We all have special family traditions when it comes to baking. My personal favorite has always been, and probably always will be, baking Christmas cookies. However, I recently discovered an amazing recipe for spiced pumpkin cupcakes. Now you can not only drink pumpkin spiced flavored anything, but you can also bake your favorite seasonal flavor into cupcakes in the comfort of your own home! These are the perfect treat to bake with (or for) your friends, family, and sisters/brothers this fall.

Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes

Ingredients:

{For 24 Cupcakes}

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

3/4 cup milk

1 cup pumpkin puree

{For the Frosting}

1 package of cream cheese (softened)

1/4 cup butter (softened)

3 cups confectioner's sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. 

2. Mix the flour, spices, salt, baking soda, and baking powder together.

3. Beat 1/2 cup of butter and both types of sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until it is fluffy.

4. Add both eggs to the butter and sugar mixture and mix well. Next, stir in the milk and pumpkin puree. 

5. Combine the two separate mixtures until they are evenly blended together. 

6. Pour into lined cupcake pan. 

7. Bake for about 25 minutes in the preheated oven. Let cool for five minutes before removing.

While the cupcakes are cooling, make your very own cream cheese frosting!

1. Beat the cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter with an electric mixer until smooth. 

2. Add the confectioner's sugar little by little until it is mixed in completely.

3. Finally, add the vanilla extract and teaspoon of cinnamon. Beat until fluffy. 

Once the cupcakes have cooled, frost them with your homemade cream cheese icing and add a dash of cinnamon for a beautiful (and professional) touch. 

Recipe from "So Freakin' Delicious!"

If, for some bizarre reason, these cupcakes don't appeal to you, you can also try:

Pumpkin French Toast (if you're more of a breakfast person), Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes (if you prefer pancakes over french toast), Penne with Creamy Pumpkin Sauce (for lunch or dinner), Pumpkin S'mores Cupcakes, Pumpkin Snickerdoodles, or White Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles (so many desserts).

Since there are a million ways to incorporate pumpkin into your diet, there's no reason not to start a new tradition by creating something festive this fall.

Happy baking!