it's christmas eve! i don't know about you guys, but for my family that means lots of baking. personally i like baking cupcakes, so today i want to share a super festive cupcake recipe with you guys: gingerbread cupcakes! these are fun to make and decorate with your family, and i'm pretty sure santa would be totally fine with it if you left him cupcakes instead of cookies tonight! ;) so start a christmas tradition, grab some friends, and get ready to have some fun baking!
makes 12 cupcakes
ingredients for cupcakes:
directions for cupcakes:
ingredients for cupcakes:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup milk, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 and 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 8 oz full-fat brick style cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
directions for cupcakes:
- preheat oven to 350°F. line 12-count muffin pan with cupcake liners. set aside.
- in a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and brown sugar together on medium speed until creamy. beat in the egg until combined, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. beat in the milk, honey, and vanilla on medium speed. mixture will be piecey and not fully combined. that's ok.
- in a medium bowl, toss the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice together until combined. with the mixer running on low speed, slowly pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. mix until just combined. scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
- fill cupcake liners 2/3 of the way full, no more. bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. allow to cool completely before frosting.
directions for frosting:
- in a medium bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. add the confectioners’ sugar and 1 tbsp milk. beat for 2 minutes. add the vanilla. beat for 1 minute. taste the frosting and add a pinch of salt if too sweet.
- frost cooled cupcakes. i also added another liner to the cupcakes because the original ones were pretty oily.
- add sprinkles and cupcake toppers if you have them. but really, just get creative and use whatever you have on hand to make these cupcakes your little masterpieces!
- now all you have to do is cuddle by the fireplace and eat these delicious little festive bites!
adapted from sally's baking addiction.