Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes

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I’d had my heart set on making these cupcakes when Annie posted them last year. Sadly, pumpkin season fizzled out before I had the opportunity to make them last fall. So, I made sure that they were at the top of my “most bake” list for this year! So glad that I did too, because they are wonderful.

A hefty dose of espresso powder goes into the cupcake batter, to really give the strong coffee flavor that I crave when I hear the word “latte”. Then, to add all those warm and inviting flavors to the party – like pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Topped all off with a whipped cream frosting and a drizzle of caramel sauce? How can you say no?

So now you can have your Pumpkin Spice Latte, and eat it too. I hope that everyone enjoys these as much as we did! They pretty much make the b est breakfast ever (just sayin’). We’re looking forward full of pumpkin festivities this weekend. Hopefully, we’ll be brewing our pumpkin ale on Sunday, provided that we can find Sugar Pumpkins. So, keep your fingers crossed for us on that front. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tbsp. espresso powder
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. grated nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. salt
1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup buttermilk
4 large eggs
½ cup coffee or espresso, for brushing

For the frosting:
2¼ cups heavy cream, chilled
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar

For garnish:
Ground cinnamon
Caramel sauce

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, espresso powder, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Stir together and set aside. To the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachement, add the pumpkin, granulated sugar, brown sugar, buttermilk and oil. Mix to combine. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. With the mixture on low speed, add the flour mixture in two additions, mixing just until incorporated.

Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Transfer the pans to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes, then remove the cupcakes from the pans. While the cupcakes are still warm, brush them two or three times with the coffee or espresso, allowing the first coat to soak in before repeating. Let cool completely.

For the frosting, place the heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whip on medium-low speed at first, gradually increasing to high speed. Blend in the confectioners’ sugar gradually. Whip until stiff peaks form, being careful not to over-beat. Use a pastry bag fitted with a decorative tip to frost the cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon and drizzle with caramel sauce. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate.

Source: adapted from Annie’s Eats

DIY Pumpkin Spice Lattes

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Ahh, the arrival of the Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks. One of the first true signs of fall, right? Once September rolls around I look forward to anything and everything involving pumpkin – coffee and beer, first and foremost.

However, $5 a cup definitely puts a dent in the old pocketbook. Not to mention the fact that the closest one is 40 minutes away. So, what’s a gal to do? Why, DIY of course. Luckily, this wonderful homemade spiced simple syrup made it’s way around most of my blogging friends site’s last year, so I knew right where to turn.

It takes less than 5 minutes to pull together, and in less than 20 minutes you have a delicious, warm and spicy addition to your coffee that kicks the pants right off any store-bought, preservative laden variety. Don’t be put off if you don’t own an espresso machine either, just brew some regular Joe – but just make it double strength. Once it’s mixed in with the steaming milk – you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference anyway.

DIY Pumpkin Spice Lattes

For the Pumpkin Spice syrup:
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
4 whole cloves
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground nutmeg
3 Tbsp canned pumpkin

For the lattes:
2-4 Tbsp very strongly brewed coffee
6-8 oz milk, very hot
2 Tbsp pumpkin spice syrup (to taste)
Whipped cream, optional
Caramel sauce, optional

To make the syrup, combine sugar and water in saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved. Whisk in the remaining ingredients and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Do not let mixture come to a boil.

Remove from heat and allow mixture to steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain syrup through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer into a large jar or bottle of your choice. Store syrup in refrigerator, can be stored up to a month.

To make the latte, combine strong-brewed coffee or espresso with the milk, and stir in pumpkin spice syrup to taste. Top with whipped cream and caramel sauce, if desired.

Source: adapted from Sugarcrafter, via Cook Like A Champion. As seen on Confections of a Foodie Bride and Annie’s Eats.

Homemade Caramel Sauce

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There was a time, not so long ago, that the idea of caramelizing sugar scared the hell out of me. It seemed so temperamental, and a need to be precise. Last year I finally gave it “a go” in order to create some of my favorite coffee drinks at home. My first few attempts went okay. Sometimes the sugar would seized up on me (aka the sugar hardens into a lump), but after a few minutes of stirring it melts right back down into the sauce. Now it’s something that I always have to have in the fridge.

Great to mix into coffee, over ice cream, with apple slices – possibilities are endless. I’ve been guilty of eating it right off the spoon. This is the basic recipe, but it’s an open canvas to additions. Add 1/2 teaspoon fleur-de-sel or another finishing salt to make it a Salted Caramel Sauce. Or, a tablespoon of dark rum gives it a delicious boozy kick. Mix a tablespoon or so into some hot spiced cider, with maybe a little extra rum – a perfect way to wind down on a chilly fall evening.

So, if you’ve been scared of tackling caramel – don’t be. It might take a couple of tries, but once you get the feel for it, you’ve got it. And, being able to make something that is as delicious and versatile as this stuff is, is definitely something to pat yourself on the back for. Enjoy!

