Description
Spiced gingerbread cupcakes bring festive cheer to holiday gatherings with their warm, rich flavors. Moist crumbs and creamy frosting invite culinary exploration, delighting those who savor seasonal treats.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (100 grams) brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (120 ml) buttermilk (or milk with 1 tsp vinegar)
- ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) molasses
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp salt
- 8 oz (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (240 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- Dry Ingredients: Blend flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and salt in a medium bowl, creating a fragrant spice foundation.
- Creaming: Whip butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy, developing a rich, caramelized base.
- Wet Integration: Fold molasses and eggs into the sugar mixture, ensuring a smooth, cohesive texture that embodies the warmth of gingerbread.
- Batter Development: Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk to the wet mixture, gently folding until a silky, well-combined batter forms.
- Baking: Fill cupcake liners two-thirds full and bake for 18-20 minutes, watching for a golden exterior and testing with a toothpick for doneness.
- Cooling: Rest cupcakes in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Frosting Preparation: Whip cream cheese and butter until impossibly smooth, gradually incorporating powdered sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.
- Finishing: Lavishly frost cooled cupcakes using a piping bag or spatula, garnishing with a cinnamon dusting, miniature gingerbread cookies, or festive sprinkles.
Notes
- Manage Moisture Carefully: Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent dense, tough cupcakes; mix just until ingredients combine for light, tender texture.
- Control Spice Intensity: Adjust warming spices to personal preference, but maintain balanced proportions to preserve authentic gingerbread flavor profile.
- Master Cream Cheese Frosting: Ensure ingredients are room temperature and beat gently to prevent overwhipping, which can make frosting runny or grainy.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Substitute gluten-free flour blend for standard flour, use dairy-free butter alternatives, and replace eggs with applesauce or flax eggs for inclusive baking options.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 150 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