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Gingerbread cupcakes with cranberry buttercream frosting combine two of your favorite holiday flavors in one sweet treat that is sure to impress!
I love everything about the holiday season! This past weekend, I hosted a small cupcakes and cocoa holiday party and made all of my favorite holiday cookie recipes, including my favorite royal iced sugar cookies, lemon tea cookies, soft sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter blossoms and cranberry pistachio biscotti. We served six different flavors of hot chocolate and offered an assortment of toppings. I ordered thermal coffee pots to keep the milk warm. It was a fun, easy and relaxing way to celebrate the holiday season. I am looking forward to making it an annual event and adding more tasty treats next year. In addition to cookies, cupcakes are another impressive treat that everyone loves. Today, I’m sharing the recipe for these Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cranberry Buttercream Frosting.
If you love gingerbread than you will love these cupcakes. A delicate gingerbread cake is layered with homemade cranberry buttercream frosting. Cranberry sauce is mixed into a basic buttercream frosting to create a fresh seasonal flavor that complements the gingerbread cake. Not only are these cupcakes delectable, but they also make an impressive treat for the holiday season. Make a batch to bring to your next holiday party or celebration.
On another note, where has this year gone? It feels like just yesterday that I was preparing for 2016 and soon we will already be in the new year! 2016 was quite a year for me in the best way possible and I can’t wait to see what the new year brings. But in the meantime, I’m going to enjoy the holidays and bake another batch of these Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cranberry Buttercream Frosting!
Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cranberry Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
For the sugared cranberries:
- 1 cup sugar, divided
- 1/2 cup water
- 6 ounces fresh cranberries
For the cupcakes:
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup milk, at room temperature
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the frosting:
- 10 to 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup butter
- 3 cups confectioners' sugar
Instructions
- To make the sugared cranberries, in a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 1/4 cup sugar and water. Stir until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Stir in cranberries until well coated. Using a slotted spoon, transfer cranberries to a wire rack to dry for one hour. After one hour, roll cranberries in remaining 1/2 cup sugar until well coated. Let dry for an additional hour.
- To make the cupcakes, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-count muffin pan with cupcake liners; set aside.
- In a medium bowl, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. Stir to combine; set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and brown sugar on medium speed until creamy. Add the egg and mix until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the milk, molasses and vanilla until combined. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared liners, filling each about 2/3-full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 18 to 20 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking. Let cool in the pan about 5 to 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the frosting, combine the cranberries, water and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat and let simmer uncovered, about 15 minutes, until the cranberries have popped and the sauce is thickened. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Sauce will thicken as it cools. Reserve ¼-1/3 cup and store the rest in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- In the clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, Add butter to the clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the confectioners’ sugar and mix until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add cranberry mixture, a tablespoon at a time, until desired color and flavor is reached. Beat on high for about 30 seconds to lighten the frosting.
- Pipe frosting onto each cupcake. Top with sugared cranberries. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This is the 2nd time I have made these wonderful cupcakes. Before frosting the cupcakes I made a thimble sized hole in the top and added a little of the extra cranberry sauce. Also this year I topped the frosting with a tiny gingerbread man instead to the cranberry. They are a huge hit either way.
I’m glad you enjoy these cupcakes. Thanks so much for sharing your feedback!
Looks delicious! I just love this. Thank you & Happy New Year!
These cupcakes are so gorgeous, Ashley! Love this flavor combo and that pretty frosting! 🙂
These are the PERFECT holiday cupcakes! Not to mention they are gorgeous! Gingerbread and cranberry! Delicious combination!
My chocolate chip cookies are you favorites!? Swoon. So glad you enjoy them as much as I do (and thanks for the linkback)! Also these cupcakes are stunners.
I love these cupcakes!! They are so perfect for the holidays. Who could resist this gingerbread cranberry combo 🙂