Description
Warm up your winter with these incredibly flavorful Spiced Gingerbread Cupcakes topped with a dreamy Molasses Frosting. Moist, tender, and easy to make, they’re the perfect festive treat for any winter gathering or cozy day.
Ingredients
For the Spiced Gingerbread Cupcakes:
- All-Purpose Flour: 2 ½ cups (315g)
- Baking Soda: 1 teaspoon (5g)
- Ground Ginger: 1 ½ teaspoons (3g)
- Ground Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon (2.6g)
- Ground Cloves: ½ teaspoon (1g)
- Salt: ½ teaspoon (3g)
- Unsalted Butter: ½ cup (113g), softened
- Granulated Sugar: ¾ cup (150g)
- Brown Sugar: ½ cup (100g), packed
- Eggs: 2 large
- Molasses: ½ cup (170g)
- Hot Water: 1 cup (240ml)
For the Dreamy Molasses Frosting:
- Unsalted Butter: ½ cup (113g), softened
- Powdered Sugar: 3 cups (360g)
- Molasses: 2 tablespoons (34g)
- Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon (5ml)
- Milk or Cream: 2-3 tablespoons (30-45ml)
Instructions
- Prepare & Preheat: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- Dry Ingredients:Â Whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Cream Butter & Sugars:Â In a large bowl, cream together softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Eggs & Molasses:Â Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in molasses until combined.
- Combine Wet & Dry:Â Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, alternating with hot water, beginning and ending with dry. Mix until just combined.
- Fill Liners:Â Divide batter evenly into cupcake liners, about 2/3 full.
- Bake:Â Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool:Â Let cupcakes cool in the tin for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Frosting – Cream Butter:Â Cream softened butter until smooth and fluffy.
- Frosting – Add Sugar & Molasses:Â Gradually add powdered sugar, then beat in molasses and vanilla.
- Frosting – Adjust Consistency:Â Add milk or cream to reach desired consistency.
- Frost & Decorate:Â Frost cooled cupcakes and decorate as desired.
Notes
Tips for Success:
- Measure Accurately
- Don’t Overmix
- Softened Butter is Key
- Cool Cupcakes Completely
- Taste and Adjust Frosting
- Use Quality Spices
- Room Temperature Ingredients
Variations & Substitutions:
- Vegan Gingerbread Cupcakes (vegan butter, flax eggs, plant-based milk)
- Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cupcakes (gluten-free flour blend)
- Spice Level Adjustment (adjust ginger, cloves, cayenne pepper)
- Frosting Flavor Variations (orange zest, coffee extract, cream cheese frosting)
- Add-ins (pecans, walnuts, dried cranberries)
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 33g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Gingerbread Cupcakes, Molasses Frosting, Winter Cupcakes, Holiday Dessert, Spiced Cupcakes, Christmas Cupcakes, Easy Cupcakes, Festive Baking