Description
Warm, spiced, and moist cupcakes with classic holiday flavors of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and molasses. Topped with smooth maple frosting for a festive dessert perfect for gatherings.
Ingredients
Gingerbread Cupcakes
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
½ cup water
½ cup molasses
1⅓ cups all-purpose flour
¾ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground allspice
Maple Frosting
⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 oz cream cheese, softened
¼ cup packed brown sugar
Dash of salt
¼ cup maple syrup
¼ tsp vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
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Preheat oven: Set oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease lightly.
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Cream butter and sugar: Beat butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. Add egg and mix until smooth.
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Add wet ingredients: Stir in water and molasses until blended.
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Combine dry ingredients: In another bowl, whisk flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice.
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Mix batter: Gradually mix dry ingredients into the wet mixture on low speed until just combined. Beat an additional 2 minutes on medium to smooth batter.
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Bake: Fill cupcake liners two‑thirds full. Bake 20–25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
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Make frosting: Beat butter, cream cheese, brown sugar, and salt until fluffy. Add maple syrup and vanilla, then gradually mix in confectioners’ sugar until creamy.
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Frost cupcakes: Spread or pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes. Chill until ready to serve.
Notes
Use room-temperature ingredients for smooth mixing.
Avoid overmixing for tender cupcakes.
Dark molasses deepens flavor and sweetness; adjust if needed.
Cool completely before frosting.
Store frosted cupcakes refrigerated up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Cupcakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake (1/12 recipe)
- Calories: 265
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 170 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
Keywords: gingerbread cupcakes, maple frosting cupcakes, spiced holiday desserts, molasses cupcakes, christmas cupcake recipe