Easy Gingerbread Cupcakes

Easy Gingerbread Cupcakes are supermoist, and so flavorful, covered in a wonderfully spiced cream cheese icing! Perfect for every holiday celebration!

These Easy Gingerbread Cupcakes are a definite favorite around here, especially over the holidays. They can be decorated with anything and everything. From sparkles to sprinkles, in any color, to your favorite candies or even miniature store bought gingerbread men.

The miniature gingerbread men were little cookies that we put into each "snow pile" of icing. These were my son's favorites when he was young. 

He has always loved helping me in the kitchen and it brings a smile to my face just thinking about it right now!  He doesn't always make it home for the holidays but I still make these cupcakes in case he happens to pleasantly surprise us.

To me, nothing says holidays like gingerbread! I always remember loving to decorate various gingerbread shapes, including houses, for the holidays. I think I still do, actually I am pretty sure of it!   I've always loved everything gingerbread and I love decorating various gingerbread shapes, including houses, for the holidays.  The combination of cookie and candy is a treat I like to make my family this time of the year and let me tell you...they love it!!

I also have a recipe for Easy Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies which can be used to make just the cookies by themselves or include some delicious stuffing in between two of them. Another gingerbread recipe that is a favorite in my home.  

The Best Gingerbread Cupcakes with Molasses

Now let's talk about molasses and the important roll, I feel, it plays in any good gingerbread recipe.  My husband thinks I have such a strong belief that molasses is the key to making the flavor right because I have always had gingerbread with molasses added.  He is probably correct, I mean, he has to be right some of the time! ?

Regardless, I have had many gingerbread treats without molasses, and I found them quite enjoyable.  But me, personally, I just love the flavor the molasses adds and I truly believe you are in for a treat with these Easy Gingerbread Cupcakes!

For me, the icing or frosting is just as important, and some would say more important, than the cupcake itself. Luckily, this cupcake is fluffy, soft and full of flavor.This cupcake is so fluffy, soft and full of flavor that you may want to eat it without the icing/frosting. 

But I have to say, in my opinion, the icing is just as important (some would say more important) than the cupcake itself.  This icing needs to be amazing and have a subtle flavor and it does.

It's so good that my son's friend used to lick the icing off and ask for more because it was just so good!

Best Buttercream Frosting for Gingerbread Cupcakes

Made by blending icing or powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter and molasses until smooth and creamy. The frosting or icing can be as thick or thin as you would like it, and as flavorful, by adding as much or as little molasses as you would like. 

If you want a bolder flavor, add a little more molasses.  My husband, who is a huge fan of molasses, uses more  than I do when making this frosting.

I urge you to taste the icing as you go until you find the perfect amount of molasses for you, just add an additional teaspoon at a time until you find the perfect flavor! 

Butter gives this buttercream icing a richer and creamier taste, while reducing the sweetness somewhat, than a simple frosting will. Generally, frosting uses shortening or cream cheese and no butter. 

Tips for making the Best Buttercream Icing

Make sure your butter is at room temperature for the best results.  Also, use a full fat, room temperature, cream cheese for more stability with the icing. Remember not to over mix or the cream cheese can start to appear grainy.

Ingredients in The Best Gingerbread Cupcakes

• flour
• baking powder
• baking soda
• ginger
• allspice
• nutmeg
• cinnamon
• butter 
• brown sugar
• egg
• molasses
• milk

Icing

• icing or powdered sugar 
• cream cheese
• butter
• molasses

Decoration Options

• festive sprinkles or sparkles, any color
• your favorite candies
• miniature gingerbread cookies   

How to make Easy Gingerbread Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon together.  Stir and set aside.

Using an electric mixer, beat together butter and brown sugar in a large bowl.

Now add egg, molasses, and milk.  Beat again until fully combined.

Time to add in your dry mixture.  Add half and beat together.  Add the other half and beat until smooth and fluffy.

Spoon or pipe into a lined muffin tin, and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  *Hint*  If want to pipe and you don't have an icing bag, simply take a large freezer/resealable  bag and fill with batter.  Push batter into one of the bottom corners, twist and snip the tip off the bag.  

Remove finished cupcakes and let fully cool on a wire rack before frosting.

Frosting or Icing

In a medium sized mixing bowl combine cream cheese, butter and molasses.  Beat with an electric mixer until smooth.  

Add icing or powdered sugar ¼ cup at a time until you reach your desired consistency.  (This avoids the powdered sugar going everywhere when you start beating).  If you need to add more icing/powdered sugar, do so at this point, adding ¼ cup at a time.

Now for the taste test.  This will help you determine if you need to add more molasses or not (make sure that you have totally blended the icing before adding any more molasses). If you need to add more, then add a teaspoon or two.  It's very easy to add too much molasses so take it slow and be careful (1-2 teaspoons will generally be enough).

Beat icing on high speed until smooth and fluffy and transfer to icing bag or makeshift resealable piping bag.

Pipe icing onto cooled cupcakes, and top with your favorite decorations.  We love sprinkles around here so that's what we use!

Best Cupcake Recipes to Try

Cupcakes are a personal favorite of mine and I just can't get enough of them, especially over the holidays! I love how pretty they look and more importantly how amazing they taste!

My favorite cupcake recipes are listed below and they are all so good I highly recommend them all!

I can't be the only one who makes desserts depending on who is visiting and I have to admit that over the years I have developed some habits! 

Usually, I prepare specific desserts as a result of requests for certain desserts when people visit. For years now, whenever certain cousins come over, I always make The Easiest Caramel Infused Chocolate Cupcakes.

They disappear lightening fast and even though they are adults (practically) now they still look forward to those cupcakes.

My son even looks for them once he knows they are coming because he knows I always make them for them. He is just lucky to live here and always eats one or two before they arrive!

I also do the same thing with my Chocolate Mint Cupcakes. I always make them for a couple special people in my life, every year over the holidays, and they know who they are!

Sometimes I just make these super simple Easy Cream Cheese Stuffed Cupcakes, stuffed with a wonderful cream cheese filling! Such a nice change with a little more effort.

My Caramel Apple Cupcakes, I have to admit, I make all year round. They are super easy and so tasty, perfect for any and every occasion. Frankly, any excuse will do!

Holiday Desserts to Try

Easy Gingerbread Fudge

Sugar Cookie Fudge

White Chocolate Chex Mix

Easy Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies

Eggnog Cookie Bars

White Chocolate Cake Popcorn

Old Fashioned Peanut Brittle Bites

Nutty English Butter Toffee

Grandma’s Chocolate Eggnog Pudding Cake

Grandma's Chocolate Orange Cake

Holiday Chocolate Dream Stuffed Cookie Cups

Holiday Surprise Basket Cookies

Stovetop Raisin Almond Rice Pudding

Grandma's Fruit Salad

The Easiest Fudge

Easy Gingerbread Cupcakes Video