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If there’s anything that truly screams Christmas, it’s these Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cinnamon Browned Butter Buttercream I made in partnership with McCormick. Sweet gingery cupcakes made with brown sugar, molasses and a touch of vanilla extract. Then baked up and frosted with a cinnamon infused buttercream. This gingerbread cupcake recipe is moist, full of warming spices, so delicious, and simple enough to make any day of the week for a fun December treat. There is no flavor like home, but, for me, gingerbread comes pretty close!
Did you ever decorate a gingerbread house as a kid? One of my favorite childhood memories is of spending the day at my Aunt Carol’s house with my cousins, decorating gingerbread houses. She’d bake the gingerbread houses from scratch before we arrived. Then each of us would get to decorate our own house to take home. It’s only now just occurring to me that she must have had to do so much prep work before hand to make all those houses. I’m not sure how many she made exactly, but there had to have been at least four…and these were not small houses.
Anyway, we used to have so much fun decorating those houses. And while I have yet to master the 100% homemade gingerbread house (honestly, I’m all about a good gingerbread house kit…you know?). I have mastered the gingerbread cupcake.
And they are DELICIOUS.
If you love gingerbread cookies, and you love cakes, then I’m pretty sure you’re going to fall in love with this recipe.
I’m so excited to partner with McCormick this holiday season to show-off one of my signature holiday flavors. I put my favorite McCormick spices to good use with these cupcakes, by allowing them to shine in both the cupcake and the frosting. I figured that since it’s December, if there was ever a time a double up on cozy spices it’s now. These cupcakes have very classic gingerbread flavors. They’re made with molasses, brown sugar, McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract and the ideal mix of McCormick ground ginger, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. In a large bowl you will combine the dry ingredients and then whisk together the wet ingredients before combining in the bowl of a stand mixer.
The cupcakes bake perfectly light, tender, and moist. My favorite part though? The smells coming from the kitchen as the cupcakes bake in the oven. It’s as if you’re walking into the kitchen of Mrs. Clause herself…I know, a little cheesy, but so true.
Ok, here’s my suggestion. Invite someone you’d like to impress over while you’re making these cupcakes. The smells alone are sure to capture the attention of anyone near the kitchen. But the taste, oh the taste of these cupcakes is even better!
No cupcakes are complete without a little buttercream.
This one is simple, but delicious. I’m currently obsessed with browning butter. So, I first browned the butter, then added a touch of McCormick cinnamon, a splash of McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract, and sweetened the deal with confectioners’ sugar.
Perfection.
For decorating, I made some mini gingerbread men cookies. I then frosted them very simply, with melted white chocolate to pipe, and called it a day. Plus, some cute little cupcake liners. Clearly I’m all about cute, but easy, Christmas desserts right now.
If you make these gingerbread cupcakes please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cinnamon Browned Butter Buttercream
Servings: 12
Calories Per Serving: 1378 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon McCormick Ginger, Ground
- 1 teaspoon McCormick Cinnamon, Ground
- 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Nutmeg, Ground
- 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Cloves, Ground
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/3 cup whole milk, at room temperature
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 egg, at room temperature
Cinnamon Browned Butter Frosting
- 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter at room temperature
- 2-3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 teaspoon McCormick Cinnamon, Ground
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.2. In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. 3. Using an electric mixer, beat together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla, molasses and egg until combined. Add the milk, alternating with the flour mixture until everything is combined. 4. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin pan. Transfer to the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of each comes out with moist crumbs attached, 18-22 minutes. Let cool before frosting.5. To make the buttercream. Add 1 stick butter to a skillet set over medium heat. Allow the butter to brown lightly until it smells toasted, about 2-3 minutes. Stir often. Remove from the heat and transfer the butter to the mixing bowl, let cool until it’s room temp.6. Add the remaining stick of butter and 2 cups powdered sugar. Beat the butter and powdered sugar together until the butter is light and fluffy. Add the honey, vanilla, and cinnamon and beat until combined, adding more powdered sugar as needed until your desired consistency is reached. 7. Frost and decorate cupcakes as desired. Enjoy!
