Autumn is in the Air! Celebrate the Season with These Tasty Recipes

Recipe 1: Spiced Pumpkin Mascarpone Cupcakes

A hit at any bridal party, these pumpkin mascarpone cupcakes feature a white mascarpone frosting, perfect for brides. Adorable! Recipe and picture from Tartelette. Serves 24. 

 Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup butter softened (1 1/2 sticks)
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin
• 1 cup milk
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place baking cups in muffin pan. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine pumpkin, vanilla extract and milk in a separate bowl. Mix flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Add to butter/sugar mixture alternately with pumpkin/milk batter, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Divide evenly among the cupcake liners and bake 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.

Mascarpone Cheese Frosting:

• 16 oz mascarpone cheese (1 pound), at room temperature
• 1 stick butter, at room temperature
• 4-5 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

In an electric mixer, beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed until creamy. Add 4 cups of the powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until combined. Add more sugar, little by little until you get to the consistency and sweetness you like. If the frosting gets too stiff, add some milk, one teaspoon at a time.

Recipe 2: Warm and Spicy Autumn Punch

Sick of cold, diluted fruit punch? Try this warm and spicy autumn punch. It's so good, after your bridesmaids take a taste, they'll ask you for the recipe. Print this recipe out and hide it in your bridesmaid gifts for a sweet surprise! Recipe and photo from AllRecipes.

Ingredients:

• 2 oranges
• 8 whole cloves
• 6 cups apple juice
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 cup honey
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 1/4 cups pineapple juice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Stud the whole oranges with cloves, and bake for 30 minutes. 
2. In a large saucepan, combine the apple juice and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in the nutmeg, honey, lemon juice, and pineapple juice.
3. Serve hot in a punch bowl with the 2 clove-studded baked oranges floating on top.