Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes With Cinnamon-Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

I found a recipe similar to this a few months ago and have since tweaked it to my tastes and made it several times. These cupcakes are perfect for the Holiday season. The frosting is to die for! You have to try these scrumptious cupcakes!!!

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Yields: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients

• CUPCAKES

• 1 (18 ounce) box  spice cake mix
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
• 1⁄2 cup applesauce
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 3  eggs
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1⁄4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

• CINNAMON-MAPLE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened
• 4  ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2  cups powdered sugar
• 2  tablespoons maple syrup
• 1  teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

1. CUPCAKES: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 24 standard muffin cups.
2. Whisk together cake mix, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin pie spice in large bowl.
3. Add the eggs, applesauce, and pumpkin and beat with an electric mixer until thoroughly combined.
4. Pour batter into muffin cups, filling them about 3/4 full.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
6. Transfer cupcakes to wire rack and let cool completely before spreading with frosting.
7. FROSTING: Make sure the butter & cream cheese are SOFT. Beat the butter in bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the cream cheese and beat together until well blended.
8. Add the maple syrup and cinnamon. Mix until well combined.
9. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy, and frosting consistency is formed. **If frosting is too thick for your liking, you can add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.**.
10. Spread frosting evenly over cupcakes and Enjoy!