Chocolate-Pumpkin Cupcakes with Nutella Frosting: Delicious for Fall Celebrations

What happens when you combine rich chocolate with cozy pumpkin spice? Pure fall magic. These Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes feature a moist, tender chocolate-pumpkin combination, then are crowned with silky Nutella frosting. They’re the perfect treat for autumn gatherings, Halloween parties, or those crisp evenings when you need something indulgent.

Want an easy pumpkin dessert that will steal the show at any party this fall season?

If you have never enjoyed the perfect fusion of chocolate and pumpkin flavors in a fall dessert, you will be delighted with Chocolate-Pumpkin Cupcakes with Nutella Frosting.

Why stick to traditional pies when you can add a twist to your Thanksgiving meal? Need a fun and yummy dessert for a Halloween Party? Need a surprise afternoon snack for the kids?

These cupcakes are your answer.

If you have kids who turn their noses up at pumpkin and pecan pie, then have some of these mouth-watering chocolate-pumpkin cupcakes ready for them. I guarantee they will eat every bite.

These Chocolate-Pumpkin cupcakes are so good that you should put them on your “desserts-to-make” bucket list.

These cupcakes would be perfect for serving at a Halloween Party, so check out these ideas for a Halloween party for kids and grown ups.

Apple, pumpkin, and pecan pies are favorite fall and Thanksgiving desserts. This year, surprise your guests with our moist, delicious Chocolate-Pumpkin Cupcakes with Nutella Frosting. Step outside the box and challenge food traditions!

I’ve also got some great cupcake tips and a great video on 3 ways to frost cupcakes at the end of the post.

It’s time to talk about cupcakes!

This post contains affiliate links to products used to create this project. If you should order any item from this site, I may receive compensation, but you do not pay a penny more. Your purchase is greatly appreciated as it helps support the continued publication of this site.

Why Serve Pumpkin-Chocolate Cupcakes?

Cupcakes for a Halloween party are popular, but pumpkin and pecan pies and cakes are the most popular Thanksgiving desserts. However, sometimes you may want to offer another small dessert option for guests.

Cupcakes are so easy to make and serve to guests. If you have younger kids or guests who “just want a little bite” after a Thanksgiving meal, then cupcakes may be your best choice.

Who would have thought putting pumpkin in cupcakes could taste so good? Buck traditional dessert norms this fall with these Chocolate-Pumpkin Cupcakes topped with rich Nutella Frosting.

I first found this recipe for Chocolate-Pumpkin Cupcakes with Nutella Frosting on Lolly Jane several years ago. The Nutella buttercream frosting is luscious and rich and smooth and just so darn wonderful. You could eat it with a spoon – or just lick the bowl!

And what makes these cupcakes extra special? Since they start with a box of Devil’s Food Cake Mix, they are not totally cupcakes from scratch. They are like semi-homemade.

Essential Cupcake Baking Tools

Unlike our great-great-grandmothers, we have the advantage of wonderful kitchen tools to help us in baking. Here are the must-have baking supplies you will need for these Chocolate-Pumpkin Cupcakes and the Nutella Frosting – or any baked dessert.

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Liquid measuring cups
• Stand mixer – my Kitchen Aid is my all-time favorite
• Rubber spatula
• Standard or mini-muffin tins
• Standard or mini-cupcake liners
• Cookie scoops in either standard or small size
• Cooling rack
• Piping bag or plastic bag
• Piping tips
• Storage containers for finished cupcakes

Cupcake Tips – For Any Cupcake

I thought I would share some tried and proven cupcake tips. You can learn all you need to know about making the perfect cupcake from this Chocolate-Pumpkin Cupcakes with Nutella Frosting recipe. From must-have baking supplies to tried-and-tested cupcake tips, I’ve got you covered.

1. Use the best ingredients. That means no imitation vanilla extract. Unless stated, always use unsalted butter.

2. Gather your ingredients. Allow everything to come to room temperature, especially milk, eggs, and butter. Everything will mix and blend better, resulting in a better cake or cupcake. Cold ingredients can seize up and prevent a smooth batter.

3. Don’t over-mix the batter – true of all batters. Mix just enough to completely incorporate the ingredients. Usually, wet and dry ingredients are blended separately.

This cupcake recipe is so easy because you put all the ingredients in the mixing bowl at once.

4. Use a scoop to fill the cupcake liners – don’t eyeball it. A standard scoop for regular cupcakes or a min-scoop for mini-cupcakes works best for consistent cupcakes. A good rule of thumb is to fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full.

5.  Give your oven plenty of time to preheat. Then check the temperature for accuracy.

6. Bake in the center of the oven – this allows the heat to completely and evenly surround the cupcakes.

7. Remove the cupcakes from the muffin tin after a few minutes of cooling. They can continue to bake in the muffin tins. Place on cooling racks.

8. To make removing the cupcake from the liner easier, very lightly spray the liners with cooking spray before adding the batter. Then the paper liners will peel away easily.

9. Always allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting – even a little warmth can cause the frosting to “melt” off.

10. Gather your frosting ingredients. Be sure to sift your powdered sugar before you measure it. You don’t want any lumps!

Use a piping bag and a piping tip for the prettiest cupcakes.

I place my piping bag in a tall container or glass to hold the piping bag. Here’s the piping bag after I had frosted all the cupcakes.

11. Always store cupcakes in an air-tight container to retain moisture and last longer. I love to use my cupcake carrier for storage.

As you can see here, I decorated this latest batch of cupcakes in two ways. First, with candy corn for a Halloween theme and then with mini-chocolate chips.

You can sprinkle mini-chocolate chips on the top of the cupcakes. Or you can use mini-pumpkin chocolate chips.

Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes with Nutella Frosting

Here is another of my favorite chocolate desserts I know you will like: Chocolate Cassis Cake. It’s perfect for any occasion.

3 Ways to Frost Cupcakes

How you apply your frosting can totally change the look of your cupcake. For my Chocolate-Pumpkin Cupcakes with Nutella Frosting, I used the piping method. Here is a simple, but very well-done video. Just click on the image to watch.

Another time I made these cute cupcake toppers for a Halloween party.

Here are some more pumpkin recipes:

• Pumpkin Risotto Bites
• Pumpkin Spice Martini
• 2 Pumpkin-Flavored Popcorn Snacks
• Creamy Southwest Pumpkin Soup
• Pumpkin Bacon Bars with Caramel Frosting

If you bake these cupcakes, serve them and enjoy them, I would love to hear what you think. And, of course, you should share this post or PIN IT. Never keep a great cupcake to yourself.

For more dessert recipes, follow me on these Pinterest Boards: Delicious Dessert Recipes, Fall Desserts, and Pumpkin Recipes. I have a brand new board, Pumpkini Desserts.