{This post is sponsored by McCormick Spice. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Half Baked Harvest cooking!}
This post was originally published on December 14, 2018
Hey Tieghan,
These cupcakes look lovely and I love the fluffy gingerbread with the browned butter butter cream idea. I agree that cinnamon is wonderful. I have cinnamon every day with my oatmeal and it always reminds me of my mom. Maybe I can bake these for her when I visit? I also wanted to bake some cinnamon rolls. Which cinnamon roll (or cinnamon bread) recipe is your favorite? Do you have any recommendations for Christmas or winter breakfast? I was also thinking of making ginngerbread houses but feel weird buying the kit. Haha I love baking so maybe making them from scratch would be fun. I thought of using chocolate as the glue instead of frosting so they looked more sophisticated. Either way, I’d love to make these cupcakes and hope you had a lovely time baking them and gifting them. Do you have any plans for right before the holidays? Did you get a tree for your house? I hope all is well and I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s post. ☺️
Hi Kristin! That would to so amazing to make these with your mom! I will leave some links below to my favorite for breakfast during Christmas time! I hope you make one of them! I did get a tree for my house and I am loving having it in the new studio barn. I think it looks so cute and just makes the space feel more like home! I hope you’re doing well, Kristin. And Happy Holidays!
https://fett-weg.today/overnight-gingerbread-cinnamon-rolls/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> https://fett-weg.today/overnight-pull-apart-brioche-cinnamon-roll-bread/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> https://fett-weg.today/baked-cinnamon-creme-brulee-french-toast-with-raspberry-preserves/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Well you’ve certainly raised the bar on holiday cupcakes! The yummy flavor combination and such creativity in your decorations, (the rooftop is my favorite) have given me the urge to try these myself… hope mine look half as good as yours do!
Thank you so much Nan!
These look amazing! I noticed you live in Colorado. Are your baking recipes written for high altitude or general sea level?
Hi Erin! They should work great for you! I hope you enjoy my recipes!
HI! They are for sea level, but work well at altitude. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
Hello: I am baking this recipe right now. I noticed, after I bought ingredients and started baking, the ingredient list calls for whole milk, but the recipe refers to buttermilk. Which one is correct? I used whole milk. My first batch just got out of the oven and they are sunk in the middle. Wondering if that is the problem. Thanks!
HI! I like to use whole milk. Is your baking powder fresh? if it is old that can cause the cupcakes to sink. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you loved this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
These look incredible!!
Rebecca | http://www.peppermintdolly.com
These look so delicious! Can’t wait to try these myself xx Bry Jaimea | bryjaimea.com
Thank you Bry!
Hi. I want to make these today. Is it Milk or Buttermilk? thank you Tieghan for sharing your passion with us.
I like to use milk. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
These are so cute and look very tasty. YUM!!
Thank you so much Charlotte!
Those gingerbread houses were always adorable! Best Christmas memories ever; I loved every minute of it. I am so proud and happy for you.
Love,
Aunt Carol
xoxoxoxo
Hi Aunt Carole! It is so nice to hear from you! I am so glad you love these and the memories behind them were the BEST! Are you staying in Ohio for Christmas?
My favorite Christmas cookie, turned into a darling cupcake; and it doesn’t require all the tedious gingerbread house building? Love it.
YES! I hope you make these Liz! Thank you!
My kinda cupcake, love the spice mix for these. Pinning for later. Maybe my new year day dessert.
Thank you so much Wendy!
Tieghan! You always seem to come along ‘just’ at the right time with a recipe that is perfect for me! I know exactly who is going to get these! Thanks girlie!(..oh and I already have some mini gingerbread men to use too!)
Yes! I hope you have an amazing time making these Colleen! Thank you!
I love these cupcakes, they do look so cute and sweet!
Thank you so much Jenny!
they’re so cute!!
Thank you Ruth!
“Truly screams Christmas”…hahaha – excellent choice of words. 😀 These cupcakes are so cute and tasty looking! (And your photography keeps getting better and better!) I’m going to try to make these for a birthday party this weekend. I doubt they will come out at pretty as these, but I’m gonna give it a shot. 🙂
Hi Aline! I am so glad you like these and I hope they turn out amazing if you make them! Thank you so much!