Description
Spicy and sweet, gingerbread cupcakes deliver winter comfort in each delightful bite. Warm holiday memories dance through rich molasses and fragrant spices, inviting you to savor classic seasonal charm.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet and Sweet Ingredients:
- ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (100 grams) brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) molasses
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (120 ml) buttermilk (or milk with 1 teaspoon vinegar)
Frosting Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (240 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Create a cozy holiday atmosphere by preheating the oven to 350F (175C) and arranging cupcake liners in a standard muffin tin.
- Craft a fragrant dry mixture by whisking together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, transform butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar into a light, airy blend through vigorous creaming.
- Incorporate rich molasses and eggs into the sugar mixture, ensuring a smooth, homogeneous texture that captures the essence of gingerbread.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, alternating with buttermilk to create a silky, well-integrated batter that promises tender cupcakes.
- Distribute the batter evenly among cupcake liners, filling each approximately two-thirds full to allow room for rising.
- Slide the filled tin into the preheated oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, watching for a golden hue and testing doneness with a clean toothpick.
- Allow cupcakes to rest in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Prepare a luxurious cream cheese frosting by beating cream cheese and butter until impossibly smooth and creamy.
- Gently introduce powdered sugar, whipping until the frosting reaches a cloud-like consistency.
- Enhance the frosting with a touch of cinnamon and vanilla extract, blending until perfectly combined.
- Once cupcakes have cooled completely, generously adorn with the spiced cream cheese frosting using a piping bag or spatula.
- Add final flourishes with a light dusting of cinnamon, miniature gingerbread cookies, or festive sprinkles to elevate the holiday spirit.
Notes
- Customize spice levels by adjusting ground ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg according to personal taste preferences.
- Ensure ingredients like butter and eggs are at room temperature for smoother mixing and better cupcake texture.
- Substitute buttermilk with dairy-free alternatives like almond milk mixed with apple cider vinegar for vegan or lactose-intolerant diets.
- Use gluten-free flour blend to make these cupcakes suitable for those with gluten sensitivities without compromising taste and texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg