Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

INGREDIENTS

Cupcakes

(Yields: 24 +)

2‑1/2	cups all-purpose flour
3	teaspoons baking powder
2	teaspoons ground cinnamon
1	teaspoon allspice
1	teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2	teaspoon salt
16	tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2	cups sugar
4	eggs
1‑1/2	cups pumpkin puree
2	tablespoons honey
1/3	cup hot water
INGREDIENTS FOR THE MAPLE CREAM-CHEESE FROSTING:
4	tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
4	cups confectioner's sugar, sifted
1/4	teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4	teaspoon pure vanilla extract
6	ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/4	cup pure maple syrup
INGREDIENTS FOR THE DECORATION:
small package of white fondant
brown, red and yellow food color
gold and brown edible luster dust

homemade preferred, but you can also use canned pureeavailable at most craft or baking supply storesoptional, available at most craft or baking supply stores

PREPARATION:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two standard cupcake pans with twelve paper baking cups each, or grease pans with butter if not using baking cups.
2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and salt on a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper and set aside.
3. Place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer or in a bowl with a handheld electric mixer. Beat on medium speed until fluffy. Stop to add the sugar; then beat on medium speed until well incorporated.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing slowly after each addition. Mix in the pumpkin puree and honey. Reduce the speed to low. Add one third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, then gradually add one third of the hot water, beating until well incorporated. Add another third of the flour mixture, followed by one third of the hot water. Stop to scrape down the bowl as needed. Add the remaining flour mixture, followed by the remaining hot water, and mix slowly until just combined. Take care not to overmix the batter so the cupcakes will bake up light and fluffy.
5. Use a standard-size ice cream scoop to fill each baking cup with batter, so the wells are two-thirds full. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes (start checking at 20 minutes) or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE FROSTING:

1. Place all the ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat until well combined. Be sure to beat on high speed for at least two minutes at the end to ensure that the frosting is light and fluffy.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE DECORATION:

1. Line up cooled cupcakes on a sheet of wax paper. Transfer the maple cream-cheese frosting into a plastic piping bag fitted with a large round metal tip (or piping head of your choice). Apply a signature swirl. OR drop one tablespoon of frosting on each cupcake, frosting with spread in minutes. 
2. Break white fondant into three equal pieces. Add a small drop of red food color to one piece of fondant, a small drop of yellow food color to the second piece of fondant, and a small drop of brown food color to the third piece of fondant. Using your hands, knead the color into each piece of fondant so the color is uniform throughout. If you'd like the colors to be darker or more intense, add more food color and repeat. Then, starting with one piece of fondant, use a rolling pin to roll the fondant out to a thin sheet. Dust with edible luster dust (optional). Using a mini leaf cookie cutter, cut out leaf shapes and place on top of each cupcake.

Inspired by: DC Cupcakes