Spiced Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

Spiced Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes (modified from a recipe posted by LILBIT on thebump)

2 2/3 cup AP flour

2tsp baking soda

2tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cloves

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice*

1 tsp salt

1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 can pumpkin (or squash)*

1 cup white sugar

1 cup dark brown sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

Best Cream Cheese Frosting (see recipe below)

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350

Line muffins cups with liners

in a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, pumpkin pie spice & salt. set aside.

using a stand mixer, mix together the pumpkin, white sugar, dark brown sugar & oil until combined. add the eggs one at a time making sure to mix well after each addition.

add the dry mixture to the wet mixture in 3 parts- mixing until JUST combined after each addition (over-mixing is a no no)

flour the chocolate chips (add 1tsp flour to the chips & shake- this keeps them from sinking) & then stir into the batter

fill the muffin cup 3/4 of the way & bake for 20-25 min (mine were done in 20 min)

remove from the pan after 5 minutes & cool on a baking rack.

frost. eat. yum! (i got 30 cupcakes)

Best Cream Cheese Frosting: (i usually dislike cream cheese frosting- but this stuff is freaking awesome. light, fluffy & just a hint of cream cheese flavor. perfect!)

8 oz cream cheese (softened)

1 stick un-salted butter (softened)

1 tsp vanilla

4 cups confection sugar

Directions:

using a hand mixer: beat together the cream cheese & butter until blended. add the vanilla. then mix in the sugar 1 cup at a time until blended.

jack up the mixer speed (like HIGH) and beat for about 30 seconds or so (until you get some fluffy)- and you're done. make sure to lick the beaters as so not to waste.

perfect.

*p.s. i didn't have a can of pumpkin. so i used a can of squash. and guess what? no one knew but me. why? because i threw in the pumpkin pie spice. if you have actual pumpkin then you probably don't need it- but would i use it anyway? heck yeah. cause it's good. but it's something to think about!