Woohoooooooo, It's Cupcake Day!!

I was invited to join in on Cupcake Day, hosted by Colleen Hill of The Redhead Baker.  This is not a competition or a contest.  There are no giveaways or sponsors.  This is just a forum for a lot of bloggers to share a lot of cupcake recipes.

The only rule was that the recipe had to be new, as in not previously published on your blog.  This was an easy rule for me because this, right here, is my FIRST OFFICIAL CUPCAKE POST. That's right....I have been blogging for over a year and have never made cupcakes during that time. Muffins, cakes, cookies, tortes, puddings, trifles....but not one cupcake in over a year!!!  I don't know why. Kind of boggles the mind doesn't it.

So I found these cute little cupcake liners made by Wilton that has gingerbread men all over them and knew that I wanted to use them for my cupcakes.  It would only make sense that if I am using gingerbread liners then I should make gingerbread cupcakes.  So I did a handy, dandy little google search and found the perfect recipe on Creme de la Crumb.  This was my first visit to this blog and if you are looking for desserts or cupcakes you should absolutely stop by and look at her recipe file. It is worthwhile to stop by there just to see the gorgeous photos that she has.  The recipe I chose to share with you today are Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting that was adapted from a recipe by Martha Stewart.

I followed the recipe pretty much as written, taking my usual shortcuts, and (accidentally) omitting the cinnamon in the cake batter. We did not miss the cinnamon at all.  It calls for a ton of butter and no leavening agent.  This is not a misprint, there is no leavening agent in these cupcakes but they rose perfectly.  The frosting is very sweet, even with the cinnamon to cut it.  I only used 3 cups of powdered sugar instead of 4 as called for and thinned it with 3 t. of heavy cream.  It was the perfect consistency for piping and I had plenty for all of the cupcakes with quite a bit leftover, because for some reason, even though the recipe said that it created 20, I only got 12.

I took these to my daughter's house along with dinner when we were going over to watch my grand-daughter so they could have some time off from house and baby duties.  They were a big hit. I think they turned out just adorable!!

Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
adapted from Creme De La Crumb

1 1/2 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
4 eggs, at room temperature
3 T. molasses
1 1/2 t. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
2 T. ground ginger
1/4 t. each ground cloves and ground nutmeg

In the large bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars together.  Add the eggs, molasses and vanilla and beat until smooth.  Add the dry ingredients and mix at the lowest speed until incorporated. Increase speed to medium and beat until thoroughly mixed. Place 1/4 c. batter into paper lined cupcake tins and bake in a preheated oven at 350* for 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
adapted from Creme De La Crumb

4 oz. Neaufchatel Cheese
3 c. powdered sugar
1 T. cinnamon
1/2 t. vanilla
3 t. heavy cream (or more until desired consistency is met)

In small bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment cream together the Neufchatel cheese and sugar until smooth.  Add vanilla and cream, 1 teaspoonful at a time until desired consistency is met. Three teaspoons brought this to a perfect consistency for piping.  Print Recipe

Check out the rest of these wonderful Cupcake Recipes!!

• Hot Cocoa Cupcakes by The Redhead Baker
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes by The Cooking Actress
• Vanilla Candy Cane Cupcakes by Noshing With The Nolands
• Nerds Cupcakes by Amy's Confectionery Adventures
• Vegan Midori Melon Cupcakes by NinjaBaker
• Chocolate Bourbon Cupcakes with Candied Butter Pecan Frosting by From Gate to Plate
• Dark Chocolate Rum Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Buttercream by Lemony Thyme
• Gingerbread cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting by Eva Bakes
• Cranberry Apple Cupcakes by The Pajama Chef
• Almond Joy Cupcakes by Our Eating Habits
• Buttered Rum Cupcakes by Adventures in All Things Food
• Maple Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Cone Head Cupcakes with Ice Cream Frosting by The Spiffy Cookie
• Candied Buddha's Hand-Eggnog Cupcakes by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Almond Joy Cupcakes by Food Lust People Love
• Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting by Sew You Think You Can Cook
• Chocolate Cupcakes with Nutella Frosting for 2 by Kate's Recipe Box
• Cranberry Cupcakes with White Chocolate Buttercream by Cheese Curd In Paradise
• Peppermint Patty Cupcakes by Comfortably Domestic
• Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Biscoff Marshmallow Buttercream by Making Miracles
• Chocolate Cupcakes with Red Velvet Frosting by {i love} my disorganized life
• Lemon Cupcakes by Miss Information
• Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cupcakes by Kosher Kitchen
• Peppermint Cream Cookie Cupcakes by Take a Bite out of Boca
• Cupcake Christmas Wreath by Lick the Spoon