Gingerbread Cupcakes and Candy Cane cupcakes

So I was going through my old pictures, and I remembered these yummy treats I made in December, but I don't think I ever posted them. So here they are.
Gingerbread Cupcakes........

These are oh so yummy!
From Epicurious.com

I doubled this recipe to make 2 dozen-

* 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
* 1/2 teaspoon allspice
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
* 1 large egg, beaten lightly
* 1 teaspoon baking soda

Into a bowl sift together the flour, the ground ginger, the cinnamon, the cloves, the allspice, and the salt. In another bowl cream 1/2 stick of the butter, add the granulated sugar, and beat the mixture until it is fluffy. Beat in the molasses and the egg, beating until the mixture is smooth. In a measuring cup combine the baking soda with 1/2 cup boiling water and stir the mixture to dissolve the baking soda. Stir the mixture into the molasses mixture (the mixture will appear curdled) and stir the molasses mixture into the flour mixture, stirring to combine the ingredients well. Line twelve 1/2-cup muffin tins with paper liners and spoon the batter into the liners, filling them halfway. Bake the cupcakes in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven for 20 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. (The cupcakes will be flat or slightly indented on top.) Transfer the cupcakes to a rack and let them cool.


For the frosting I just used my favorite Cream Cheese/ whipped cream frosting.

Whip 1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream in mixer until it forms stiff peaks. In a seperate bowl mix room temperature cream cheese (8 oz) with 1 cup of sugar. Once that is creamy mix it in with the whipped cream.

Pipe onto cupcakes and dust with cinnamon

So Good a must try!

Candy Cane Cupcakes.......
I took these to a ward party, they didn't last but 2 minutes once I set them down.

This is from Cupcakerecipes.com
Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 ounces melted unsweetened baking chocolate

This is from Cupcakerecipes.com

Chocolate Cupcake Recipe Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

Combine all ingredients into large mixing bowl. Mix at low speed for 30 seconds, and scrape bowl. Mix at high speed for 3 minutes.

Fill liners 1/2 to 2/3 full of batter. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool 10 minutes in pans then remove from pan, and place on wire racks to cool completely.

Frost when chocolate cupcakes are completely cool.

For the frosting I just used a buttercream frosting. I don't really use a recipe, it's just a scoop of shortening and an scoop of butter. Mix it with heavy cream or milk. And add powder sugar to consistency. On this one I put in a tsp of peppermint flavoring.
Then take half of the frosting and add some red food coloring. Put in piping bag half pink on one side and half white on the other. It makes a fun color swirl on top. Then just add a small candy cane. This one is a definite repeat too. Sooo good. Even though it is summer these would be a fun treat to make. Enjoy!