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, softened
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup unsulphured molasses
• 1/2 cup milk
• Mini gingerbread men for decoration, optional
• 8 oz cream cheese, nearly at room temperature
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, nearly at room temperature
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. For the cupcakes, heat the oven to 350 degrees. Set cupcake liners into a muffin tin, then lightly coat the liners and the top of the pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves together, then put the bowl aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the brown sugar and butter until the mixture looks lighter and fluffy. Add the vegetable oil and mix it in, then beat in the eggs one at a time. Blend in the molasses.
4. Add the flour mixture in 3 portions, alternating with 2 pours of milk in between. After each addition, mix only until everything comes together. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl, then fold the batter to make sure it is evenly mixed.
5. Spoon the batter into 12 lined muffin cups, filling each one 2/3 full. Bake in the heated oven for about 19 – 22 minutes, until a toothpick poked into the middle of a cupcake comes out clean.
6. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for several minutes, then move them to a wire rack. After about 10 minutes, continue cooling them in an airtight container so they stay from drying out. When they are fully cooled, frost them with the cream cheese frosting. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, then set them at room temp for about 20 minutes before serving.
7. For the frosting, beat the butter and cream cheese together in the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth. Add the vanilla and powdered sugar, then mix until the frosting is light and fluffy.