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Decorated Pumpkin Cupcakes Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 134 reviews
  • Author: Wesley
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes (assuming cupcakes are pre-baked)
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 12 cupcakes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Decorated Pumpkin Cupcakes are a festive and visually stunning treat perfect for fall celebrations. Using your favorite cupcake recipe topped with rich vanilla buttercream, these cupcakes are transformed into charming pumpkins with vibrant orange swirls and green leaf accents. The bright Americolor gel pastes provide vivid color without compromising the creamy texture, and the detailed piping technique turns simple cupcakes into impressive seasonal delights, ideal for parties or cozy gatherings.


Ingredients

Cupcake Base

  • Your favorite cupcake recipe (baked and cooled)

Buttercream Frosting

  • Vanilla buttercream (about 6 cups total)
  • Americolor Soft Gel Paste Electric Orange (for pumpkin swirl)
  • Americolor Soft Gel Paste Avocado (for pumpkin leaves)


Instructions

  1. Prepare Buttercream Colors: Separate your vanilla buttercream into two bowls, reserving about one cup for the pumpkin leaves and five cups for the pumpkin swirl. Add avocado gel paste gradually to the smaller portion until a vibrant green color resembling pumpkin leaves is achieved. Then, add electric orange gel paste to the larger portion until it attains a bright orange resembling a pumpkin.
  2. Pipe Pumpkin Swirls: Fit a pastry bag with a 1M open star decorating tip and fill it with the orange-colored buttercream. Starting at the center of each cupcake, pipe a rose-like swirl by spiraling outward, creating the textured surface of a pumpkin. Repeat this for all cupcakes.
  3. Create Pumpkin Leaves: Fit a second pastry bag with a No. 65 leaf decorating tip and fill it with the green buttercream. Apply even pressure while piping, moving the tip away from the cupcake, and gradually release pressure to form realistic leaf shapes. Pipe two or more leaves onto each cupcake to complete the decoration.
  4. Final Touches: Continue decorating until all cupcakes are topped. Serve immediately or refrigerate if not consuming right away. Allow to come to room temperature before serving for optimal frosting texture. Enjoy your beautifully decorated pumpkin cupcakes!

Notes

  • Use your favorite cupcake recipe for the base; vanilla or spice flavors complement the pumpkin decoration nicely.
  • The gel pastes allow you to achieve bright colors without changing the buttercream consistency.
  • A good quality piping bag and tips will make decorating easier and neater.
  • If you are new to piping a rose swirl, watch video tutorials for best results.
  • These cupcakes make a perfect fall dessert for parties, Halloween, or Thanksgiving.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cupcake
  • Calories: 320
  • Sugar: 30g
  • Sodium: 150mg
  • Fat: 18g
  • Saturated Fat: 10g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 40g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 2g
  • Cholesterol: 50mg