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I had my first bake sale this past weekend.
Reader Maggie (hi Maggie!) from the Hillyer Art Space in DC approached me this summer and asked that I bring and sell a few baked goods to their art showing.
The original brownie cupcakes on my blog have been so popular, I knew a fall-inspired version of them would be a huge hit.
Plus, I’m a tad obsessed with pumpkin and I don’t think I’m alone in that. 
Needless to say, these babies were the first item to sell out.
For the cupcakes, I remixed my original recipe and melted some good quality chocolate in the batter instead of cocoa powder. The melted chocolate makes these brownie cupcakes dense, rich, moist, and decadent.
Pure chocolate decadence. Is there really anything better?
Yes. There is something better. Adding pumpkin.
The pumpkin cream cheese frosting was an afterthought. I spied some pumpkin puree leftover from my healthy pumpkin bars in my refrigerator, and instantly knew I should incorporate it into the cream cheese frosting.
It’s lusciously creamy, perfectly spiced with pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon, and the dollop of pumpkin gives it a beautiful light orange color. Doesn’t it just look like a puffy cloud on top? So soft and silky.
I love the spice speckles peaking through!
What you will love most about this recipe is that it comes together fairly quickly.
With the dozens of cookies and other treats I made for the bake sale, an easy and quick cupcake was a glorious sigh of relief.
Wilton #12 piping tip always does the trick.
Fudge Brownie Cupcakes
from Joy of Baking
makes 12 cupcakes
- 4 ounces unsweetened or bittersweet chocolate, chopped (I used Ghirardelli)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 1 and 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger, 1/4 tsp ground cloves, 1/4 tsp nutmeg (OR 3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice)
- 2 – 2.5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1/4 cup flour (to thicken, as needed)
- salt, to taste
Preheat oven to 325F degrees. Line 12 muffin tins with baking cups or spray with nonstick spray. Set aside.
Melt the chopped chocolate and sliced butter together in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each until completely smooth and combined. Allow to cool for a few minutes. Stir in sugar, then vanilla. Add in eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in the flour and salt.
Pour batter into 12 muffin tins and bake for 20-25 minutes. Mine took 22 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center will have moist crumbs. Be careful not to overbake the cupcakes.
While the cupcakes are cooling in the pan, make the pumpkin frosting. Using a handheld or stand mixer with a paddle attachment, mix the cream cheese, butter, pumpkin, and spices on medium speed until creamy. Add the 2-2.5 cups of sifted powdered sugar depending how sweet you’d like it. If frosting is much too thin, add in the flour to thicken it. Add salt to cut the sweetness, if you prefer.
*The frosting will not be superthick, but will still spread or pipe well and maintain its shape on the cupcake. I used a Wilton #12 tip for piping.
© Sally’s Baking Addiction. All images & content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or link back to this post for the recipe.
The bake sale was so much fun! I knew today’s cupcakes would be popular. You can’t go wrong with chocolate & pumpkin!
I also made some Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies for it. 
MANY thanks to Maggie for the invite and to my best friend, Erin. Erin was my photographer for the day and navigated our way down to DC. I’m not very good at driving in that city!
PS: here are some similar recipes to today’s cupcakes!
Fudge Brownie Cupcakes with Cookie Dough Frosting
Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting
Fudge Brownie Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
{ 67 comments… read them below or add one }
That is so awesome that you did a bake sale! What fun!
Sarah Carletti recently posted..Apple Pumpkin Nut Muffins
Thanks Sarah! It was a lot of fun!
First, LOVE your apron. Too cute! I need a new cute apron!!
Second, these cupcakes sound amazing. I’m totally on the pumpkin train right now….and this brownie cupcake has put me over the edge. LOVE IT.
Aimee @ ShugarySweets recently posted..Pumpkin Cheesecake Cake
Thanks Aimee!! The apron was a birthday present from my friend.
that looks YUMMY ! to bad pumkin is not a very common ingredient here…hard to find.
Pumpkin was hard for me to find over the weekend because most stores were sold out! I found it yesterday though. I love baking with it!
congratulations on your bake sale! This frosting looks over-the-top delicious.
Jen @ Savory Simple recently posted..Pumpkin Spiced Cocktail Nuts
Thanks Jen! Yes, the frosting on these steals the spotlight!
Chocolate and pumpkin is a seriously yummy combo! I love the spice speckles that you can see in your frosting!!! How fun that you were able to do your first bake sale…very cute apron btw!!!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life recently posted..Peanut Butter Kit Kat Ice Cream Sandwiches
Thank you Jocelyn! The aprong was a present from my friend. The bake sale was such a fun experience! I hope to do more.
