Description
Gingerbread cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting offer a delightful winter dessert from German holiday traditions. Warm spices and creamy frosting create a comforting treat you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup buttermilk (or milk with 1 tsp vinegar)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup molasses
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- Dry Mixture: Whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt in a mixing bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Creaming: Use electric mixer to cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, creating a voluminous base.
- Wet Ingredients: Incorporate eggs one at a time, then blend in molasses, ensuring complete integration.
- Batter Formation: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, alternating with milk, mixing until just combined to maintain delicate texture.
- Baking: Fill muffin cups two-thirds full and bake for 18-22 minutes, verifying doneness with a clean toothpick test.
- Cooling: Rest cupcakes in tin for five minutes, then transfer to cooling rack until completely cooled.
- Frosting Creation: Whip cream cheese and butter until smooth and uniform, gradually adding powdered sugar for optimal consistency.
- Flavor Enhancement: Incorporate cinnamon, vanilla extract, and a hint of salt, whipping until frosting becomes light and creamy.
- Decoration: Pipe or spread frosting onto cooled cupcakes, optionally garnishing with ground cinnamon or gingerbread decorations for visual appeal.
Notes
- Monitor Moisture: Avoid overmixing batter to prevent dense, tough cupcakes; stir just until ingredients combine for a light, tender crumb.
- Precise Temperature Control: Use room-temperature eggs and butter to ensure even mixing and consistent baking results, preventing potential textural issues.
- Customize Spice Intensity: Adjust ginger and cinnamon quantities to personal preference, keeping the balance subtle or bold based on individual taste.
- Dietary Adaptation: Substitute gluten-free flour blend for standard flour and use dairy-free alternatives like coconut cream cheese for vegan or lactose-intolerant bakers.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg