Gingerbread cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting

 
           GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES WITH LEMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
 
 Recipe By     : 
 Serving Size  : 12   Preparation Time :0:00
 Categories    : Cakes                            Cheese
 
   Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
 --------  ------------  --------------------------------
    1 1/4   c            Flour
    1 1/2   ts           Ground ginger
    1       t            Cinnamon
      1/4   ts           Ground cloves
      1/2   ts           Allspice
      1/4   ts           Salt
      1/2                Stick unsalted butter PLUS
    2       tb           Unsalted butter
      1/2   c            Granulated sugar
      1/2   c            Molasses
    1       lg           Egg, beaten lightly
    1       t            Baking soda
    8       oz           Cream cheese, softened
    1 1/2   c            Confectioners' sugar
      1/2   ts           Vanilla
    1       t            Grated lemon zest
    2       ts           Fresh lemon juice
    1       tb           Sliced crystalized ginger
 
   Into a bowl sift together the flour, the ground ginger, the cimmamon,
   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.
   
   In a bowl cream together the cream cheese and the remaining 2
   tablespoons butter, add the confectioners' sugar and the vanilla, and
   beat the mixture until it is fluffy and smooth.  Beat in the zest and
   the lemon juice and chill the frosting for 30 minutes. Frost the
   cupcakes and top each with some ginger.  Makes 12.
  
 
 
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