Sally you look amazing in your apron and nice gun show – girl you’ve been working those arms! Lookin’ good
And so do these cupcakes! Wow – soooo fudgy and the frosting. Now I could happily eat that forever! I love cream cheese based frostings and with pumpkin, mmmm, sooooo good! My first pumpkin recipe is tomorrow!
Averie @ Averie Cooks recently posted..Peanut Butter and Jelly Blondies
Thank you Averie! Mmm can’t wait for your pumpkin recipe and all the pretty photos. Arms… that’s why I swear by YOGAAAA!
You were in D.C.?! Next time you make a trip down let me know. I would have loved to stop by! That sounds so fun that it was at an art showing too. And no doubt that those cupcakes were a success. Drooooooooling!
Elaine recently posted..Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Ahh! I’m sorry Elaine. Next time, for sure let you know! It was a lot of fun. You’d love these cupcakes girl!
Eeeek! You’re so beautiful, Sally! I’m glad you had a great time. I can tell these cupcakes sold out first–look at them! The piping job is simple but it makes you see ALL the glorious spices in that fluffy pumpkin frosting; I LOVE that! And I love pairing a fudgy brownie base with a fluffy, spicy pumpkin. Just freaking incredible!
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel recently posted..White Chocolate Caramel Cashew Cookie Blondies
Hayley you are always so supportive and sweet!! Thank you so much – yeah those cupcakes were a huge success. So glad! I wanted to keep the frosting presentation simple because I didn’t want to take away from it! I think it kinda looks like a fluffy cloud on top!
You are slowly convincing me that I want fall recipes even though it’s still 90 out
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie recently posted..Rosemary Brie Chicken Burgers
Turn over to the pumpkin side Erin! hehe
How nice of you to participate in a bake sale
I can imagine how much work it was making all those treats. The frosting on these cupcakes looks to die for; love the specks of cinnamon!
Laura Dembowski recently posted..Apple Pie Cake
It was a lot of work, yes Laura! But all in good fun. I had a blast! I baked for 3 days straight!
I love these so much. That frosting…YUMMY. It looks to die for! Yay for bake sales, I really need to get on it and do one.
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted..Pumpkin Pie Marshmallows
They are a lot of fun Dorothy! And it’s an excuse to bake a TON of treats.
These look amazing and that flavor combination is very intriguing!
Thanks Loretta! Chocolate compliments pumpkin very well. I loved the flavors together in these.
I want to put that pumpkin cream cheese frosting on absolutely everything. I’ve seen a ton of pumpkin cakes/bars/etc. with plain cream cheese frosting…but pumpkin cream cheese frosting? Way to take it up a notch!
Meghan @ After the Ivy League recently posted..Trying New Things
MY thoughts exactly! I wanted to put this frosting on everything! It certainly won’t be the last time I make it. Thanks Meghan!
I love pumpkin cream cheese frosting! These are beautiful!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction recently posted..Grilled Lemon-Garlic Green Beans
Hi Jessica! Thank you so much. I thought they were pretty too
Congrats on the bake sale, Sally! So glad it went well. And I love this frosting. The texture looks absolutely to-die-for!
Cassie recently posted..Sriracha & Veggie Frittata
These look amazing, I can see why they sold out first!!
Anna @ hiddenponies recently posted..Vanilla Chocolate Chip Muffins
omg, these look so moist and cheesecakey delicious!! i would’ve bought your entire stash!!
Julie @ Table for Two recently posted..Blueberry Coffee Cake
Okay, these just look absolutely amazing. The dark, fudgy brownie with the soft, pumpkin-y cream cheese frosting…I have no words. Those are seriously gorgeous. And the spice speckles? Perfection! Eeek, could you do a bake sale in my kitchen, please??
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl recently posted..Jalepeno Popper Pretzel Bites {Secret Recipe Club}
Isn’t it crazy how pumpking goes with everything???
Cream Cheese-check!
Chocolate-check!
Your presentation looks great, and wait to see those cookies on the blog!
luv what you do recently posted..Backpacking Recap Day 2
Yes! I love how pumpkin can literally be combined with ANYTHING! obsessed.
