Pumpkin Cupcakes

Now that it is Fall I have been craving some pumpkin anything. I have always HATED pumpkin pie, but since I have been getting older I've begun to like pumpkin flavor. Every Fall I get a little bit more courageous and try something new that is made with pumpkin puree or pumpkin pie mix.

I came across this awesome pumpkin cookie recipe last year and fell in love. I made them 3 or 4 times during the fall. I thought I would make them today. I dug out the recipe and checked to see if I had all the ingredients. I didn't :( I had no brown sugar. I don't know how that's possible but I didn't have any.

I searched online and found a pumpkin cupcake recipe that had the same frosting (icing) as the cookies I made last year (my favorite part). Again that recipe called for brown sugar. Bummer

I decided to just take out the can of pumpkin puree (which ended up being pumpkin pie mix not puree) and make something up on my own. I did NOT want pumpkin pie (still not a huge fan). As I was looking at the can I saw yummy cupcakes on the label. I pulled off the label and looked at the ingredients to see if I had everything. Again NO. One ingredient listed was cake flour. I actually did not have any of the either. I did have a box of yellow cake mix. Why not use that.

The recipe said to make a streusel topping for the cupcakes. I decided not to. Which is surprising, I love streusel topping. Who doesn't! But I was still craving that icing from the other two recipes.

After the cupcakes came out of the oven I tried one and decided not to even make the icing. They were so good, and I didn't have all the ingredients for that either. I think someone needs to go shopping!

They are SO YUMMY!

Banana Streusel Muffin

I bought a huge bushel of bananas the other day for my babes. They eat so many so quickly. The just purchased bushel of bananas went from green to brown over night. So sad. In the morning my little guys were asking for bananas and I didn't have any to give them. I decided to make some muffins with the brown bananas. Now they keep asking for cake. :)

Golf Themed Grooms Cake

This is a golf themed cake personalized for a groom. What a lucky man to have a woman that surprises him with a cake just for him.

This cake is filled with buttercream and cut up Snickers.

The groom has a springer spangle named Calli and the Bride ask if I could try to make her. I tried. I think it came out ok.

Chocolate and Marshmallow

My brothers are leaving to go back to boarding school. They are going to high school in MN and LOVE it. I thought I would make them a little treat for their 23 hour drive.

Chocolate cupcakes with Marshmallow frosting... YUM!!

3 in 1 Celebration

This cake was for a 3 in 1 celebration. This was a High School graduation, 45th birthday, and a 40th Wedding anniversary.

I filled the cake with yummy fresh strawberries.

I made a bunch of different fondant items to decorate the cake with.

Graduation cap and diploma.

Cake and presents.

Buttercream icing roses.

Staple

These cookies are a staple in my home.

Oatmeal Raisin. I found this recipe and I don't think I will EVER try to change it!

Except maybe change up the dried fruit. These are Oatmeal Cranberry. YUM!!

VBS (Vacation Bible School)

This summer I helped out with VBS at my church. This is a program that runs for 1 week (Monday-Friday). On Friday night there is a closing program. People were asked to donate snacks for after the 'show'.

The church was decorated with pandas so I thought I would incorporate that on the cookies. These are the cookies I came up with.

Wild

This cake was for a High School graduation. The theme of the party was safari/jungle.

The topper of the cake is an elephant. The graduate LOVES elephant.

Red, White, and Blue

For the 4th of July I made flag cookies and berry topped chocolate cake.

Don't mind the toothpicks. I almost forgot to take a picture before completely wrapping the try in plastic wrap.