Spiced Pumpkins Cupcakes

For those of you that are regular readers you know I don't post too many recipes, and you probably know the reason behind that.........I don't really like to cook and don't do it very often.  Thankfully, Justin enjoys it and is good at it!  Macy says the best thing I cook is a waffle(frozen Eggos) and sometimes I even burn those.

So as many of my friends are shopping and getting ready to make wonderful meals for their families, I am not!!!  Justin did all of our recipe picking and shopping for our turkey day meal.  He also hasn't assigned me any jobs........He gives those to my dad and brother who are willing and very capable of helping.

My one and only Thanksgiving meal contribution are Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes.......and mostly because I really like them.

The other day after preschool, Macy and her little buddy E helped me mix up the batter and bake 24 of them.

Today, Hannah helped frost 20 them......notice a few are already gone!!

McCormick's Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes

1 pkg. yellow cake mix

1 pkg(4 serving size) vanilla instant pudding mix

1 cup canned pumpkin---or a whole can if you don't want to waste any!!!

1/2 cup each oil and water

3 eggs

1 1/2 tsp. Ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground cloves---Note: If you find you actually don't have this when you thought you did, you can use Pumpkin Pie Spice even though ground cloves isn't listed in the ingredient list!  The cupcakes will taste the same

1 tsp. Pure vanilla extract

Beat all ingredients on low until moist.  Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.  Spoon batter into 24 paper-lined muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full

Bake on 350 for 20 minutes

Frost when cool

Frosting:

Beat 1 package(8 ounces) cream cheese, softened, 1/4 cup butter, softened, 1tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract and 1/4 tsp ground cloves-----or Pumpkin Pie Spice!!! until light and fluffy.  Gradually beat in 1 box (16 ounces)   confectioners' sugar until smooth.

I learned a good cooking lesson here.  Once the frosting was done, I frosted one cupcake to make sure they were good---I was kind of joking, but glad I did.........I had forgotten to mix in the sugar so the frosting wasn't sweet and was just cream cheese....not too tasty!!!!  The girls got a good laugh when I dumped the sugar in........I used a opened bag and when I poured it in...........a spoon feel out too........not sure how long it had been in there!

Life is Good when others cook your food because you really aren't very good at it!!!