Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes

For Will's family Thanksmas party I wanted to make a decadent dessert and settled on a pumpkin cheesecake. I knew that I wouldn't have time for the cheesecake to chill, so I thought making cupcakes would be better!

(Here's a sneak peek of the finished product!)

These cupcakes have a delicious cheesecake filling. To make it, I combined:

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup granulated white sugar
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Already smells amazing!

For the dry ingredients, I mixed:

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp salt

In another bowl, I added the wet ingredients together, which included:

• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs

I whisked the wet ingredients together...

... and poured it into the mixed dry ingredients.

I gently folded the batter until moist.

In a paper lined muffin tin, I used my cookie scoop and added about 1-2 tbsp of batter.

Then I added 1-2 tsp of the cream cheese filling.

I scooped just a tad more into the cupcakes to cover the cheesecake filling.

I baked the cupcakes in a 350 degree oven for 18 minutes.

While they were hanging out in the oven, I made the vanilla buttercream frosting.

In a large bowl, I added 1 cup (2 sticks) of softened unsalted butter and then sifted in 3 cups of powdered sugar.

I blended the cream cheese and sugar for about 2 minutes until light & fluffy.

I then poured in a mix of 2 tbsp milk. 1 tsp vanilla extract, & 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice.

Perfect!

Cupcakes are all done!

I frosted the cupcakes and sprinkled graham cracker crumbs on top. I used about 1/2 cup of graham cracker crumbs.

They were amazing!

>> If you end up making this for dessert, tag me in an Instagram post -- @marriedtodavis or #marriedtodavis