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Fall means it’s PSL season, but these Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes are even better than the ubiquitous drink! 

Caramel sauce being drizzled over the tops of pumpkin spice latte cupcakes.
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Every fall, I always have to remind myself what PSL stands for because EVERYONE is like “OMG PSL IS BACK” or “FIRST PSL OF THE SEASON!!” and I’m always like, “What the HECK is PSL? Pacific….South…?!”

Oh right. Duh, the infamous Starbucks drink that tastes like dirt. The first time I had a PSL, I spit it back into the cup and asked for a new drink. I just don’t know what it is, but to me, it tasted like leaves and not very pumpkin spice-y.

Well, even with my dislike for PSLs, I always think that if something isn’t delicious in drink form, it might be better in a cupcake form—and oh boy, was I right. These pumpkin spice latte cupcakes are deeelish! They have a hint of coffee flavor—not too strong!—and then the amazing pumpkin spice comes right through. The whipped cream topping is light and airy and the caramel drizzled on top is the perfect finishing touch.

Closeup shot of pumpkin spice latte cupcake with caramel dripping down the sides

What You’ll Need

Ready for the best version of a PSL you’ll ever drink eat? Here are the ingredients you’ll need to whip up a batch of pumpkin spice latte cupcakes.

For the cupcakes:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Espresso powder – It’s best to use espresso powder, not ground coffee; espresso powder is stronger, so ground coffee won’t give your cupcakes the same color and flavor.
  • Baking soda
  • Baking powder
  • Pumpkin pie spiceHere’s how to make your own.
  • Pumpkin puree – Make sure you grab a can of puree, not pumpkin pie filling. It’s not the same!
  • Sugar
  • Dark brown sugar
  • Vegetable oil – Canola oil or another neutral-flavored oil for baking can be swapped in.
  • Eggs – Take them out about 30 minutes before you start baking to let them come to room temperature.
  • Coffee – Black coffee, brewed with any beans you have on hand.

For the topping:

  • Heavy whipping cream
  • Confectioners sugar
  • Caramel sauce – I combine 10 unwrapped caramel candies with 4 tablespoons of heavy cream in a small saucepot over low heat until melted. Once the mixture cools, drizzle it over the whipped cream topping.
Closeup shot of frosted pumpkin spice latte cupcake on a cooling rack

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes

Now that you’ve gathered your ingredients, it’s time to get baking! Here are step-by-step instructions for making this pumpkin spice latte cupcakes recipe:

Prepare. Preheat your oven to 350ºF, then line your muffin tins with baking cups.

Combine the dry ingredients. Whisk the flour, espresso powder, baking soda, baking powder, and pumpkin spice in a large bowl.

Make the batter. Use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment to combine the pumpkin, sugars, and oil. Beat the eggs in one at a time, then switch the mixer speed to low and add half of the dry ingredients. Once they’re fully incorporated, add the rest. Continue mixing until just combined.

Bake the muffins. Divide the batter evenly among the baking cups, then bake the cupcakes for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Soak with coffee. While the cupcakes are fresh out of the oven, use a pastry brush to brush the tops with coffee. Let it soak in, then repeat two more times. Cool the cupcakes on a wire rack.

Make the topping. Put the whisk attachment on your stand mixer and add the heavy cream to the bowl. Whip the cream starting at low speed, then gradually increase the speed as it thickens. Slowly pour in the confectioners sugar, then increase the speed to medium high and beat until stiff peaks form.

Top the cupcakes. Transfer the whipped cream to a pastry bag fitted with a decorative tip. Pipe the whipped cream onto each of the cooled cupcakes, then drizzle them with the caramel sauce.

Tips for Success

Here are a few tips, tricks, and answers to questions you might have about making pumpkin spice latte cupcakes:

  • Using a hand mixer. No stand mixer? Not a problem! Use an electric hand mixer or mix the batter by hand. It takes a little bit of effort to make whipped cream by hand, but you’ll get a workout in before eating your cupcakes!
  • Alternatives to pastry bags. If you don’t have a pastry bag, you can put the whipped cream in a zip-top bag and snip off one of the corners to pipe on the topping. You can also just use a spoon to dollop the whipped cream onto each cupcake.
  • Finding espresso powder. Espresso powder isn’t the same as ground espresso beans—it’s more finely ground, so it won’t make your cupcakes grainy. You can usually find espresso powder in the coffee section at the grocery store; if you can’t find it, you can substitute instant coffee as long as it’s also finely ground. Since instant coffee has a less assertive flavor than espresso, you can offset this by brewing a stronger cup of coffee to brush onto the cupcakes.

Can I Use Frosting Instead of Whipped Cream?

Go for it! A cream cheese frosting always complements pumpkin, but you could also do a vanilla bean buttercream, homemade salted caramel frosting, or even a marshmallow frosting. I wouldn’t recommend a chocolate frosting or ganache, though, because the chocolate flavor will overpower the flavors in the cupcakes.

How Should I Store Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes?

Because they have whipped cream frosting, you’ll need to store these cupcakes in the refrigerator. Pop them in an airtight container; they’ll keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Can I Freeze This Recipe?

