30 Best Fall Cupcakes to Kick Off the Start of Autumn
This year's "harvest" features apple, cinnamon and pumpkin-spiced treats!
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The first chill in the air means one special thing: It’s finally baking season. The end of sweltering temps makes turning on the oven more pleasant, and a succession of holidays gives plenty of reasons to whip up something sweet. While cookies or muffins may be your go-to, we suggest upping the ante (read: adding frosting) and trying your hand at fall cupcakes. From spooky Halloween cupcakes to festive Thanksgiving cupcakes to seasonal fall desserts full of apples, pumpkin and sweet potatoes, there are so many frosting-topped baked goods to try before the end of the year.
Slather pumpkin spice cupcakes with homemade cream cheese frosting to sell out your kid’s bake sale or get crafty with spiderweb, witch or scary bat cupcakes for a Halloween party. Take inspiration from your favorite Thanksgiving pies and try pecan, pumpkin or apple pie cupcakes: They’re tasty, shareable and easy to make! Or think beyond the typical fall flavors (pumpkin spice, maple, ginger, cinnamon, clove, etc.) and go for timeless ideas that taste extra special during the cozy season, like citrus, chocolate, peanut butter and more.
Not that it’s a competition, but baking and frosting cupcakes is easier than assembling a layer cake — and you get the same luxurious, sticky-sweet bite. So go ahead and get your oven ready to make a delicious treat. It’s fall, after all.
Chocolate-Pecan Cupcakes
Bite into these beauties for a surprise: Sweet, sticky chocolate-pecan filling! Prepare to wow at this year's Thanksgiving feast.
Get the Chocolate-Pecan Cupcakes recipe.
Ricotta-Orange Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting
Ricotta (in both the cake and frosting) adds a creamy boost to these orange-scented bites.
Get the Ricotta-Orange Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting recipe.
Apple Pie Cupcakes
Not all cupcakes need frosting: Like fresh, warm apple pie, these spiced treats are topped with light, airy (homemade!) whipped cream.
Get the Apple Pie Cupcakes recipe.
Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Toasted Ginger Meringue
Marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole is so decadent it could be dessert...so why not turn it into cupcakes? Take out your kitchen torch for a golden-brown finish.
Get the Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Toasted Ginger Meringue recipe.
White Chocolate Ghost Cupcakes
Simply swipe a dollop of melted white chocolate with the back of a spoon to create these spooky cupcake toppers. Use store-bought cupcakes if you're short on time!
Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Made with pie spice and pure pumpkin, this classic, cream cheese-frosted dessert might be the unofficial cupcake of autumn.
Get the Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe.
Pecan Cupcakes with Spiced Vanilla Frosting
Grind whole pecans in a food processor and blend them into the batter for a sweet, nutty flavor in every bite.
Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cupcakes
Peanut butter-chocolate is reliably delicious, so these will be a hit at everything from bake sales to birthday parties this fall.
Get the Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cupcakes recipe.
RELATED: Our 52 Best Chocolate Desserts
Mouse Cupcakes
Bake up a back-to-school treat your pip squeaks will love: Start with homemade or store-bought cupcakes, then top them with mini vanilla wafer "ears" and flattened circus peanut "cheese" slices.
Get the Mouse Cupcakes recipe.
Carrot-Pineapple Cupcakes
DIY pineapple flowers add an extra touch of beauty to spiced carrot cupcakes.
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Witch Cupcakes
Hats off to these witchy bites, topped with colorful buttercream and crafty cupcake liners.
Get the Witch Cupcakes recipe.
Lemon Cupcakes with Strawberry Frosting
Lemon and strawberry is a flavor combo we want to eat all year long.
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RELATED: 33 Bright 'n' Tangy Lemon Desserts
Spiderweb Cupcakes
Get into the spooky spirit with chocolate ganache frosting crowned with white chocolate webs and M&M's spiders.
Get the Spiderweb Cupcakes recipe.
Sugared Lavender Cupcakes
It's easy to make the candied lavender that tops these cute cakes — just brush egg white on a lavender sprig, coat with sugar and let dry.
Get the Sugared Lavender Cupcakes recipe.
Mummy Cupcakes
Peek-a-BOO, these delicious vanilla buttercream-frosted cupcakes see you!
Get the Mummy Cupcakes recipe.
Cookie Bat Cupcakes
Store-bought cookies and candies turn chocolate cupcakes and dyed vanilla buttercream into spooky faces.
Get the Cookie Bat Cupcakes recipe.
RELATED: 33 Best Halloween Cakes Perfect for a Sweet and Spooky Party
Buttermilk Cupcakes
Buttermilk gives a subtle acidity to balance these sweet vanilla cupcakes. Top them with edible fall flowers for the season!
Get the Buttermilk Cupcakes recipe.
Graveyard Cupcakes
Rich chocolate cupcakes and creamy chocolate buttercream taste even better when buried under crushed-Oreo-cookie "dirt."
Get the Graveyard Cupcakes recipe.
Chocolate Pumpkin Witch Cupcakes
Want to hear something sweet? These spooky fall treats are topped with a crave-worthy hazelnut cream cheese frosting.
Boston Cream Cupcakes
Vanilla cupcakes stuffed with vanilla pudding and topped with a silky chocolate glaze make this classic dessert taste even better in cupcake form.
Get the Boston Cream Cupcakes recipe.
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