Gluten Free Vegan Pumpkin Cupcakes Recipe
Updated Jul 11, 2018, Published Oct 05, 2012
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It is officially fall! The way I know that here in Florida is that the temperatures have dropped from the low 90s to the mid 80s, hurricane season is upon us, and the markets are filled with Halloween decorations and fall produce.
I can’t think “October” without thinking “pumpkin.” So, it only stands to reason I would start baking up some gluten free pumpkin treats. In the past I have made pumpkin scones, pumpkin pies, pumpkin quick breads, and pumpkin cookies but for today I decided to try out some pumpkin cupcakes.
I will be the first to admit I am never going to win any pastry decorating contests. I can’t do fancy piping, have no clue how to fashion things out of fondant, and truth be told, it is about all I can do to get the frosting to look smooth. But even with my cake decorating handicaps, I was able to make these look sort of like pumpkins with the help of food decorating gel and some gumdrop candies. The thing is, if I can do this, so can your kids!
Of course there really is no need to try and get all fancy with your decorating. You can simply smear some frosting on top of a cupcake and call it a day!
The flavor of theses cuties is reminiscent of pumpkin pie, but in a cupcake. How fun is that? They are vegan thanks to my secret weapon for moist gluten free cupcakes, Vegenaise, which means they are also great for those on an egg or dairy free diet as well.
These gluten free, vegan pumpkin cupcakes helped it feel a bit more like fall in these parts. In fact, I think I am going to crank up the air conditioning and put on a sweater. Then I am going to have another cupcake!
Gluten Free Vegan Pumpkin Cupcakes Recipe
Ingredients
Pumpkin Cupcakes
- 1 cup pure pumpkin puree
- 1/3 cup Vegenaise
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup rice, or other dairy free milk
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups good quality all-purpose gluten free flour blend
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Dairy Free Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces Vegan Gourmet cream cheese substitute
- ½ cup Earth Balance, or other dairy free butter substitute
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- Orange food coloring gel, optional
- Orange food decorating gel, optional
- 6 green gumdrops, cut in half (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12 cup standard muffin tine with paper liners.
- Whisk together the pumpkin puree, Vegenaise, sugar, brown sugar, rice milk, maple syrup, and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and whisk until fully combined. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling about 2/3 full. Bake for 18 – 22 minutes or until the tops of the cupcakes feel firm and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.
- Combine the frosting ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat, starting on low, to combine. Once the ingredients have combined, increase the speed to medium-high and beat for 1 minute or until very smooth. If desired, add orange food coloring, a little at a time, until desired color is achieved.
- Generously top the cooled cupcakes with frosting and smooth the top of the frosting into a roundish shape. Starting at the top of each cupcake, draw lines down to the cupcake liner in a spoke. Top each cupcake with a gumdrop half.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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OMG! These are so cute! Going to make with the kids for sure!
Thanks and enjoy!
Anything to do with pumpkin gets a big thumbs up from me. I’d like one for breakfast right now!
Thanks Cara!
I agree with Cara, totally breakfast-worthy! My kids will love these, thanks for the inspiration Carol. Can’t wait to try vegenaise in my next batch of cupcakes! Does it replace the egg?
Hi Maggie thanks and yes, it replaces egg and oil (or whatever other kind of fat you would use.) Enjoy!
I think your cupcakes are very cute! … you’re way better at decorating cupcakes than me :) I love your trick to use vegenaise instead of eggs, I can’t wait to try it! Thanks!
Thanks Cassidy – enjoy!
These do sound lovely indeed! I’m just planting my pumpkin plants in the garden this week, but I always love the way they wander over the garden at will :)
How nice, never have grown pumpkin but I imagine it would be lovely!
Wow Carol! These are adorable and SO creative!
Thanks Alisa!
That’s a 1/4 cup of dairy free milk right?
Yes – sorry. I fixed the recipe, thanks for being my proof reader!
I know what you mean about it not feeling like fall – it’s so warm in Texas. I’m not complaining. It just doesn’t feel like the holidays are about to begin. But it never does. Your cupcakes look adorable.
Thanks Amy. And I know, it really does not feel like we are heading into holiday season!
I can not get to Vegenaise, what can I use to substitute it?
Any vegan mayo will work.
These are absolutely DELICIOUS! I love them, my boyfriend loves them, my dad loves them, and my mom, who doesn’t even like pumpkin, thought they were good! I will be making these for my office for our Christmas party!