Hello from My Desk: Soft Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cupcakes & Cozy October Creative Updates

Hello from My Desk 🍰🎃

Today I whipped up a batch of Soft Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cupcakes — the kind of midweek treat that fills the house with buttery warmth and cinnamon comfort. With all the Halloween cuteness popping up in the shops already, it’s hard not to get swept into some October sweetness!

I used my go-to recipe, but with a few little tweaks — just 150g of brown sugar instead of the full 200g to keep them a touch lighter, and they still turned out perfectly soft and golden. The gentle cinnamon and brown sugar together create that cozy, caramel note that feels just right for this time of year.

For icing, I made a simple Brown Sugar Glaze — warm, shiny, and lightly sweet — and ended up doubling it so there was plenty for all 12 cupcakes. It set beautifully on top and gave each one the prettiest gloss.

See the bottom of this post for the recipe!

✨ Mini Pond Updates

I’ve been adding some sweet seasonal touches to my shops and projects lately — here’s what’s new!

🧡 New! Silly Pumpkin Classroom Clipart

Add some seasonal fun to your decorations and activities:
👉 Cute Classroom Silly Pumpkin Clipart

🎨 Cute Classroom Clipart Set 8 Released!

Perfect for classroom or personal use:
👉 Cute Clipart Classroom Set 8

🍭 Treat Factory Coloring Page now live in the Pond Coloring Club — a fun new page to enjoy!

👉 www.pondcoloringclub.com

👻 5 Little Ghosts Action Rhyme is getting a glow-up!

Watch Instagram stories for a sneak peek tomorrow.

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Here’s to cozy bakes, creative projects, and the gentle glow of October afternoons. 🧡

🧁 Soft Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cupcakes

• Makes: 12–14 cupcakes
• Prep time: 15 min
• Bake time: 18–22 min
• Total: ~35 min

Ingredients

• 250g soft unsalted butter (at room temperature)
• 150–200g light brown sugar (depending on desired sweetness)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional - I did not use)
• 180g self-raising flour
• 60g plain flour
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder (optional – for a hint of depth)
• 100ml milk (room temperature)
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 170°C fan (190°C conventional). Line a 12-hole muffin tray with cupcake liners.
• Cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy (3–4 minutes).
• Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Add vanilla if using.
• Whisk together flours, cinnamon, cocoa, and salt in a separate bowl.
• Fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, alternating with the milk. Mix until smooth and just combined.
• Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until golden and a skewer comes out clean.
• Cool in the tray for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

🍯 Brown Sugar Glaze (Doubled for 12 Cupcakes)

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp brown sugar
• 4 tbsp milk
• 1 cup (120g) icing sugar, sifted
• Pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

• In a small saucepan, heat brown sugar and milk until dissolved and just starting to bubble.
• Remove from heat and whisk in icing sugar until smooth.
• Let cool slightly; drizzle over cupcakes while still pourable for a glossy finish.