Gingerbread Cupcakes

Spiced gingerbread cupcakes with tangy and fluffy cream cheese frosting. A festive cupcake perfect for Christmas!

It doesn’t really much more festive than these homemade gingerbread cupcakes! Lightly spiced with festive flavour packed into each bite, these cupcakes are just perfect for the season!

I’ve revamped a classic sponge recipe by adding light brown sugar for a delicious caramel taste and festive spices for warmth. The frosting is my favourite cream cheese frosting. It’s completely fail-proof and works perfectly every single time I make it, the trick to getting it nice and thick is to whisk it until it holds stiff peaks.

Together the cupcake and frosting are the perfect Christmas combination.

When I first tested these cupcakes out we ate them warm with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with toffee sauce. These cupcakes are very versatile, so you can serve them either warm or at room temperature. I personally think serving one of these warm with a generous scoop of ice cream on the side, whipped cream or custard would make a super indulgent dessert!

(Makes 12)

Ingredients:

Gingerbread Cupcakes:

150g unsalted butter, softened

150g dark or light brown sugar

3 large free-range eggs, at room temperature

150g self-raising flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon mixed spice

4 tablespoons (60ml) milk

Cream Cheese Frosting:

60g unsalted butter, softened

200g icing sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

400g full-fat cream cheese, softened – I leave mine out at room temperature for one hour to soften

Method:

1. To make the cupcakes: Preheat oven to 180°C / 160°C Fan / 350°F / Gas Mark 4. Line a cupcake/muffin tin with paper liners and then set the tin aside.
2. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and mix to incorporate. Sift together the flour and spices and add to the batter. Fold the flour into the batter until no lumps of flour remain, then finally fold through the milk.
   Equally distribute the cupcake batter between the paper liners. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until risen and when inserted into the centre a cake tester comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for a few minutes, then transport the cupcakes to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.
3. To make the frosting: Cream the softened butter in a stand mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes to soften. Now add the sifted icing sugar and vanilla and starting on a low speed mix to combine. Continue to beat for 5 minutes or until really pale in colour – stop the mixer halfway through to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
4. Once creamed add the softened cream cheese. Turn the mixer up and whisk on high speed for approximately 2-3 minutes or until the frosting is creamy, thick and smooth. You need to use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer with the a whisk attachment to make sure the frosting reaches the correct consistency.
5. Pipe the cupcakes with the frosting and decorate as desired.

Keep up to date with me on:

Like my Facebook page here

Instagram: @whatjessicabakednext

Twitter: @jessbakednext

Pinterest: @jessbakednext