Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Ingredients

maple frosting

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk (up to 2 tablespoons)

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 standard (2 1/2 inch) muffin cups with paper baking cups.

2. 2

   Beat sugar and butter in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

3. 3

   Combine pumpkin and buttermilk in small bowl; mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, allspice, nutmeg and ginger in medium bowl. Alternately add flour mixture and pumpkin mixture to butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling two-thirds full.

4. 4

   Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in pans 15 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.

5. 5

   Prepare Maple Frosting; pipe or spread over cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle with decors or sugar, if desired.

6. 6

   Maple Frosting: Beat softened butter in large bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add maple syrup and vanilla; beat until well blended. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Ad milk up to 2 tablespoons if necessary, to reach desired spreading consistency.