Pumpkin and Ginger Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

 This time of year, I begin craving items like pumpkin bars and baked acorn squash.  After a long hike today in the woods to see the colors, I could not help myself but to make cupcakes. When searching for a recipe, I found one that incorporated candied ginger.  I could not resist.  They were good without frosting, but why not cover them with cream cheese frosting?  I decorated them with shaved almonds, and they looked (and tasted) lovely.

Cupcakes (makes 24)

Ingredients

2 cups flour
1 package instant butterscotch pudding (3.4 oz box)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground all spice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup finely chopped candied ginger
1/2 cup butter (2 sticks), at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 can pumpkin (plain pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling)

Directions

In a large bowl, mix together flour, pudding, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, all spice, cloves, and salt.  Using a whisk works well for this.  Stir in the candied ginger-- it tends to stick together after chopped, so break apart the ginger as you add it to the flour.  In another large bowl, mix the butter, vanilla, and sugars together using an electric mixer.  Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition.  Stir in pumpkin.  Then, add the dry ingredients.  Do not over mix, as it activates the gluten and makes for a tough cupcake.  Divide evenly between 24 paper-lined muffin cups. Bake in a 350 degree oven for ~20 minutes, checking after 15.  Cool completely on a wire rack.  If desired, top with cream cheese frosting (recipe below).

This is my old mixer.  It belonged to my aunt.  I love it

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Cream Cheese Frosting

1 package cream cheese (or light cream cheese or Neufchatel, if you want to kid yourself a little)
1 cup confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
either 1/4 cup butter, or a little milk or half and half

Mix all ingredients with electric mixer until fully incorporated.