Gingerbread Cookie Cupcakes!

I saw these on Good Things Utah (of course) today and couldn't wait to try them. From Wendy Paul, Author 101 Gourmet Cupcakes in 10 minutes. (I'm totally going to have to get this book!)

Ingredients:

1 box spice cake mix
3 eggs
1/3 cup molasses
1/3 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
Grated orange zest, optional (but highly recommended!)

Mix together cake mix, eggs, molasses, oil and milk. Pour into paper liners and fill 3/4 full.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes until the cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool completely before frosting

Cream Cheese Frosting
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter
3 3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Beat together butter and cream cheese until light and creamy. Add sugar and vanilla. Keep the speed slow on your mixer to avoid sugar flying everywhere! Mix together until creamy and smooth.

We made these tonight and they were so YUMMY! I loved the orange zest on top, perfect Holiday flavor! I had cream cheese frosting left over from the Cinnamon Rolls I made last week, so it was even easier.

Next I'm going to try the Candy Cane Cupcakes.

Candy Cane Cupcakes

1 box white cake mix
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 recipe vanilla butter cream frosting
Peppermint candy for garnish
1 cup white chocolate chunks or chocolate chips

Mix together cake mix, eggs, milk and vanilla. Pour batter into the paper liners and fill 3/4 full.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until cakes are light and golden brown, Remove from the oven and cool completely.
Frost with vanilla butter cream frosting and top generously with crushed peppermint candy and white chocolate chunks.

Vanilla Butter cream Frosting
8 tablespoons butter, room temperature
3 3/4 cup powdered sugar
2-4 tablespoons milk or cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place butter in a large mixing bowl, and beat until light and fluffy. Stop mixer and add sugar, milk or cream, and vanilla. Begin to beat frosting with your mixer on slow speed, gradually increasing until frosting is thick and creamy to desired texture. Add up to 1 more tablespoon if frosting is too thick. Frost cooled cupcakes.