Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cupcakes

How To Make Pumpkin Cupcakes, Step By Step

As always, you can find the full recipe, with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.

Start With The Cupcakes

1. Preheat & Prep. To start, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup metal muffin pan with parchment paper liners or grease well to avoid sticking.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients. In a medium bowl, combine gluten-free flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, and cloves. Whisk until well combined and no large clumps of flour remain. 
3. Combine Wet Ingredients. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the wet ingredients. Mix pumpkin puree, brown sugar, eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla. Whisk or mix until smooth. 
4. Add Dry Ingredients to the Wet Ingredients and stir until just combined. Try not to over-mix. (Just stop mixing when there aren’t any large clumps of dry ingredients remaining.)
5. Scoop The Cupcake Batter. Scoop the cupcake batter into your prepared muffin cups, filling each cup only 2/3 full (if you end up filling them 3/4 full, you won’t have as many cupcakes and may need to bake them longer.) Keep in mind that you’ll likely have 14-16 cupcakes total, so you’ll need to bake the last few in a second batch, or you can use a second muffin pan, if you have one.)
6. Bake. Then, bake the cupcakes at 350 degrees F. for 17-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs and the tops of the cupcakes spring back when gently pressed with your finger. Let the cupcakes cool 2-3 minutes in the muffin tin before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling completely. Bake any remaining cupcakes, as needed.  Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting them.

Next Make The Frosting & Decorate

7. Beat Butter & Cream Cheese. In a large mixing bowl or a stand mixer, combine butter and cream cheese. Beat until smooth and well combined, 2-3 minutes.  
8. Combine. Add 3.5 cups powdered sugar, as well as the vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Beat the frosting on LOW speed for about 30 seconds while the powdered sugar is getting incorporated, then beat on medium speed about 2 minutes. The frosting will be lighter in texture and color as more air is incorporated.
9. If you plan to frost the cupcakes (rather than pipe the icing), you’ll want to check the frosting texture here. It’ll be soft, but shouldn’t be drippy or too loose. You may want to add an additional 1/2 cup of powdered sugar if your frosting seems too soft. Spread the frosting on cooled cupcakes and decorate with any desired garnishes, like caramel sauce, cinnamon sticks, pecans, sprinkles, or a pinch of cinnamon. 
10. If you plan to pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes, you’ll need to make sure the frosting is stiff enough to hold its shape. This means adding an additional 1-1.5 cups powdered sugar. Start 1/2 cup at a time, beating to incorporate the powdered sugar after each addition, until your frosting can easily hold its shape. (You can test this by dolloping a bit on the edge of a butter knife and seeing how the frosting behaves. If it drips off or spreads, it’s likely too soft. Keep adding powdered sugar until you reach the right consistency. For me, this is usually at the 4.5 cup mark, though if your kitchen is hot, or the butter has gotten warm, you may need a full 5 cups.) Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes as desired, and top with any desired garnishes, like caramel sauce, cinnamon sticks, pecans, sprinkles, or a pinch of cinnamon. 
11. Store leftover pumpkin spice cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days, or freeze up to 1 month. (FYI: They’ll freeze better unfrosted!)

FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cupcakes

CAN I MAKE PUMPKIN CUPCAKES IN ADVANCE? Yes! This is great news, if you’re bringing them to a party or get-together. The cupcakes can be baked, cooled, and frozen for up to 1 month or stored in the refrigerator 1-2 days in advance. (You will NOT freeze them with frosted.) The frosting can be prepared 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.

I DON’T LIKE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING. ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS? I get that not everyone’s a fan of cream cheese frosting! I’d recommend a salted caramel buttercream, or even a marshmallow buttercream instead!

THE BEST CUPCAKE LINERS EVER. These parchment muffin liners are my absolute favorite. They’re neutral, so they work for any occasion, and they’re completely nonstick, which means you won’t lose half your cupcake to the wrapper. (I hate when that happens!)

WHAT’S THE BEST GLUTEN-FREE FLOUR FOR CUPCAKES? In our experience, the best gluten-free flour for cupcakes is a measure-for-measure blend with xanthan gum. We highly and very strongly recommend King Arthur Measure-For-Measure Flour. With any flour you use, be sure to use the Scoop & Level Method to measure or weigh it properly! Adding excess flour leads to dense, gummy cupcakes. You can’t substitute almond flour or coconut flour for this recipe.

More Gluten-Free Pumpkin Treats To Try

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Streusel Bread

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Gluten-Free Pumpkin French Toast Casserole

Recipe Card

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cupcakes With Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

5 from 2 votes

Author: Emily Dixon, Sweets & Thank You

My favorite gluten-free pumpkin cupcake recipe! These fluffy cupcakes have warm spices and a lovely cinnamon cream cheese frosting you’ll love!

