These Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes are a great copycat of the popular Starbucks fall drink. The pumpkin, coffee, and spices go together so well. And who can resist cute pumpkin cupcakes with a fun green straw?
So a few weeks ago, my family and I had a chance to go see Hillsong Live in concert. It was amazing being in a room with that many people just praising and worshiping our God.
I think my favorite part of the night was when the lead singer had them turn off all the lights in the room, and then he asked the audience to turn on their cell phone lights and hold them up.
That many lights together were able to shine out and make the room bright enough to see again. It was a great reminder to keep on being a light in the dark world that we live in.
It is easy to get discouraged by all the things that go on around us from day to day, but God is mighty to save and He has conquered the grave to give us a light to shine.
I know I am so thankful that God loves me know matter what failures and fears I have in this life. I mess up on a daily basis, but Jesus is always there to encourage me and love me without fail.
What an honor it is to be able to shine like a light to those around me. The song that Hillsong sang next was Mighty to Save. It is one of my favorite songs that we sing in our church. (You can click the name of the song to hear it, if you are interested.) I am so thankful for a mighty God!!!
As we were driving home from the concert, we passed through a small town. I could see their town sign in the distance, and I swear it looked just like a giant cupcake with writing. I turned to my husband and asked him if he saw "the cupcake".
Of course, he just thought I was a little crazy. Then he just laughed and asked how long it had been since I had eaten cupcakes.
I guess if I am seeing giant cupcakes in the dark, it has been waaaaay too long since eating my last one. I needed to make cupcakes right away!
Now that it is September and Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes are all the rage, I decided to make a copycat version of the drink as a pumpkin cupcake.
Pumpkin and coffee just go together so well. These pumpkin spice cupcakes was light with a certain dense quality from the pumpkin. But I have to tell you, it was the whipped coffee frosting that really made this cupcake.
It was so light and fluffy...I just wanted to sit in my kitchen and eat all of it with a spoon.
How to make Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes:
- Combine the cake mix, pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, coffee, and spices in a bowl and mix.
- Spoon the batter evenly into 24 cupcake liners, bake, and cool.
- Heat the white chocolate and cream in a saucepan until melted and smooth. Remove and let cool.
- Whisk together water and instant coffee, then add butter and beat until creamy.
- Pour in the cooled white chocolate mixture and beat again until creamy.
- Slowly add the powdered sugar
Since we had a picnic to attend, I topped the easy pumpkin cupcakes with the white chocolate mocha frosting right away. And of course, little mini green straws were the absolute perfect extra touch! (Yes, I know latte's do NOT come with straws...just humor me!)
Other delicious Starbucks inspired cupcakes you may like:
- Caramel Caffe Mocha Cupcakes
- Salted Caramel Mocha Brownie Cups
- Toffee Mocha Cupcakes
- Eggnog Latte Cupcakes
- S'mores Frappuccino Cupcakes
Recipe
Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes
These Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes have a white chocolate cinnamon coffee frosting. They are a delicious copycat of the popular fall Starbucks drink.
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 1 box spice cake mix
- 1 - 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
- 3 eggs
- ⅓ cup oil
- ⅓ cup brewed coffee, cooled
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
For the Frosting
- 2 teaspoons hot water
- 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
- 6 ounces baking white chocolate squares, chopped
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Place 24 cupcake liners in a pan.
- Combine the cake mix, pumpkin, eggs, oil, coffee, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a mixing bowl. Beat on low for 1 minute, and beat on medium for 2 minutes.
- Spoon evenly into the cupcake liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Cool completely
- Stir the hot water and instant coffee until dissolved. Set aside.
- Heat the white chocolate and heavy cream over low-medium heat until melted and smooth. Let cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Place the butter and coffee mixture into a bowl and beat for 1-2 minutes.
- Slowly pour in the melted chocolate mixture and beat until creamy.
- Slowly add the powdered sugar and cinnamon on low speed. Increase the speed to high and and beat until thick and fluffy. This will take about 5 minutes.
- Use a piping bag and icing tip 2D to frost cupcakes. Keep refrigerated. Makes 24 cupcakes.
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Darci Marquette
I made these this morning and they are fabulous! However when I got to my frosting something went terribly wrong :/. When I added the melted chocolate, my butter mixture completely turned to liquid...I waited about 10 minutes for my chocolate to cool. Should I have waited longer? Or did I do something else wrong?
Thanks again for your awesome recipes! Can't wait to try a few more!
Jocelyn Brubaker
I'm glad to hear the cupcakes turned out great for you. 10 minutes is plenty of time to wait...I didn't wait that long at all. How long did you whip the mixture after adding the melted chocolate? It does take a good 5 minutes on high to whip it fluffy.
Tammy
I believe I know what happened to Darcis Frosting. Same happened to me. The recipe above calls for 1 1/2 CUP of powdered sugar and I think it was supposed to be 1 1/2 Pound. I just kept adding until I got the right consistancy. THNKS for this delicious recipe! Big hit at home - will take to our pot luck at work tomorrow & treat my coworkers!
Jocelyn Brubaker
You need to whip this frosting for a good 5 minutes on high speed with a whisk attachment. The recipe only calls for 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and that is actually correct. By adding more powdered sugar it becomes more of a butter cream frosting instead of a whipped frosting. Either one works though 🙂
Emily from Reaching Beyond My Reach
Wow. My husband is going to have his socks knocked off when I try these. He is a huge PSL fan! Thanks for sharing! These look terrific!
