The 2-Ingredient Cupcakes That You Shouldn't Skip This Fall

Baking delicious muffins and cupcakes doesn't have to mean hours spent in the kitchen mixing flour and stirring batter. With two easy ingredients, you can be on your way to placing a no-fail recipe into the oven and have warm baked goods to serve shortly after. Instead of stressing about gathering eggs, dairy, and an assortment of dry ingredients, make sure your kitchen is stocked with a box of spice cake mix and a can of pumpkin purée. These treats will come out of the oven announcing the autumn season, and the orange base will be ready for whatever toppings you choose.

Ignore the instructions printed on the cake box and combine its powdery contents with a can of puréed pumpkin. You can fold the two ingredients together and whisk by hand or use a machine for a softer, smoother base. Then, pour the two-ingredient mixture into cupcake tins — use colored paper if you're feeling particularly festive — and let the treats bake for around 20 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of these spongy cupcakes should come out clean when they are ready to be taken out of the oven.

Whether you decide to coat your freshly baked goods with thick swashes of cream cheese icing or cut the cupcakes in half to slather salted butter and jam onto the steaming treats, these two-ingredient items can be enjoyed as dessert, as part of tomorrow's breakfast, or for an afternoon pick-me-up. A quick dusting of powdered sugar makes for a delicate decoration, and you can have an offering ready for either the office meeting or the school party with little fuss (and plenty of confidence). Serve plain, undressed cupcakes alongside chopped fruit if your sweet tooth isn't screaming too loudly, or place cooled muffins into an air-safe container to store for up to seven days in your fridge. You can also freeze these easy-to-make cupcakes to enjoy later with soups and stews or to decorate with preserves or your frosting of choice. 

Once you have the two-ingredient cupcake recipe in your back pocket, you can get creative with fall flavors. Add pieces of walnuts or chunks of chocolate chips for sweet upgrades or try flavoring your recipes with sprinkles of rosemary or flaky sea salt. Placing these tasty morsels on the table will leave friends and family complimenting your culinary prowess, and you can decide whether to keep the two-ingredient secret to yourself — or share it along with any leftovers that remain on the serving platter.