If you love fluffy light cupcakes, you will want to make my Gluten Free Pumpkin Cupcakes recipe. They are full of pumpkin spice flavors. I then topped them with a thick and creamy cinnamon buttercream frosting! They are the perfect cupcakes for fall!

Pumpkin season is here, and there is so much to celebrate! Who can say no to light and fluffy Gluten Free Pumpkin Cupcakes? These incredible pumpkin cupcakes are full of fall flavors, but they are so fluffy that they make the best dessert!

Half of my family goes nuts over pumpkin recipes Mr. Fearless Dining the most. One kid will eat anything pumpkin as long as it is sweet. My picky one; it really depends on what I made. She is a chocolate fanatic, so I tend to make this Gluten Free Pumpkin Chocolate Swirl Cake for her.

I share all of my tips and tricks to help you make cupcakes that turn out so fluffy that nobody will know they are gluten free! If you are a cupcake fanatic like me, check out all of my delicious gluten free cupcake recipes!

Oh my good ness these are absolutely fluffy and moist and delicious. I made batch today.”

Janese S., blog reader

Allergen Information:

These gluten free pumpkin cupcakes are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and nut-free, so they are great for those with food allergies. (You can easily make the frosting dairy-free as well.)

Why These Cupcakes Are Great:

These cupcakes truly are incredible. So many pumpkin recipes tend to be dense, but not these gluten free pumpkin cupcakes!! They are so fluffy! Here is why you need to try these:

  1. They are topped with a creamy cinnamon buttercream frosting, and just WOW! They are so good!
  2. You don’t need complicated spice mixtures; grab the basics like ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon!
  3. There is a dairy-free frosting option for those who can’t have dairy!
  4. This recipe is tried and true with several gluten free flour blends!

If you prefer more classic flavors of cupcakes, try my delicious, moist Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes or my Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes recipes.

Top Pick
King Arthur, Measure for Measure Flour 3 lbs

This is one of my favorite gluten-free flour blends for cookies, cakes, pie crust, biscuits, and muffins! (Do not use this flour blend for yeast recipes.)

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Ingredient Notes:

Photos of the gluten free pumpkin cupcakes ingredients.
  • Gluten Free Flour Blend – I tested this recipe using Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend and King Arthur’s Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn’t mean others will not work; I just have not tested other flours, and I can not guarantee the recipe will work if you use other mixes.
  • Xanthan Gum – If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add one teaspoon. See the Substitutions section below for a gum-free option.
  • Brown Sugar, Cane Sugar, and Powdered Sugar.
  • Pumpkin Puree – I prefer canned because it is smoother, but it will work if you roast pumpkin a lot. Just make sure it isn’t too firm.
  • Eggs – Use size large.
  • Butter – I used unsalted butter.
  • Non-Dairy Milk – I used almond milk, but other dairy-free kinds of milk will work. But I do not recommend canned coconut milk.
  • Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla extract.
  • Light Oil – I used canola oil. Do not use strongly flavored oil.

If you want to learn what gluten free flour blends work in what types of recipes, check out my Guide to Gluten Free Flour.

Substitutions:

a gluten free pumpkin cupcake with a bite taken out

Tips For Sucess:

  • Do NOT use a standing mixer or electric mixer for this recipe. It will make your cupcakes turn out denser. Mix by hand.
  • Use parchment paper cupcake liners. They don’t stick to the cupcakes, so they come out of the papers cleanly.

For more cake-baking tips, check out my Gluten Free Cake (and cupcake)Troubleshooting Guide.

How To Make Gluten Free Pumpkin Cupcakes:

Preheat your oven to 350º F and set the oven rack in the middle of the oven.

Photos of making pumpkin cupcakes steps 1 and 2.

Step 1: Add your dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Whisk to blend them.

Step 2: Add your wet ingredients to a smaller bowl and use a wire whisk to whip them.

Photos of making pumpkin cupcakes steps 3 and 4.

Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.

Step 4: VERY gently mix the wet and dry pumpkin cupcake ingredients. Be very careful not to overmix your batter. Mix it until it is just barely mixed. This is the true secret to making light and fluffy cupcakes!

Cupcake batter in a muffin tin ready to bake.

Step 5: Line a muffin tin with parchment paper muffin liners. These are the best to use because your cupcakes will not stick to the paper. If you don’t have them, spray the muffin tin with coconut oil spray (or use another light oil).

Fill each muffin cup about ⅔ full of batter.

Step 6: Bake the cupcakes at 350º F for 20-22 minutes.

Step 7: Test a cupcake to see if they are baked by inserting a toothpick into a cupcake. If the toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking. If you see batter or crumbs, the cupcakes must be baked longer.

Step 8: Move the pumpkin cupcakes to a cooling rack. Allow them to cool completely before frosting.

Frosting on a standing mixer beater.

Step 9: Now make that yummy cinnamon buttercream frosting! Add butter, powdered sugar, cinnamon, non-dairy milk, and vanilla in a large standing mixer. Mix until it is completely blended and fluffy.