Prep Time: 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Print Pin Rate

Servings: 14 -16 Cupcakes

Ingredients

For The Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cupcakes:

• 1 ¾ cup gluten-free measure-for-measure flour (210 grams, weighed or scooped & leveled)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ¾ teaspoon cinnamon*
• ¼ teaspoon ginger*
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg*
• ¼ teaspoon cardamom*
• ⅛ teaspoon cloves*
• 1 cup unsweetened pumpkin puree*
• ⅔ cup brown sugar (133 grams)
• 3 large eggs
• ½ cup oil*
• ⅓ cup milk*
• 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla

For The Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:

• ½ cup butter, softened (1 stick/113 grams)
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (226 grams)
• 3.5-5 cups powdered sugar (420-600 grams)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
• pinch salt (less than 1/8 tsp)

Optional Ideas, For Decoration:

• Caramel sauce (homemade or a store-bought option like Ghirardelli brand)
• Cinnamon stick
• Sprinkles
• Chopped pecans
• A sprinkle of pumpkin spice or cinnamon

Instructions

FOR THE GLUTEN-FREE PUMPKIN CUPCAKES:

• Preheat & Prep. To start, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup metal muffin pan with parchment paper liners or grease well to avoid sticking.
• Combine Dry Ingredients. In a medium bowl, combine gluten-free flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, and cloves. Whisk until well combined and no large clumps of flour remain. 
• Combine Wet Ingredients. In a large bowl or a stand mixer, combine the wet ingredients. Mix pumpkin puree, brown sugar, eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla. Whisk or mix until smooth. 
• Add Dry Ingredients to the Wet Ingredients and stir until just combined. Try not to over-mix. (Just stop mixing when there aren't any large clumps of dry ingredients remaining.)
• Scoop The Cupcake Batter into your prepared muffin cups, filling each cup only 2/3 full. (If you end up filling them 3/4 full, you won't have as many cupcakes and may need to bake them longer.) Keep in mind that you'll likely have 14-16 cupcakes total, so you'll need to bake the last few in a second batch, or you can use a second muffin pan, if you have one.)
• Bake. Then, bake the cupcakes at 350 degrees F. for 17-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs and the tops of the cupcakes spring back when gently pressed with your finger. Let the cupcakes cool 2-3 minutes in the muffin tin before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling completely. Bake any remaining cupcakes, as needed.  Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting them.

FOR THE CINNAMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

• Beat Butter & Cream Cheese. In a large mixing bowl or a stand mixer, combine butter and cream cheese. Beat until smooth and well combined, 2-3 minutes.  
• Combine. Add 3.5 cups powdered sugar, as well as the vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Beat the frosting on low for about 30 seconds while the powdered sugar is getting incorporated, then beat on medium speed about 2 minutes. The frosting will be lighter in texture and color as more air is incorporated.
• If you plan to frost the cupcakes (rather than pipe the icing), you'll want to check the frosting texture here. It'll be soft, but shouldn't be drippy or too loose. You may want to add an additional 1/2 cup of powdered sugar if your frosting seems too soft. Spread the frosting on cooled cupcakes and decorate with any desired garnishes, like caramel sauce, cinnamon sticks, pecans, sprinkles, or a pinch of cinnamon. 
• If you plan to pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes, you'll need to make sure the frosting is stiff enough to hold its shape. This means adding an additional 1-1.5 cups powdered sugar. Start 1/2 cup at a time, beating to incorporate the powdered sugar after each addition, until your frosting can easily hold its shape. (You can test this by dolloping a bit on the edge of a butter knife and seeing how the frosting behaves. If it drips off or spreads, it's likely too soft. Keep adding powdered sugar until you reach the right consistency.

  For me, this is usually at the 4.5 cup mark, though if your kitchen is hot, or the butter has gotten warm, you may need a full 5 cups.) Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes as desired, and top with any desired garnishes, like caramel sauce, cinnamon sticks, pecans, sprinkles, or a pinch of cinnamon. 
• Store leftover pumpkin spice cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days, or freeze up to 1 month. (FYI: They'll freeze better unfrosted!)

Notes

• Flour. We highly recommend King Arthur Baking Measure-For-Measure Gluten-Free Flour blend. If you use another brand (like Bob’s Red Mill) be sure that it considers xanthan gum. 
• Spices. You can substitute 1 tsp. cinnamon and 1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin spice/pumpkin pie spice instead of the spices listed, if desired.
• Pumpkin. Be sure to use unsweetened pumpkin puree NOT pumpkin pie filling
• Milk. You can use dairy or non-dairy milk, like almond milk
• Oil. Stick with a neutral oil, like avocado oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil. Don’t use coconut oil, as it will impact the flavor. 

Video

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: gluten-free pumpkin cupcake recipe, gluten-free pumpkin cupcakes

Find the recipe:

sweetsandthankyou.com/gluten-free-pumpkin-cupcakes/