14 Thanksgiving dessert ideas cupcakes

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Cupcakes are the perfect Thanksgiving dessert — easy to share, fun to decorate, and full of fall flavor.

Whether you love pumpkin spice or caramel apple, these 14 Thanksgiving cupcake ideas will sweeten up your holiday table.

🥧 1. Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Soft, cozy, and full of pumpkin flavor — these cupcakes taste like fall in every bite.

Ingredients:

  • Pumpkin puree

  • Flour, sugar, baking powder

  • Eggs, butter

  • Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves

Instructions:

  1. Mix wet and dry ingredients separately.

  2. Combine and fill cupcake liners ¾ full.

  3. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20 minutes.

  4. Frost with cream cheese frosting and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

🍫 2. Chocolate Turkey Cupcakes

Kids will love these adorable turkey cupcakes made with candy corn feathers.

Ingredients:

  • Chocolate cupcake mix

  • Chocolate frosting

  • Candy corn

  • Candy eyes

Instructions:

  1. Frost cupcakes with chocolate frosting.

  2. Stick candy corn in a fan shape for feathers.

  3. Add candy eyes and a small candy for the beak.

🍎 3. Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Inspired by caramel apples, these cupcakes are sweet, sticky, and delicious.

Ingredients:

  • Apple cake mix

  • Caramel sauce

  • Buttercream frosting

Instructions:

  1. Bake apple-flavored cupcakes.

  2. Pipe on buttercream frosting.

  3. Drizzle with caramel sauce and top with apple slices or caramel candy.

🍁 4. Maple Pecan Cupcakes

Rich maple flavor meets crunchy pecans — a fall classic.

Ingredients:

  • Brown sugar

  • Maple syrup

  • Chopped pecans

  • Buttercream frosting

Instructions:

  1. Mix all ingredients and bake as normal cupcakes.

  2. Frost with maple-flavored buttercream.

  3. Sprinkle toasted pecans on top.

🍮 5. Sweet Potato Cupcakes

A twist on the Thanksgiving side dish — creamy, sweet, and lightly spiced.

Ingredients:

  • Mashed sweet potatoes

  • Cinnamon, nutmeg

  • Flour, sugar, eggs

  • Marshmallow frosting

Instructions:

  1. Mix ingredients and bake cupcakes.

  2. Frost with marshmallow or vanilla frosting.

  3. Toast lightly with a kitchen torch.

🍂 6. Apple Pie Cupcakes

Mini apple pies in cupcake form — warm, gooey, and full of cinnamon goodness.

Ingredients:

  • Vanilla cupcake mix

  • Apple pie filling

  • Cinnamon frosting

Instructions:

  1. Bake cupcakes and scoop a small hole in the center.

  2. Fill with apple pie filling.

  3. Frost and drizzle with caramel.

🍫 7. Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes

Moist chocolate cupcakes with pumpkin frosting for a rich, fall-inspired dessert.

Ingredients:

  • Chocolate cake mix

  • Pumpkin puree

  • Cream cheese frosting

Instructions:

  1. Bake chocolate cupcakes.

  2. Blend pumpkin puree with cream cheese frosting.

  3. Pipe onto cupcakes and dust with cocoa powder.

🧈 8. Brown Butter Pecan Cupcakes

Nutty, buttery, and perfectly sweet — a classic fall flavor combo.

Ingredients:

  • Butter (browned)

  • Chopped pecans

  • Brown sugar, flour, eggs

  • Buttercream frosting

Instructions:

  1. Mix browned butter with sugar and eggs.

  2. Add flour and pecans.

  3. Bake and top with vanilla frosting.

🍫 9. S’mores Thanksgiving Cupcakes

A fun mix of fall and campfire flavors — chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker!

Ingredients:

  • Chocolate cupcake mix

  • Marshmallow fluff

  • Crushed graham crackers

Instructions:

  1. Bake chocolate cupcakes.

  2. Frost with marshmallow fluff.

  3. Sprinkle graham crumbs and drizzle chocolate.

🍎 10. Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes

These taste like a cinnamon roll but are easier to make and serve.

Ingredients:

  • Vanilla cupcake base

  • Brown sugar and cinnamon swirl

  • Cream cheese icing

Instructions:

  1. Add a cinnamon swirl to cupcake batter.

  2. Bake and top with cream cheese icing drizzle.

🍫 11. Mocha Maple Cupcakes

Perfect for adults — chocolate and coffee meet maple sweetness.

Ingredients:

  • Cocoa powder

  • Instant coffee

  • Maple syrup

  • Buttercream frosting

Instructions:

  1. Mix all ingredients and bake cupcakes.

  2. Frost with maple buttercream.

  3. Top with a chocolate-covered coffee bean.

🍰 12. Pecan Pie Cupcakes

All the rich flavor of pecan pie baked into a cupcake.

Ingredients:

  • Brown sugar

  • Chopped pecans

  • Corn syrup

  • Vanilla frosting

Instructions:

  1. Bake cupcakes and fill with pecan pie mixture.

  2. Frost lightly and top with a pecan half.

🍊 13. Cranberry Orange Cupcakes

Sweet and tangy — the perfect refreshing end to a heavy Thanksgiving meal.

Ingredients:

  • Orange zest

  • Cranberries (fresh or dried)

  • Vanilla frosting

Instructions:

  1. Add cranberries and zest to batter.

  2. Bake and frost with vanilla or orange buttercream.

  3. Garnish with orange peel curls.

🥕 14. Carrot Cupcakes with Maple Frosting

Moist carrot cupcakes with creamy maple frosting — a light yet flavorful dessert.

Ingredients:

  • Grated carrots

  • Brown sugar

  • Cinnamon, nutmeg

  • Maple frosting

Instructions:

  1. Mix ingredients and bake cupcakes.

  2. Cool and top with maple frosting and a sprinkle of crushed walnuts.

Cupcakes are easy to personalize — top them with edible leaves, candy corn, or mini pumpkin candies to make your Thanksgiving dessert table festive and fun!

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