Pumpkin-Cranberry Cupcakes with Peanuts

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Good Cook, as part of the Good Cook Kitchen Experts program. All opinions are honest and 100% my own.

With the Fall weather here it seems that you can't throw a cat out of a window without hitting something pumpkin-flavored. From coffee to doughnuts to beer - it's all been enchanted with pumpkin goodness. Heck, I even found Pumpkin Egg Nog the other day. Yes, I bought it. I've got the pumpkin bug and am doing my best to try everything pumpkin I come across! When asked to make some cupcakes for a Halloween event, you know I had to make some out of pumpkin. I had to.

Alas - Pumpkin-Cranberry Cupcakes with Peanuts!

My kids are in love with Peanuts as I am with Pumpkin, so we threw some of them in too. And who doesn't love cranberries in Fall? They are a taste of the season! {and I had an extra bag sitting in the pantry...}

I totally got lazy and used frosting from a can. It was even premeditated laziness as I bought it from the store just for this recipe. And although I was feeling a bit lazy the day I made these - that had nothing to do with the fact I used whole peanuts instead of chopping them up. It was an experiment and it turned out amazing. The cream cheese frosting with pumpkin, whole peanuts {no shell - I was in no way that lazy!} and cranberries is a perfect combination, each flavor complimenting the others!

I loaded up my cupcakes into this adorable Halloween Cupcake Stand from Good Cook and fell in love! I want one of these adorable stands for every season. {even the 4th of July!} If you like baking {especially for the holidays} I suggest checking out what Good Cook has available in their Sweet Creations line - especially for baking, dessert making, and holiday parties. The cupcake liners shown are also from the Sweet Creations line - seriously, so much awesome stuff! If you are interested in purchasing ANY of the Sweet Creations Halloween items from goodcook.com, use coupon code HAUNTED23 for 25% off!

Pumpkin-Cranberry Cupcakes with Peanuts
(PRINTABLE RECIPE)
makes 15 cupcakes
Ingredients
1 ¾ cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup canned pumpkin
½ cup oil {I use olive oil for pretty much everything}
½ cup honey
⅓ cup water
½ cup peanuts {I used dry roasted, but any variety would work}
1 cup dried cranberries
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350. Line muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside.
3. Whisk together eggs, pumpkin, oil, honey and water.
4. Combine dry and wet mixtures until just combined.
5. Fold in peanuts and cranberries.
6. Fill cupcake liners up ¾ of the way and bake for 18-23 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
7. Let cool {completely} on rack. Ok, try one when they are warm. ;) Then frost with cream cheese frosting - homemade or not…
8. Enjoy!