FASHION&FOOD: PUMPKIN

from harpersbazaar.com

from the blog "Created by Diane"

Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 box German Chocolate Cake mix
• 3 eggs
• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1¼ cups milk
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Place cake mix, room temperature butter, eggs and milk, pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice into mixing bowl and mix on medium speed for two minutes, scrape down sides after one minute. Stir in chocolate chips. Use a large scoop (3 Tablespoon size) it helps them to all come out in a uniform shape, into your lined cupcake pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes. Let cool completely.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Frosting

Ingredients

• 4 oz cream cheese
• ½ cup butter
• 5 cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 3 Tablespoons milk
• (optional) 1 teaspoon cream cheese extract or 6 drops cheesecake flavor

Instructions

1. Beat cream cheese and sugar then add powdered sugar pumpkin pie spice and milk and mix until fully blended together and fluffy.
2. Color you frosting. I used 6 drops Americolor Orange. I had removed 4 Tablespoons frosting for the green stems and mixed two drops of Americolor Avocado for the green stems.
3. I placed the orange frosting in a piping bag with a #2D tip and started piping the rose shape in the center and swirled the frosting about two times around the center to create the rose.