Ginger Pumpkin Cupcakes (Cupcake Hero)

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Ginger Pumpkin Cupcakes (Cupcake Hero)

This month’s Cupcake Hero theme is Squash. Luckily pumpkin is considered a squash. That makes my day because I do love baking with pumpkin!

I had some leftover Pumpkin Pie Dip from the other day and I wanted to incorporate it into a cupcake. I wanted to make a cupcake that would compliment the pumpkin well, so I thought of the ginger snaps I had served the dip with… I reused a cookies and cream cupcake recipe except instead of using Oreos, I added crushed up ginger snap cookies to the batter. These smelled amazing coming out of the oven.

Using the cone method, I scooped some of the pumpkin dip into the cooled cupcakes. I then frosted with some cinnamon cream cheese frosting that I had in the fridge. Then I simply sprinkled some chopped walnuts on top for garnish.

Cookies-N-Cream Cupcakes – 6 WW pts with frosting (from Crazy about Cupcakes) makes 24
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup milk – I used soymilk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 2/3 cup sugar
3 large egg whites, at room temperature

1 cup chocolate sandwich cookies, lightly crushed – I used 2 cups crushed Ginger Snaps

Preheat over to 350F. Insert liners into a medium cupcake pan.

In a large bowl cream together the butter, milk, and vanilla with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.

In a separate bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to butter mixture. Mix until integrated. Stir in sugar. With an electric mixer on low speed, beat for 30 seconds. Turn the mixer up to medium speed and beat for 2 minutes. Add the egg whites. Beat for 2 more minutes. Stir in the crushed cookies.

Fill the cupcake lines three-quarters full. Bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of cupcakes comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in the pan.

For the frosting, I wanted it to be more like a glaze, so I combined 8 oz cream cheese, 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, 1 tsp vanilla and about 3 cups of powdered sugar. After it was to the consistency I wanted, I added about a teaspoon of cinnamon.

Cupcakes, Dessert

2 comments »

11 Responses to “Pumpkin Pie Snickerdoodle Bars”

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Pam — November 13, 2009 at 3:22 pm

These look amazing! I’m trying not to lick my screen looking at these pictures.
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2

oneordinaryday — November 13, 2009 at 5:13 pm

I made these last winter and they were sooooo absolutely amazing. I purposely haven’t made them since because I would eat them all! Perfect holiday treat, aren’t they?
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3

Erin — November 13, 2009 at 6:52 pm

These sound really different, unique, and delicious!
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stephchows — November 13, 2009 at 8:11 pm

oh what i’d give for one of those as a snack right now! yum!!
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Heather — November 13, 2009 at 8:16 pm

OK, I have a weird question since I have texture issues.

I assume the pumpkin portion of this is similar in texture to pie filling (hence “Pumpkin Pie” part of the name)? Or is it more cake/bar-like?

These are so unique!
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nutmegnanny — November 13, 2009 at 9:28 pm

Mmmm pumpkin and snickerdoodle…I’m on board 🙂 I bet this is great. I love bar cookies. Easy and delicious!
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Ingrid — November 14, 2009 at 1:36 am

I start drooling everytime I see those yet for some odd reason I wind up just making the plain snickerdoodle version. I think it’s the kids thinking the plain one is perfection. They’ve actually told me not to mess with the recipe.
~ingrid
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Jen — November 14, 2009 at 11:05 pm

Yes Heather – it has a similar texture to pumpkin pie.
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Sweet and Savory — November 15, 2009 at 8:01 pm

This looks great. You have a good variety of appealing recipes. You can keep me busy baking for months.
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bcallegra — November 17, 2009 at 1:36 am

Hope you feel better – I suffered through the flu last month and it’s definitely amazing how quickly the crappy feelings hit you!
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Julia from Dozen Flours — November 18, 2009 at 8:09 pm

So glad you liked my recipe! 🙂