These Fun, Fall-Inspired Cupcake Recipes Will Start Your Autumn Season on the Right Foot

By Marissa Wu August 03, 2021
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey

As the weather begins to cool, giving us a respite from the intense summer heat, the leaves begin to change and the daylight is shorter. That can only mean one thing: Autumn is upon us! Cue fluffy sweaters and way too many layers, the smell of pumpkin-spice everything, trips to the pumpkin patch, hot cider, and all the other things we love about fall. Something that really takes the cake, though, are all of the fun treats. Fall is the season to whip out our coziest ingredients—cloves and cinnamon, allspice and cardamom, ginger and nutmeg. Plus, we have the opportunity to put earthy produce in everything…sweet potato, pumpkin, carrots…not only do the veggies add a wonderful flavor, but they also vastly improve any cake's texture. These fall-inspired cupcake recipes are everything you need to start the season on the right foot (including some SEC-themed treats). From pumpkin spice to bright citrus, these are the best cupcake recipes for fall—guaranteed to make your kitchen smell amazing.

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Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes 

Pumpkin spice might be old news, but it's as loved as ever. These cupcakes use the seasonal spice to simplify the ingredient list—no more raiding your spice rack and the spice aisle at your local grocery store for a jar of something you'll only need an eighth of a teaspoon of.

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College Football Cupcakes

Credit: Photo: Jim Bathie

Recipe: College Football Cupcakes

It's not really fall without football and you'll want to whip up these easy cupcakes, which use the same basic vanilla cupcake and cream cheese frosting recipe, to honor your favorite team at the tailgate.

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Candy Corn Cupcakes

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Candy Corn Cupcakes

The ubiquitous fall candy gets the cupcake treatment. Serve these all October long.

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Fresh Citrus Cupcakes With Orange Buttercream

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Fresh Citrus Cupcakes With Orange Buttercream

These two-for-one cupcakes will have you dreaming about summer days but are actually an in-season treat—citrus fruits like clementines and tangerines are peak between October and January.

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Gingerbread Muffins

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Gingerbread Muffins

Nothing like the warmth of gingerbread to ring in the chillier temperatures. Serve plain at breakfast or top with some frosting for a simple dessert.

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Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans

This dense, soft Bundt is heavily laden with pumpkin and buttermilk for moisture and the warmth of brown sugar for a cozy fall treat. Pop excess batter into cupcake tins or forgo the Bundt in favor of the muffin tin for easy portions.

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Caramelized Apple Toffee Muffins

Credit: Stephen Devries; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Caramelized Apple Toffee Muffins

Caramel and apples? Groundbreaking. A beloved fall combo, these muffins also get a little savory note thanks to the toffee. Eat one for breakfast or save them for an after-school snack.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Credit: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Rich, chocolate-y, salty, and sweet, these cupcakes will make you want to cozy up with a snack and novel by the fireplace as the temperatures drop outside.

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Mummy Cupcakes

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Mummy Cupcakes

Simple and adorable, you'll want to tote these to every Halloween and harvest party you need to attend with the kids.

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