Easy Gingerbread Cupcakes

Prep Time 30 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 45 mins

These gingerbread cupcakes with cream cheese frosting are easy to make and they taste like the holidays!

Ingredients

Gingerbread cupcakes

1/2 cup lukewarm water

1/2 cup dark molasses          

1/2 teaspoon baking soda             

1/4 cup very cold water               

4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

1 large egg        

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Cream cheese frosting

1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature

8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature

2 1/2 to 3 cups powdered sugar sifted

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Gingerbread cupcakes

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 14 to 15 muffin cups with paper liners and set pans aside.
2. Bring the 1/2 cup lukewarm water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat and stir in the molasses and baking soda. The mixture will start to foam after a bit; when it stops foaming, add the cold water. Cool mixture to room temperature.
3. Combine the butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until very creamy. Add the egg and beat to combine. Beat in the baking powder, spices, and salt.
4. Turn mixer to medium speed and add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the cooled molasses mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. Beat until flour is just incorporated.
5. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full and bake cupcakes 14 to 18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean. Set pans on a wire rack and cool cupcakes for 10 minutes, then remove cupcakes from the pans to the racks to cool completely before frosting.

Cream cheese frosting

1. Beat the butter and cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer very light and creamy. With mixer on low, gradually add 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar, mixing until combined. Beat in the vanilla and salt.
2. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, then turn mixer to medium and beat until smooth. Add more powdered sugar if necessary to achieve desired consistency.
3. Frost cupcakes as desired and serve. Uneaten cupcakes can be stored, loosely covered with plastic wrap, in the fridge for up to 2 days, or in the freezer in airtight containers for up to 2 months.

Recipe Notes

Get your butter and cream cheese out of the fridge when you begin your cupcakes. By the time you’re ready to make the frosting, they should be at room temp.