Kind of! You can freeze the cakes themselves, but I don’t recommend freezing them with the whipped cream on top. If you freeze the cupcakes, freeze them unfrosted. When you’re ready to eat them, thaw them on the countertop overnight, then make the whipped cream frosting and caramel drizzle.

Other pumpkin dessert recipes to try this Fall:

Closeup shot of pumpkin spice latte cupcake unwrapped, with a bite taken out
 
The only thing better than a PSL is Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes! Meet your new fave cupcake recipe for fall.
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4.30 from 10 votes

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes

Pumpkin spice latte cupcakes are the drinks in cupcake form and they're so much better in cupcakes than in a cardboard cup!
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 2 dozen

Ingredients 

For the cupcakes:

  • 2 ⅔ cup (333 g) all purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons espresso powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 15 ounce (425 g) pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 1 cup (220 g) dark brown sugar
  • 1 cup (237 ml) vegetable oil
  • 4 large eggs
  • ½ cup (118 ml) coffee, for brushing

For the topping:

  • 2 ¼ cup (532 ml) heavy whipping cream, chilled
  • ¼ cup (30 g) confectioners sugar
  • Caramel sauce for drizzling, (I just combined 10 unwrapped caramel candies with 4 tbsp. of heavy cream in a small saucepot on low heat. I let cool then drizzled over the whipped cream topping)

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 °F (177 °C) and line muffin tins with baking cups.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, espresso powder, baking soda, baking powder, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together pumpkin puree, sugar, dark brown sugar, and oil.
  • Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  • With the mixer on low, gently add in the dry ingredients in two additions. Mix until just incorporated.
  • Evenly divide the batter amongst the baking cups, filling them about 2/3 of the way full.
  • Bake for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  • While the cupcakes are still warm, with a pastry brush, brush the tops of the cupcakes with coffee. Allow the first coat to soak in before repeating with the 2nd and 3rd coat. Let cool completely on a wire cooling rack.
  • In the meantime while the cupcakes are cooling, make the topping.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, gently whip the cream, starting at a low speed and gradually increasing. Slowly pour in the confectioners sugar then increase the speed of the mixer to medium high and beat until stiff peaks form.
  • Put the whipped cream mixture in a pastry bag fitted with your favorite decorative tip. Pipe the whipped cream on top of the cooled cupcakes then drizzle with caramel sauce.
  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Notes

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupcake, Calories: 290kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 19g, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 18g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator based on the actual ingredients you used in the recipe.

The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.

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Photography by Jamie Vespa

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48 Comments

  1. These cupcakes were so moist and yummy. The only problem was that the warm caramel melted the whip cream frosting when I drizzled it on top. Would it be better to mix the whip cream with cream cheese?

    1. hi Jerri! I can see how that’s a bit frustrating. i haven’t tried to mix it with cream cheese but i can see how it could stiffen and stabilize it more. you could certainly try it! or, if possible, let the caramel sit for a little bit at room temp so it’s not as hot!

  2. Awww the cupcakes didn’t taste like coffee or pumpkin. I was so excited to try it, but it definitely didn’t turn out the way I thought it was going to. Do you think poking holes in the cupcake before brushing on the coffee and adding more pumpkin spice would help?

  3. These cupcakes look so appetizing that I’m ready to eat even a picture of them! Everybody around me knows that I am a real fan of pumpkin and of all dishes that contain pumpkin! I often bake pumpkin cakes or breads with different accents, such as walnuts, caramel, spices or butter glaze. But these ones are furthermore spicy! C-c-combo! Thank you for the recipe! I am sure I will make this beautiful thing today and enjoy it. How long does it stay fresh and how should I store these cupcakes? Your blog is always full of appetizing photos and creative ideas. Keep it up, good luck :)))

    1. Aww thank you! It stays fresh for about three days at room temperature; after that, I would pop it into the fridge to stay fresh for another 3-4 days. I would store them in an airtight container.

  4. Good Day
    Just saw your recipe for the Pumpkin Caramel Drizzle Cup Cakes on FACEBOOK.
    As I resonded on FB, I could have eaten the screen. Perfect for a a fall party, or I can make them tomorrow!!!
    Just want you to know that I can’t wait to try these.
    Just wanted to be sure you got my THUMBS UP in case you didn’t see my comment on FB
    NO need to respond.
    THANKS FOR THE RECIPE.
    Pat

  5. PSL’s are a little too sweet for me and I am a serious coffee drinker but these cupcakes are completely for me!

  6. Oh and one more question! Could I use ground espresso beans instead of the espresso powder or would that affect the consistency?

  7. These look perfect for a Thanksgiving dessert! If I wanted to add a little vanilla to the frosting, how much would you suggest I add?

  8. Would you suggest another frosting other than whipped cream? I’m not a fan of whipped cream, would cream cheese work? Thanks.

    1. Cream cheese would work but you’d have to mix it with powdered sugar. I’m also not sure it would taste really good together with the other flavors.

    1. It’s usually in the coffee section of the grocery store. Instant coffee crystals should work but make sure they aren’t very coarse. These need to be fine.