Gingerbread Cupcakes with The Best Cream Cheese Frosting

Get ready to fill your kitchen with the warm, inviting aroma of the holidays. These Gingerbread Cupcakes are the ultimate festive treat, boasting an incredibly moist and tender crumb packed with the perfect balance of ginger, cinnamon, and rich molasses. Topped with a silky, tangy cream cheese frosting, this recipe is a guaranteed showstopper for any Christmas gathering or cozy winter evening. If you’ve been searching for the perfect holiday cupcake, your search ends here.

Why You’ll Love This Gingerbread Cupcakes Recipe

Forget dry, crumbly gingerbread. This recipe is engineered for maximum moisture and flavor, creating a truly unforgettable cupcake experience.

• Perfectly Spiced: A carefully balanced blend of ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg delivers that classic, nostalgic gingerbread flavor without being overpowering.
• Unbelievably Moist Crumb: The combination of buttermilk and molasses ensures these cupcakes stay soft and tender for days.
• Velvety Cream Cheese Frosting: The tangy sweetness of the cream cheese frosting perfectly cuts through the rich, spiced flavor of the cupcake, creating a perfectly balanced bite every time.
• Simple to Make: With straightforward instructions and simple ingredients, even beginner bakers can achieve bakery-quality results. It’s a fantastic recipe to make for a holiday party, just like these M&M Christmas Cookie Bars.

Key Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic of these cupcakes lies in a few key ingredients that work together to create that signature flavor and texture. Here’s what you shouldn’t substitute:

• Unsulphured Molasses: This is the heart of gingerbread flavor. Use a dark, unsulphured molasses for a deep, rich taste. Avoid blackstrap molasses, as it can be too bitter.
• Spices: A classic combination of ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of cloves creates that quintessential holiday aroma and taste.
• Buttermilk: The acid in buttermilk reacts with the baking soda to create an incredibly tender, light crumb. It’s a non-negotiable for moist cupcakes!
• Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a hint of caramel flavor that complements the molasses perfectly.

How to Make Gingerbread Cupcakes Step-by-Step

Making these festive cupcakes is easier than you think. Just follow these simple steps for perfect results.

1. Preheat and Prep: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and all the spices until they are well combined.
3. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Then, mix in the molasses until fully incorporated.
4. Alternate Flour and Buttermilk: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined—be careful not to overmix!
5. Fill and Bake: Divide the batter evenly among the 12 cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Cool Completely: Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. It’s crucial they are fully cooled before frosting.

The Perfect Cream Cheese Frosting

This frosting is the perfect companion to our spiced cupcakes. It’s creamy, tangy, and just sweet enough.

1. Beat Butter and Cream Cheese: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
2. Add Sugar and Vanilla: Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing on low speed until combined, then increase the speed to high and beat until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
3. Frost: Once the cupcakes are completely cool, pipe or spread the frosting on top. Garnish with a gingerbread cookie or a sprinkle of cinnamon if desired.

Expert Tips for Success

• Room Temperature Ingredients: For a smooth, well-emulsified batter, ensure your butter, egg, and buttermilk are all at room temperature.
• Don’t Overmix the Batter: Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to tough, dense cupcakes. Mix only until the ingredients are just combined.
• Measure Flour Correctly: For the best results, spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off. Scooping directly from the bag can pack the flour and result in dry cupcakes.

For another dessert that truly benefits from careful technique, try this decadent white chocolate gingerbread fudge.

Festive Decoration Ideas

Take your Gingerbread Cupcakes to the next level with these simple yet beautiful decoration ideas:

• Mini Gingerbread Cookies: Top each cupcake with a small gingerbread man or star.
• Sugared Cranberries: Add a touch of sparkle and tartness with a few sugared cranberries.
• Cinnamon Stick: A small piece of a cinnamon stick adds a rustic, aromatic touch.
• Caramel Drizzle: A light drizzle of salted caramel sauce complements the gingerbread flavor wonderfully.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

These cupcakes are perfect for making ahead for a holiday event. You can bake the cupcakes up to two days in advance. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature before frosting. The frosting can also be made up to three days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Once frosted, the cupcakes should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Let them sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes before serving for the best flavor and texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Best Gingerbread Cupcakes Recipe

FL Recipes

Gingerbread Cupcakes with The Best Cream Cheese Frosting

These Gingerbread Cupcakes are the ultimate festive treat, boasting an incredibly moist crumb packed with ginger, cinnamon, and molasses, all topped with a silky cream cheese frosting.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 22 minutes mins

Total Time 37 minutes mins

Servings: 12 cupcakes

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 410

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

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Ingredients

• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1.5 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg
• 0.125 tsp ground cloves
• 0.25 tsp salt
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter softened
• 0.5 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg at room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 0.5 cup unsulphured molasses
• 0.5 cup buttermilk at room temperature
• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar sifted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 pinch salt

Equipment

• 1 12-cup muffin tin
• 1 Electric Mixer
• 2 Mixing Bowls

Method

 

Gingerbread Cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla, followed by the molasses.
4. On low speed, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
5. Divide batter evenly among the liners, filling about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until smooth.
2. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until fully incorporated. Add the vanilla and salt and beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
3. Pipe or spread frosting onto cooled cupcakes.

Nutrition

Calories: 410kcalProtein: 4gFat: 20gFiber: 1g

Notes

Ensure all your dairy and eggs are at room temperature for the smoothest batter and frosting.
Do not use blackstrap molasses; it is too strong and will make the cupcakes bitter.
Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.

Keyword christmas cupcakes,gingerbread cupcakes,holiday baking

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More Holiday Recipes To Try

Loved these Gingerbread Cupcakes? Continue your holiday baking adventure with some of our other festive treats. These amazing Christmas recipes are always a crowd-pleaser! We know you’ll also adore our Soft Molasses Cookies and our easy Cranberry Orange Loaf.

We love seeing your creations! If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment below and share a photo on Pinterest!