Caramel Sauce

1 cup sugar
1¼ cups heavy cream
¼ tsp. coarse salt (increase to 1 tsp for salted caramel sauce)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbsp butter

Spread the sugar in an even layer over the bottom of a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan.  Place over medium-low heat, watching carefully.  When the sugar begins to liquefy around the edges, use a heatproof spatula to gently drag the liquified sugar towards the center.  Continue stirring very gently until all the sugar is melted, making sure to not over-stir.  Measure out the heavy cream into a liquid measuring cup, and set aside.  Once the caramel reaches a deep amber color (think the color of an old penny), immediately remove the sauce pan from the heat and let sit 1 minute. Carefully whisk in half of the heavy cream.  The mixture will steam and bubble violently.  Stir until the cream is well incorporated, then whisk in the remaining cream.  Stir in the salt, vanilla extract, and butter.  If any sugar has hardened, place the saucepan over low heat and whisk until smooth.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  If needed, it can be rewarmed in the microwave or in a saucepan over low heat.

Source: adapted from The Perfect Scoop by Dave Lebovitz; via Annie’s Eats and Cook Like A Champion

Classic Apple Pie

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September. At long last. Andrew started preschool last week, which was – hard. He did great though, and is really enjoying being in a classroom environment. His little brother and I miss him in those morning hours, but we’ve been enjoying having some time as just the two of us too. We went apple picking this week, to the local orchard up the street, Vessey’s. They’ve had a rough year – in January they lost the matriarch of the family, Mrs. Nancy. The woman could talk your ear off about apples, or anything else for that matter for hours, and had peony bushes the size of small homes.  She was a gem, and is truly missed by many folks here in our community. Then, to make matters worse – it seemed like every crop took a nosedive. Flooding got to strawberries and then the dryness and intense heat in July fried the peaches. This week they mentioned that the pumpkins aren’t looking too hot either, so keep your fingers crossed!

But, I’m happy to report that the apples looked great. It was still a little early for picking, so I’ll probably go back in a couple of weeks to get a couple of bushels to make applesauce with. We settled for a peck, and promptly went home and make this pie. I’ve made it several times now, and it always comes out great. Which, speaks volumes considering pies have never been my strong suit. So many apple pies are so cloyingly sweet and cinnamon-ey, and I love this recipe because it isn’t. Hints of cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg – and just enough sugar to make it sweet.  With a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top? What a perfect way to welcome fall!

Apple Pie

For the crust:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling out the dough
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons vegetable shortening, cut into 1/2-inch pieces nd chilled
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces and chilled
6 to 8 tablespoons ice water

For the pie:
2 pounds (4 -5) McIntosh apples
1 1/2 pounds (3-4) Granny Smith apples
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 recipe Double-Crust Pie Dough , bottom crust fit into pie plate
1 egg white, lightly beaten

Process the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor until combined. Scatter the shortening over the top and process until the mixture has the texture of coarse sand, about 10 seconds. Scatter the butter pieces over the top and, using short pulses, process the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs, about 10 pulses. Transfer to a bowl.

Sprinkle 6 tablespoons of the ice water over the mixture. Stir and press the dough together, using a stiff rubber spatula until the dough sticks together. If the dough does not come together, stir in the remaining water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it does. Divide dough in half, and flatten into two 4-inch disks, and wrap individually in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour, or up to 2 days.

Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat rimmed baking sheet and oven to 500°F.

Remove one piece of dough from refrigerator (if refrigerated longer than 1 hour, let stand at room temperature until malleable). Roll dough on lightly floured work surface or between two large sheets of plastic wrap to 12-inch disk. Transfer dough to pie plate by rolling dough around rolling pin and unrolling over 9 -inch pie plate. Working around circumference of pie plate, ease dough into pan corners by gently lifting dough edges with one hand while pressing around pan bottom with other hand. Leave dough that overhangs lip of plate in place. Refrigerate dough-lined pie plate.

Peel, core and cut apples into 1/4-inch slices and toss with lemon juice and zest. In a medium bowl, mix 3/4 cup sugar, flour, salt and spices. Toss dry ingredients with apples. Turn fruit mixture, including juices, into chilled pie shell and mound slightly in center.

Roll out second piece of dough to 12-inch disk and place over filling. Trim top and bottom edges to 1/2-inch beyond pan lip. Tuck this rim of dough underneath itself so that folded edge is flush with pan lip. Flute edging or press with fork tines to seal. Cut four slits on dough top. Brush egg white onto top of crust and sprinkle evenly with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.

Place pie on baking sheet and lower oven temperature to 425°F. Bake until top crust is golden, about 25 minutes. Rotate pie and reduce oven temperature to 375°F; continue baking until juices bubble and crust is deep golden brown, 30-35 minutes longer. Remove from oven and let cool for at least 4 hours before serving.

Source: The New Best Recipe by America’s Test Kitchen