Gingerbread Cupcake Recipe with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
makes about 12 cupcakes

Cupcakes

• 225 g golden Brown Sugar
• 3 Eggs, room temp.
• 225 g Flour, all purpose
• 1 T (12g) Baking Powder
• 1/2 t (2 g) Baking Soda
• 2 1/2 T freshly grated Cinnamon or 2 T (10 g) pre-ground Cinnamon
• 1 T freshly grated Ginger or 1 t (2g) ground Ginger Powder
• 1/2 t (1g) ground Cloves
• 1 t (2g) ground Cardamom
• 1/2 t (2g) Sea Salt
• 3/4 c (180 g) Unsalted Butter, melted
• 2/3 c (160 ml) Half & Half

*optional inebriation

• 1/4 c (60 ml) Brandy, Whiskey, or Rum
• 1/4 c (60 ml) fresh Tangerine Juice

Frosting

• 12 oz (340 g) Cream Cheese, room temp.
• 6 T (90 g) unsalted Butter, room temp.
• 2/3 c (160 ml) pure Maple Syrup
• 1 1/4 c (150 g)Powdered Sugar or to personal taste
• sprinkle of ground cinnamon

Make cupcakes:
1. Line muffin tins with baking cups.  Preheat oven to 375º F.

2. Whip brown sugar and eggs together until nice & foamy.

3. Put flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon (if using pre-ground), ginger (if using ginger powder), cloves and cardamom into a sifter together.  Sift over egg mixture.  Add fresh ginger and freshly grated cinnamon if you’re not using the pre-ground varieties. Add sea salt. Gently stir to combine.

4. Combine the melted butter and half & half, then slowly add to the batter.  Put batter in a small pitcher or something that’s easy to pour out of; the fill baking cups 90% full.

5. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.  Set aside to cool.

Make frosting:
1. Combine cream cheese and butter together in a mixing bowl. Beat until smooth (Alternate method- combine in a food processor and blend.) Add maple syrup and powdered sugar and mix until homogenous.

Finishing
1. If using optional inebriation, combine alcohol & tangerine juice, poke a few holes on the top of each cupcake with a toothpick, then brush on alcohol mix.

2. Frost cupcakes your favorite way.  Pipe it, spread & spoon it, combinations of both, however you like.

3. Sprinkle a touch of cinnamon to finish.