Gingerbread Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Cupcakes:

Ingredients:
1 1/4 Cup flour, all-purpose
1 1/2 Teaspoon ginger, ground
1 Teaspoon cinnamon, ground
1/4 Teaspoon cloves, ground
1/2 Teaspoon allspice, ground
1/4 Teaspoon salt, table
1/4 Cup butter, unsalted
1/2 Cup sugar, white
1/2 Cup molasses unsulfured
1 Large egg, whole lightly beaten
1 Teaspoon baking soda
1/2 Cup water boiling
1 Tablespoon ginger, crystallized thinly sliced

Directions:
Into a bowl sift together the flour, the ground ginger, the cinnamon, the cloves, the allspice, and the salt.

In another bowl cream the butter, add the 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 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. 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.

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting:
Ingredients:
8 Ounce(wt)s softened cheese, cream regular
2 Tablespoons butter, unsalted
1 1/2 Cups sugar, powdered
1 Teaspoon extract, lemon
1/2 Teaspoon oil, lemon, optional
1 Teaspoon zest, lemon
2 Teaspoons juice, lemon

Directions:
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.

Spread the frosting on the cupcakes and top each cupcake with some of the crystallized ginger.

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Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Red Velvet Cupcakes
Ingredients:
2 1/2 Cups flour, all-purpose
1 1/2 Cup sugar, white
1 Teaspoon baking soda
1 Teaspoon salt, table
1 Teaspoon cocoa powder (unsweetened)
1 1/2 Cup oil, vegetable
1 Cup buttermilk, full-fat at room temperature
2 Large egg, whole at room temperature
2 Tablespoons food coloring, red
1 Teaspoon vinegar, white
1 Teaspoon extract, vanilla

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder. In another large bowl, whisk together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar and vanilla.

Using a stand mixer, mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined and a smooth batter is formed.

Dish batter into cupcake papers and bake for approximately 22 to 24 minutes.

Allow to cool completely before icing.

Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
16 Ounce(wt)s softened cheese, cream regular
4 Cups sifted sugar, powdered
1 Cup softened butter, unsalted
1 Teaspoon extract, vanilla

Directions:
In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix the cream cheese, sugar and butter on low speed until incorporated.

Increase the speed to high, and mix until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula occasionally.

Reduce the speed of the mixer to low. Add the vanilla, raise the speed to high and mix briefly until fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula occasionally.

Store in the refrigerator until somewhat stiff, before using.

May be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days.

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