Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter,
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup unsulphured molasses
• 1/2 cup milk
• Mini gingerbread men for decoration )
• 8 oz cream cheese,
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter,
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. For the cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and lightly spray liners and top of pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment whip brown sugar and butter until pale and fluffy.
4. Mix in vegetable oil then blend in eggs one at a time. Mix in molasses.
5. Mix in flour mixture in 3 additions alternating with 2 additions of milk between (mix just until combined after each addition).
6. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl and fold batter.
7. Divide mixture among 12 paper lined muffin cups filling each 2/3 full.
8. Bake in preheated oven until toothpick inserted into center of cupcake comes out clean, about 19 – 22 minutes.
9. Cool in pan several minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool (after about 10 minutes I recommend letting them continue to cool in an airtight container so they don't dry).
10. Once cool frost with cream cheese frosting. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator then let rest at room temp about 20 minutes before serving.
11. For the frosting:
12. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment whip together butter and cream cheese until smooth.
13. Add vanilla and powdered sugar and mix until light and fluffy*.