Jocelyn Brubaker
That's awesome!! 😉 Please let me know what you think of them if you make them!! Thanks Emily! 🙂
Carla
I always say it isn't fall until the pumpkin spice lattes are in! Love me some cupcakes 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Carla!! 😉 Yes, those drinks just scream "Fall is finally here!"
Crystal
lol at the cupcake in the dark! Too bad the frosting didn't hold up, but I don't blame them..I practically melt in the heat too! These look delish!
Jocelyn Brubaker
I melt in the heat too, and I swear it's getting worse as I age! Thanks Crystal!! 🙂
Chels R.
Those are the cutest cupcakes! I just want to take my finger and go swish to the whipped cream and pop it in my mouth! LOL! I love Mighty to Save! Sounds like an awesome concert. I'm loving 10,000 Reasons right now. We sing it at church and I always kind of get choked up. Thanks for speaking openly about your love for Christ. It is always so encouraging to see another believer openly praise him. 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Chels!! The icing is bound to make anyone want to do that!! 😉 And I always get encouraged too when I see/hear about others speaking of Him!
Kayla
These are cute, and look tasty. However, I dont get the straw. I could understand if it was a frap but the straw has nothing to do with a latte or any hot drink.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Kayla! I just used the straw as a cute Starbucksy prop! But what you said is very true! 😉
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen
Those melted cupcakes make me want to cry! Is that a little over-dramatic of me?! lol The Hillsong concert looks amazing. I've always wanted to go but I've never been.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, maybe, but I am the same. way. I can get a little over emotional when things in the baking world don't go quite as planned! 😉
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl
Pumpkin + latte + cupcakes = perfection. LOVE these, Jocelyn!
Jocelyn Brubaker
So right you are!! 😉 Thanks Ashley!!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
These are so cute with the little straws!! My husband did this once with cupcakes I sent into work with him. He left them in his car while he went to a meeting. He came back and hour later and they were a puddle. I only found out a could weeks later when someone mentioned something in passing 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Erin!! Haha, that's funny that your hubby never told you!! 😉
Veronica
Is it weird to say that I'm jealous of these cupcakes right now? They look ahmazing! I'm absolutely addicted to the PSL from Starbucks, but find it so hard to justify spending almost 5 bucks a pop! A dozen cupcakes however? Totally justifiable... Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Lol, no that's not weird at all 😉 Yes, these cupcakes are a much better deal than the drink is! Thanks Veronica!
capturing joy with kristen duke
Ha! I love the melted cupcake picture--way to keep it real! Also love the light in the dark story, one of my favorite scriptures of all time is Matthew 5:14-16 "ye are the light on a hill...let your light so shine." These cupcakes sound amazing!!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Love those verses as well!! Thank you so much!! 😉
Diane {Created by Diane}
They look fantastic and WOW they sure got baked in the sun 🙁
I love pumpkin time of year!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yes, the sun was not my friend that day!! Thanks Diane!! 😉
Leigh Anne@Yourhomebasedmom.com
I am not a coffee drinker but my favorite thing at Starbucks is the Pumpkin Spice Steamer. The cupcakes are darling!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Leigh!! 😉 The pumpkin spice steamer is divine too!! I have a thing for pumpkin drinks!
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
These are perfection! I love the little green straws, so Starbucks-y heehee. I haven't had a chance to get over to Starbucks for a PSL, but maybe now I'll just make these cupcakes all Autumn instead! 😉
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you girl!! 🙂 Not that I'm telling you to forget Starbucks or anything, but make these instead!! Lol!!
Natalia
I am so excited to have found your site! These look delicious and I need to make them for sure. Also can't wait to check out the others you suggested, they look so yummy! Thanks for sharing!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yay, I'm glad you found my blog! I love to have new followers! 😉 Thanks so much Natalia!!
Nancy @ gottagetbaked
Lol poor Jocelyn! Leaving cupcakes with buttercream out in the sun sounds like something I would totally do. I'm sure they still tasted amazing. I haven't had a pumpkin spice latte yet and now I want one in cupcake form! The green straw is an incredibly cute touch.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, yes it was quite the retarded move!I totally should have thought that frosting+sunshine=ruined buttercream!! 😉 You need these cupcakes, I promise!! Thanks Nancy!
Faith @ Pixie Dust Kitchen
I love all those reminders about how amazing God is! And I love that you went to a Hillsong concert- Hillsong is quite a staple at my church's worship and at my schools Wednesday Night Worship!
And I love love LOVE these cupcakes- PSL's are my favorite fall drink (I've already had 3 in the past week!) and of course, coffee in a cupcake mean's it's totally legit for breakfast.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Faith!! Hillsong is amazing! Their songs and music just put me into such a worshiping mood!
Eat Good 4 Life
Such a shame the guests weren't able to see the pretty cupcakes however I am sure they still tasted great 🙂 I love the name of these and the flavor!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
They definitely weren't pretty, but yes still tasted great!! Thanks so much Miryam!!
Tracy @ Daily Dish Magazine
These would be perfect to welcome fall with! After checking out your photos I foresee cupcake baking in my near future!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Tracy!! You should totally make these!! You won't be disappointed!! 😉
Wendy
How sad that after all your effort, some of the picnic guests didn't get to see and taste your cupcakes in their full glory! Frosting and heat are a challenge! It just goes to prove that we should all consider eating dessert first! As a fellow caffeine addict, I adore the addition of coffee in any and all baked goods. 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, I know!! It was tragic! 😉 Dessert first is definitely the way to go!! Lol! Thanks Wendy!!