Step 10: Put the frosting into an icing bag and use a star tip to frost each gluten free pumpkin cupcake—dust with cinnamon.

A gluten free pumpkin cupcake with a bite taken out.

If you are a pumpkin fanatic, don’t forget to check out all of my incredible Gluten Free Pumpkin Dessert Recipes!

Variations:

  • Add mini white or milk chocolate chips to the pumpkin batter.
  • Drizzle them with icing made with powdered sugar, cinnamon, and non-dairy milk.
  • Top them with Halloween sprinkles. Always check to be sure the gluten free sprinkles are gluten free!
  • Add chopped nuts like pecans to the cupcake batter.

Recipe FAQ:

How can you make this gluten free pumpkin cupcake recipe healthier?

You can easily make this pumpkin cupcake healthier. Substitute coconut sugar for the sugars in the cupcake. Another way is to add 2-3 scoops of collagen protein powder (unflavored) to the dry ingredients. Lastly, add ⅓ cup of almond flour. Use only 1 /4 cup of the gluten free flour blend.

How do you store pumpkin cupcakes?

Store your pumpkin cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep fresh for up to 4 days.

Can you freeze these pumpkin cupcakes?

You can easily freeze these cupcakes. I recommend freezing them without frosting and then frosting them after they are thawed out.

How do you keep pumpkin cupcakes from turning out dense?

There are two secrets to preventing your pumpkin cupcakes from turning out dense. 1. Don’t use a standing mixer, and 2. Don’t overmix the batter.

The cinnamon frosting also tastes amazing on these Gluten Free Pumpkin Cake Bars!

The top view of the frosted cupcakes.

More Gluten Free Cupcake Recipes:

Half of a pumpkin cupcake on a white plate.
A gluten free cupcake on a small white plate.

Fluffy Gluten Free Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream

Sandi Gaertner
Quick and eacy gluten free pumpkin cupcakes. If you are looking looking for delicious light and fluffy gluten free pumpkin cupcakes, you will love this recipe.
5 from 23 votes
dairy free allergen icon
gluten free allergy icon
nut free allergen icon
soy free allergy icon
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Gluten Free Cake Recipes, Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 12 cupcakes
Calories 381 kcal

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ cups gluten free flour blend * see note
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder aluminum-free
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger * use powdered
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¾ cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 eggs size large
  • cup light oil * see note
  • ½ cup non-dairy or regular milk
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Cinnamon Frosting

  • ½ cup softened unsalted butter *see note
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons non-dairy milk
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions
 

Cupcakes:

  • Add your dry ingredients to a bowl. Whisk to blend.
  • Add your wet ingredients to a smaller bowl and whisk.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
  • VERY gently mix the wet and dry ingredients together. Be very careful not to overmix your batter. Mix it until it is just barely mixed. This is the true secret to making light and fluffy cupcakes! Don't use a standing mixer.
  • Line a muffin tin with parchment paper muffin liners. These are the best to use because your cupcakes will not stick to the paper. If you don't have them, spray the muffin tin with coconut oil spray (or use another light oil).
  • Fill each muffin cup about ⅔ full of batter.
  • Bake the cupcakes at 350º F for 20-22 minutes.
  • Test a cupcake to see if they are baked by inserting a toothpick into a cupcake. If the toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking. If you see batter or crumbs, the cupcakes need to bake longer.
  • Move the pumpkin cupcakes to a cooling rack. Allow them to cool completely before frosting.

Cinnamon Frosting:

  • In a large standing mixer, add the butter, powdered sugar, cinnamon, non-dairy milk, and vanilla. Mix until it is completely blended and fluffy.
  • Put the frosting into an icing bag and use a star tip to frost each gluten free pumpkin cupcake. Dust with cinnamon.

Notes

  1. I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn’t mean others will not work; I just have not tested other flours.
  2. Xanthan Gum – If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
  3. The cupcakes are dairy-free. To make the frosting dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter.
  4. I recommend a very light oil like avocado or canola.
  5. I used almond milk, but other dairy-free kinds of milk will work, but I do not recommend canned coconut milk.
  6. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cupcake. If the toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking. If you see batter or crumbs, the cupcake needs to bake longer.
  7. These cupcakes will last up to 4 days in an airtight container or up to 4 months in the freezer.
Variations:
  • Add mini white or milk chocolate chips to the pumpkin batter.
  • Drizzle them with an icing made with powdered sugar, cinnamon, and non-dairy milk.
  • Top them with Halloween sprinkles. Always check to be sure the gluten free sprinkles are gluten free!
  • Add chopped nuts like pecans to the cupcake batter.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupcakeCalories: 381kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 3gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 134mgPotassium: 113mgFiber: 2gSugar: 48gVitamin A: 2703IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 1mg
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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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Recipe Rating




37 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    i made these using Cup 4 Cup and they turned out great! My girlfriends who are not gluten free couldn’t believe they gluten free!! Thank you for a delicious recipe. This is a keeper.