Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing

Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing

Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing

I absolutely adored the cupcakes we had for our Halloween party recently, they’re squidgy and moreish thanks to the wonderful winter spices and the cinnamon icing might just be the best thing ever! Today I’m going to share the recipe for Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing.

Ingredients

3oz/ 85g Butter or Margarine

8oz/ 225g White Sugar

8oz/ 225g Brown Sugar

2 Eggs

180ml Milk

8oz/ 225g Pumpkin Puree (you can use canned or freshly made)

10oz Self Raising Flour

1 heaped Tsp Ground Cinnamon

1/2 Tsp Ground Ginger

1/2 Tsp Nutmeg

1/2 Tsp Ground Cloves

1/2 Tsp Allspice

 

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing

1 standard tub of Cream Cheese (usually about 225g)

2oz/ 50g Butter

Icing Sugar

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

1 heaped Tsp Ground Cinnamon

 

Method

First cream together the white sugar, brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Then add in the eggs one at a time mixing thoroughly.

Now stir in the milk and pumpkin puree until combined.

Sift the flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, ground cloves and allspice into the mixture. Fold the flour into the mixture using a large spoon until just combined.

Now fill 23-24 cupcake cases or approx. 15 muffin cases with the batter.

Bake in a preheated oven 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4 for about 20 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.

Icing

The trick to cream cheese icing is not to over mix, if you do you’ll end up with a delicious runny icing but it’s no good for piping on a cake. Either use an electric mixer on low speed or mix by hand.

Mix together the butter and cream cheese until just combined. Next add in the vanilla extract and cinnamon.

I haven’t put a quantity for the icing sugar because I think it’s better to test your icing by taste and texture. Add icing sugar and mix gently until you like the sweetness and your icing can hold together sufficiently to be iced onto your cooled cupcakes.

 

 

 

 

Autumn/Winter Fashion Trends For Kids

It’s no secret that little girls love dressing in fun stylish clothes, and now that the autumn/ winter season has officially arrived there are countless numbers of fashionable looks that your children can try out. As a stylish parent, it is likely that your kids will always try to copy your on-trend outfits and this season is filled with fashion forward looks that any little girl will love dressing up in.

Here are some of children’s designer clothes trends taking centre stage this AW13…

Faux Fur From snuggly faux fur coats to adorable faux fur hats and headbands, faux fur has been a favourite fashion staple amongst adults for plenty of years and now children’s brands such as Monnalisa have incorporated this luxury and chic material into their collections. Little girls will love feeling super stylish in a faux fur coat or gilet while babies are sure to look cosy and cute in a faux fur lined snowsuit.

Perfect Prints Polka dots, leopard, floral – this A/W is all about adding that fun pop of colour and print to any outfit. Little girls will feel like pretty princesses in floral printed rara skirts while a polka dot party dress is simply perfect for Christmas day.

Cute Cover-ups It just wouldn’t be autumn/ winter without treating your little ones to a cosy new coat. While keeping warm is key when it comes to the colder months, little girls will also want to look super fashionable – that’s why children designer clothing brands such as Catimini have created a complete collection of snug winter coats with added style appeal. With girly colours of purple and pink as well as pretty floral printed macs, a Catimini coat will keep any little fashionista warm and happy this winter. Remember to choose a coat or jacket with faux fur detailing for extra style points!

Trends for Boys It isn’t just girl’s clothes that is keeping up with the trends this season, baby boys designer clothing collections are also filled with a number of key looks to dress little lads in. Designer favourites Moschino boys have created a number of sporty inspired polo tops with long sleeves to help update your son’s wardrobe for the new season.