Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves for 20 seconds, set aside.
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together brown sugar and granulated sugar until no lumps remain. Add in butter and half of the lard and whip until pale and fluffy. Mix in remaining lard then blend in eggs one at a time. Mix in vanilla.
Add in 1/2 of the flour mixture then blend just until nearly combined then add in pumpkin and orange juice and mix until nearly combined. Add in last 1/2 of the flour mixture and mix until nearly combined, then remove bowl from stand mixer and fold with a rubber spatula just until combined.
Divide batter among 14 paper lined muffins cups, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake in preheated oven 18 - 22 minutes until toothpick inserted into cupcake comes out clean. Cool in muffin tin several minutes then transfer to a wire rack and cool about 10 minutes. Then transfer to an airtight container to finish cooling (this just helps seal in moisture and keep them really moist).
For the cream cheese frosting:
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip together cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy. Mix in vanilla and powdered sugar and whip until light and fluffy (at this point I recommend freezing or chilling frosting in refrigerator for a bit, returning to mixer and stirring occasionally, for a more stable consistency). Pipe or spread frosting over cupcakes then store in refrigerator in an airtight container. Bring nearly to room temp before serving.