup white flour

– 1/4 cup white sugar

– 1/3 cup brown sugar

– 1/2 t baking soda

– 1 t baking powder

– 1/2 t cinnamon

– 1/2 t cloves

– A sprinkle of ground ginger and pinch of salt

“Cream Cheese” Frosting

– 2 cups of confectioner’s sugar

– 1/2 cup of vegan butter

– 5 oz of vegan cream cheese

Directions- Cupcakes

– Preheat oven to 350˚F, and line a muffin tin with muffin wrappers.

– Combine milk and vinegar in a small mixing bowl and let sit for ten minutes.

– Combine dry ingredients in bowl, and stir well.

– Combine remaining wet ingredients with the milk and vinegar mixture.

– Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir well. The batter should be thick but without lumps and dark orange in color.

– Spoon batter into muffin tin and place in oven. Bakes in 18-20 minutes, or as soon as a toothpick inserted into the middle of the muffin comes out clean.

– Remove from oven and let cool for at least half an hour.

Frosting

– Let vegan butter sit at room temperature for at least an hour until it soft

– Combine in bowl with sugar and cream cheese

– Mix with an electric mixer until fully combined

Once cakes are cooled- frost liberally. If you are feeling extra fancy, sprinkle a small amount of cinnamon and nutmeg over the frosting. Enjoy outside with the first moments of Fall.

Also by Karina: What I’ve Learned Through a Long Distance Friendship

Is Agave Nectar Bad for Your Health?

Easy Nectarine Pancakes for Lazy Sundays

More pumpkin recipes: Heavenly Vegan Chocolate Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Pecan Sorbet

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Photo: Karina Alexander