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    Home » Fall Recipes

    Pumpkin Cupcake Recipe with Toasted Meringue

    Published: Oct 15, 2014 · Modified: Oct 29, 2023 by Sandy · This post may contain affiliate links

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    This easy Pumpkin Cupcake Recipe with Toasted Meringue adds healthy pumpkin puree to a boxed cake mix and will be ready in minutes. You can also visit our creative cupcake ideas page for more recipes.

    Pumpkin Cupcake Recipe

    Pumpkin Cupcake Recipe 

    Hi, I’m Sandy  You will usually find me on my own blog, Everyday Southwest, where I share everyday recipes for today’s busy families.  I’m so happy that Candi invited me to be a guest here on A Day in Candiland to share my fast and easy way to put a little “healthy” into this pumpkin cupcake recipe.

    I don’t know about you but, every fall I make these great big plans to bake amazing treats in all sorts of elaborate holiday shapes—pumpkins, turkeys, ghosts—and every fall I wind up rushing to get something made at the last minute.  I guess I have become known as the “Queen of  Last Minute Recipes.”  That’s ok by me, it is a crown I am proud to wear.  

    Pumpkin Cupcakes with Toasted Meringue

    I have found that it is really not necessary to spend the whole day in the kitchen to bake something my family really loves so, I try to find ways to pack great flavor into faster and easier recipes.

    This little pumpkin cupcake recipe is a favorite around my house.  For some reason, I neglected to tell everyone that they are actually pretty healthy.  Using a 15 ounce can of plain pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) in the mix sneaks an extra bit of vegetable down my kids without them even realizing it.

    All they know is that they love the fall flavors and tasty icing.

    Toasted Meringue Recipe

    The meringue icing that I use on this pumpkin cupcake recipe is actually a lot lower in fat and calories than the usual buttercream or cream cheese icing.  Toasting the meringue adds a marshmallow-y, s’mores sort of taste.

    I use a piping bag and a large star tip to add lots of ridges in the icing to be “toasted.”

    The piping bag is not necessary.  You can just spoon on the meringue with a spoon or make your own piping bag by filling a large zip-top bag with meringue and then cutting a small piece of one of the corners off of the bag.

    Be sure to start by cutting a very small corner off, you can always cut more of the bag away, but you can’t make the hole smaller if you cut away too much.

    More Delicious Pumpkin Recipes

    Candi also has more great pumpkin recipes here on A Day in Candiland that will be a great addition to this pumpkin cupcake recipe.  Try out her Dairy Free Butter Cream Frosting if you are not a meringue fan.  You can always put the meringue icing on her Gluten Free, Dairy Free Chocolate Cupcakes Cupcakes if you are not a pumpkin fan but want to get that toasted marshmallow flavor.

    I hope to hear from you!

    —Sandy

    Pumpkin Cupcakes with Toasted Meringue

    Pumpkin Cupcake Recipe with Toasted Meringue Icing

    This easy Pumpkin Cupcake Recipe with Toasted Meringue adds healthy pumpkin puree to a boxed cake mix and will be ready in minutes.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print SaveSaved! Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 cupcakes
    Calories: 237kcal
    Author: Candi Elm

    Equipment

    • Blow Torch

    Ingredients  

    Cake

    • 1 box yellow cake mix
    • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
    • 1 can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) (15 oz)
    • 1 cup plain yogurt
    • 3 eggs

    Meringue Frosting

    • 3 large egg whites
    • 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
    • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and add liners to a muffin tin
    • In a large bowl, whisk the dry cake mix and the pie spice together until well blended. Add the pumpkin puree and the yogurt. Mix on low speed until blended then, turn up the speed of the mixer to med-high speed and beat for 2 more minutes.
    • Spoon the batter into the cupcake pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until done and a tooth pick inserted into the center of the cupcake comes out clean.
    • Remove from the oven and cool slightly before turning the cupcake out onto a board or counter.

    Make the meringue

    • In a large bowl, combine the egg whites, the sugar and the cream of tartar. Put the bowl over the top of a sauce pan with simmering water and whisk until the sugar has dissolved. Make sure water from the steam does not get into the egg whites.
    • Remove the bowl from the heat and continue to beat the eggs whites with a mixer on med-high speed.
    • Put the meringue in a pastry bag that has been fitted with a very large star tip.
    • When the cupcakes are cool, pipe the meringue onto each cupcake.
    • Brown the meringue with a creme brûlée torch or place the cupcakes under a 400 degree oven until the meringue is toasted.

    Notes

    I use a piping bag and a large star tip to add lots of ridges in the icing to be “toasted.”
    The piping bag is not necessary.  You can just spoon on the meringue with a spoon or make your own piping bag by filling a large zip-top bag with meringue and then cutting a small piece of one of the corners off of the bag.
    Be sure to start by cutting a very small corner off, you can always cut more of the bag away, but you can’t make the hole smaller if you cut away too much.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 237kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 355mg | Potassium: 167mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 5593IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @candilandblogs or tag #adayincandiland!

    More Fall Recipes

    • How to Make Homemade Chai Spice Mix
    • Oat Milk Matcha Latte
    • Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Brownies
    • Sweet Pumpkin Recipes for Fall

    Desserts, Fall Recipes, Recipes

    About Sandy

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sylvie Roy says

      October 16, 2014 at 7:19 am

      Wow – those are gorgeous! For some reason, I've never thought of doing meringue on top of cupcakes – it's genius!
      My recent post How to Make a Fall Wreath

      Reply
      • candielm says

        October 17, 2014 at 5:11 pm

        Didn't they come out cute from Sandra over at Everyday Southwest
        My recent post Pumpkin Recipes: Pumpkin Spice Pull Apart Bread

        Reply
    2. Megan says

      October 16, 2014 at 8:09 pm

      Yum! These look incredible, I love meringue!! Adding these to the recipe pile!

      Reply
      • candielm says

        October 17, 2014 at 5:12 pm

        I like how the meringue came out too, I am getting hungry.
        My recent post Pumpkin Recipes: Pumpkin Spice Pull Apart Bread

        Reply
    3. Christine says

      October 17, 2014 at 12:55 am

      How DID you get such a pretty toasted marshmallow frosting!? So pretty! Thanks for stopping by Foodie Fridays!
      My recent post #FoodieFridays no. 18

      Reply
      • candielm says

        October 17, 2014 at 5:12 pm

        Using a torch does the trick. It looks really nice doesn't it.
        My recent post Pumpkin Recipes: Pumpkin Spice Pull Apart Bread

        Reply
    4. Nicole says

      October 18, 2014 at 6:04 am

      Yum! Stopping by from Foodie Fridays. These sound and look delicious! Think they'd make the perfect addition to the Thanksgiving table. Side note….I'm assuming under the meringue it's 1/2 cup sugar not salt… Thanks for sharing. Pinning!
      My recent post The Weekend Social #42- Guest Host

      Reply
    5. Joy says

      October 18, 2014 at 11:49 am

      Oh my, that meringue! Pinning because this looks and sounds amazing.
      My recent post {Casual Foodie} QQ Noodle, Milpitas

      Reply
    6. dishofdailylife says

      October 22, 2014 at 4:51 am

      Oh, this looks wonderful!! The picture is making me hungry!! Thanks for sharing it with us at Foodie Fridays…pinning now!
      My recent post Lemony Kale Quinoa Salad

      Reply
    7. Summer says

      October 22, 2014 at 8:21 pm

      Wow these cupcakes look amazing!!

      Reply

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