These sound so awesome!! Love this idea!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar recently posted..Rustic Cherry Tart
I love bake sales! These look delicious…oh and the version you have with the cookie dough frosting — um, yeah, i’m gonna get right on that
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes recently posted..Oreo Cheesecake Cookies
Ashely – that cookie dough frosting is umm…. LETHAL! So freakin’ good lol!
omg! the bake sale looks like so much fun. so many goodies!
and these cupcakes… no words.
what katie’s baking recently posted..S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookies
Aww thank you Katie! The bake sale was so fun! Yep, these cupcakes left me speechless too haha!
It sounds like your bake sale went really well! That’s so fun!
Fudge brownie cupcakes – now that’s a cupcake I could easily get on board with
They sounds delicious!
Nicole @ The Marvelous Misadventures of a Foodie recently posted..Roasted Banana Ice Cream
Thanks Nicole! You’re so sweet. Fudgy brownie cupcakes are almost better than regular brownies
Can you please have a bake sale in Phoenix?? I want like 5 million dozen of these.
Ari @ Ari’s Menu recently posted..NYC Marathon Training Week 12
Haha Ari you are so funny!! You deserve a million of these cupcakes from all that running you’ve been doing!
This pumpkin cream cheese frosting is gooorgeous! I am dying to take a big bite from one of these cupcakes! Man, do they look awesome.
)
Colleen @ What’s Baking in the Barbershop?! recently posted..Busy as a Beaver (And I Can’t Wait for Fall
Thanks Colleen! I thought the frosting was pretty too
You are kinda killing me with these!! They look soooo good. I’m about to get my pumpkin on:)
Kristy (Sweet Treats & More) recently posted..Chicken, Grape & Blue Cheese Salad
Can’t wait to see any of your pumpkin recipes Kristy!!
Oh my goodness, they look wonderful! I definitely would’ve bought a bunch from you at the bake sale. =) love the combo of chocolate + pumpkin!
amy @ fearless homemaker recently posted..cookie dough cheesecake bars
You are not alone with your pumpkin obsession! These look yummy…so many recipes, not enough time is my problem lol!
I would love to invite you to post this over at my link party on The Purple Pumpkin Blog! Hope to see you there
I am putting pumpkin in and on everything these days! Glad I’m not alone in my obsession! Thanks for the invite again!
I love all things with pumpkin so I can’t wait to try these! Thanks for sharing
Liz recently posted..Cinnamon Buns with Cream Cheese Frosting
Let me know if/when you make them Liz! I love all thing pumpkin too
Genius! I love all things pumpkin and brownie of course. I always love your photos!
MY photos?? that means a lot Jaclyn, thank you!
I was so excited to try the pumpkin frosting. I made it as per your recipe but found it extremely sweet for my taste and too thin to stay on the cupcake. I doubled the amount of butter and cream cheese and it was better for me
So glad you made the frosting! Try adding a touch of flour next time. That will thicken the frosting without making it sweeter. I’m glad you added more cream cheese and butter though… can’t go wrong there!
Congrats on the bake sale! I’m sure you were the talk of the town!
These look amazing and I’m not even a huge pumpkin fan. I am a huge brownie fan though…
Back For Seconds recently posted..Samoas Bars
Not a huge pumpkin fan? Stephanie you must get tired of all the pumpkin recipes in the blogworld this time of year then! But yes, brownies are ALWAYS an enjoyment, that’s for sure!
I do love pumpkin and these cupcakes sound incredible – fudge, pumpkin and cream cheese all in one bite! I’m featuring this post in today’s Food Fetish Friday (with a link-back and attribution as always). Thanks for always inspiring me with your creations…
Javelin Warrior recently posted..Food Fetish Friday 9/14/2012
thank you so much Javelin!
Great idea with the popsicles sticks with the truffles. These cupcakes look great as well.
Thank you!
hello! i want to make these for a bake sale tomorrow, but i sont have that tip
would it pipe well the the big wilton star tip? it is all i have
I love the star tip! I would definitely try that out. But just know that the frosting isn’t super thick like bakery frosting. You could always just swirl the frosting on with a knife for a more rustic look as well.
That frosting is genius! I have been wondering for awhile if a pumpkin frosting would curdle or not- but this looks dreamy and perfect. I will be trying it out soon!
I found your site and was wondering how I would make this with a box mix (brownie mix)?
Hi Charmaine! Just mix up the brownie batter according to the package instructions and bake in cupcake tins instead of a baking pan. Then frost with my pumpkin cream cheese frosting. The baking time will depend on your mix, but go for at least 20 mins and insert a toothpick into the center of the brownie cupcake. If it comes out mostly clean, they are done. You will have to double the pumpkin frosting recipe depending on how many brownie cupcakes your boxed mix bakes. thank you!
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