Welcome Fall: Orange Pumpkin Donuts, Oktoberfest, and Football

Today was the first University of Iowa football game of the season. I live very close to the stadium (though less close than I did for the past two years) so of course the tailgaters woke me up.

For me, football season means fall. It's fall now, damn it. I don't care that Iowa City felt like a tropical rainforest as recently as Thursday. It is fall and I am going to make pumpkin things.

Matt and I went to the store once the game had gotten going and Iowa was basically assured a win and I got what I was missing in order to make my very favorite pumpkin donuts. This recipe is one of the most popular on my blog and they are absolutely delicious. Important tip: get a candy thermometer that goes up to 400 degrees so you can make sure your oil stays at the correct temperature of 375.

I coated half of these donuts in cinnamon sugar and half of them in orange glaze. I can't decide which one I like better. Both are delicious. 

Matt was also very excited when we were at the store because Sam Adams Oktoberfest was available. Fall! Fall things!

Also, we are puppysitting for my mom this week. Puppy makes it difficult to take photos because she wants to eat everything. But she is so frickin' cute.

Also, this weekend is another Saturday Show Off.



Go check out what other people created on this gorgeous faux fall day!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Filling

I made these a couple weekends ago. We only ate a few of them at first, and my roommate and I had grand plans of taking them to school on Monday and sharing them. Didn't happen, as there were about 3 left over after a day in the fridge. Yum!

I used Just a Taste's recipe for the cookies and my apple cinnamon cream cheese recipe from my pumpkin cupcakes. The recipe makes a whole boatload, so make sure you have somebody to share with! I ended up throwing out some batter because I was tired of baking and needed to clean up my kitchen for the guests who were coming over to eat them.

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Apple Ginger Glaze, Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting, and Candied Walnut Garnish

I love just about any baked good with pumpkin in it. The inspiration for these cupcakes was pumpkin + my favorite fall flavors. I took these to a party, and they were extremely well received!


For the cupcakes:

• 1 Box of Yellow Cake Mix
  
• 3 Eggs
• 1 14oz Can of Pumpkin
  
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp Ground Cloves
• 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
  
• 1 tsp Vanilla

1. Heat oven to 350.
   
2. Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix together until well blended. This is a thick dough.
3. Put 1/4 C of batter into each prepared muffin cup. You will have enough batter for about 16 cupcakes. I made 12 and then baked the rest of the batter up in a mini muffin tin measuring out 1 TBSP of batter in each.
   
4. Bake for 18-22 minutes. (The mini muffins take less time, but I forgot to record how long.)
   

For the Glaze

• 1/2 C Powdered Sugar
• 2 tsp fresh grated ginger
• 1 TBSP apple juice (or more, depending on desired consistency - I made a very thin glaze that you can you barely see for the pictured cupcakes, but I'd go for a much thicker one next time.)

1. Mix together all ingredients.
2. Poke a few holes in the tops of the cupcakes, and pour a bit of glaze over each cupcake.
   

For the Frosting

• 8oz Brick of Softened Cream Cheese
• 4oz of Softened Unsalted Butter
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 1 TBSP cinnamon (more or less to taste)
• 2 TBSP apple juice (more or less for desired texture)
• 2 Cups Powdered Sugar

1. Beat together with an electric mixer the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
   
2. Add in the remaining ingredients. Beat until well combined - about 2 minutes.
3. Frosted the cupcakes. I had a fair bit of frosting left at the end, but I frosted the cupcakes rather conservatively.
   

For the Candied Walnuts

• 2 oz walnuts
• 1/4 C Butter
• 2 TBSP Brown Sugar
• Splash of Water
• 1/2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice (Or whatever spice you're into)

1. Melt the butter in the microwave.
   
2. Add everything but the nuts, stir, cook for another minute, and stir.
3. Dump in nuts. Cook for 40 second intervals, tossing in between. Do this 4-6 times, and sniff the nuts aggressively towards the end to make sure they aren't burning.
4. Pour the nuts out onto a lined baking sheet or a Silpat. Allow to cool and then garnish the cupcakes.
   

These cupcakes are for the Sweetest Kitchen's Mystery Box Cupcake Challenge. This month's theme is "orange", which can either be the color or the flaor. I'll remind you when voting starts, so you can mosey on over and vote for your favorite cupcakes!

The winner of October’s Mystery Box Cupcake Challenge will receive prizes from:

• Angela's Images; a selection of handmade crafts
• Bake It Pretty; a $5 electronic gift card
• Beanilla; 2-fold Madagascar vanilla extract & 3 Tongan vanilla beans
• Hello Hanna; a pack of Sweet Stands cupcake stands
• Lisa Orgler; an 8.5"x11" original art print of your choice
• Miss Kitty Creations; a handmade cupcake charm of your choice
• Sweet Cuppin Cakes; a prize pack worth $25
• Tundra Books; a selection 3 very sweet children's books

Thank you to all our prize sponsors!