Pumpkin Mousse Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

I was looking through a magazine the other day and stumbled along a recipe similar to this one.  Everything in the recipe was from scratch so I made it semi homemade for easy baking.  These are very good and have gotten a lot of compliments on them already.  Perfect for the holiday season!!!

Ingredients:

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 package cool whip/thawed
• 1/4 -1/2 can of 15oz pumpkin pie mix
• cream cheese frosting
• 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
• Cupcake liners

Directions:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare and bake cake mix as directed on box for cupcakes.  Meanwhile mix together cool whip and pumpkin pie mix until it has a mousse texture. (depending on how much you like pumpkin flavor you can use 1/4 can or 1/2 can.)   In separate bowl mix cream cheese frosting and cinnamon.  When cupcakes are cool place pumpkin mousse filling in a cupcake decorator with plain tip.  Insert tip into cupcake and press mousse into cupcake until you see it start to expand.  (You can use one of those picnic ketchup bottles you can buy at the dollar store)  Top with frosting and they are ready to eat!!

Cookers Note:  When I tried the mousse by itself I was not so sure about the recipe but with the cake and frosting it all blends together very nicely.

Homemade Hostesss Cupcakes

These were so much fun to make and everyone raved about them.  I am not a fan of chocolate cake but I actually did enjoy these.  Such an easy show off recipe.
Ingredients for Cake:

• 1 box devils food cake
• Water, eggs, and oil as directed on box
• 1 can easy Pillsbury easy frost or vanilla whipped frosting if you have a decorating pen kit.

Ingredients for frosting:

• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup semi-sweetened chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon corn syrup

Directions: Bake cake as directed and cool.  Using the Pillsbury easy frost squirt frosting into the middle of the cupcake until it starts to crack a little at the top.  See picture below.  Add chocolate chips to a medium bowl then bring heavy cream to a soft boil in a sauce pan.  Once heated add to chocolate chips and stir until melted then add corn syrup.   Once cupcakes are cooled completely dip the tops into the frosting.  Frosting will harden as it sits.
Cookers Note:  I used a decorating icing tube to make a hostess cupcake design on some of mine and I also just made a little circle design on some.