Gingerbread Cupcakes

LAUREN:

This week we made two batches of cupcakes: Gingerbread Cupcakes and Mint Slice Cupcakes for my graduation party. First were the Gingerbread Cupcakes. We have been looking forward to making these since DAY ONE, because they're like the 3rd page of the book, and they looked SO GOOD in the pictures. The day started off with a trip to Safeway for Kelsey and I to get candied ginger, ginger powder, liquid glucose, and maple syrup. But we ended up only getting the candied ginger and the ginger powder, and this is why.
1) Liquid glucose--WEIRD. We didn't even know what this was, it's stored in the pharmacy section and kind of like a liquid sugar alternative. And it's super expensive. So we stuck with one that we found in our cabinet at home.. I will write the name later.
2)Maple syrup--also expensive. We were going to opt for regular syrup instead, ("Mrs. B will do!" -Kelsey), but we ended up just using molasses. Which smells HORRIBLE by the way.
Anyways, the process was pretty simple. It was different from our other recipes because you mixed all of the powder ingredients separately, and then made a well in the middle and poured in the wet and folded them together. I had fun whisking the dry ingredients together with a baby whisker. Which apparently is the same as sifting, so Kelsey tells me. But I don't believe it. Sifting is way more fun! Also, when we put these in the cupcake pan, we ended up with a lot of extra batter. We ended up baking like 19 instead of the 16 that were supposed to be made.

Now for the frosting.. the first time around, we made a lot of mistakes. Hopefully you can learn from our mistakes.
1)When it says add enough warm water to form a paste.. don't just add water. Which is what I did. YES KELSEY I KNOW EVERYTHING IS MY FAULT BLAHHH BLAHH. I added too much, but we fixed it by adding more powdered sugar and more butter and more ginger.
2)We left it sitting out after we had let it simmer over the water. And we thought we could just heat it up and it would be smooth again.. but nay. It turned all gross. So we ended up having to make it twice.
After you make the frosting (which you shouldn't do until you take the cupcakes out of the oven), use the doughnut technique and dip the top of the cupcake in the frosting, rather than frosting it with a knife, it works just as well if not better. Then powder with powdered sugar mixed with cinnamon to give them a little extra sweetness!

Super cute!! And they tasted very good. The only thing I would have changed is that we left these out while we went to Brenton and Lauren's graduation parties.. so they turned a little dry. But otherwise they were good! Well.. I only had a little bite. But from what I tasted, they seemed good! They were our first cupcakes to make that were actually different, apart from the standard ingredients, which was a definite step up for us. And a good one I think! I would recommend these cupcakes, definitely!

KELSEY:
Yes these were worth the wait. One of my favorites these would be perfect with some coffee by a fire in the fall, but they surpass that dream and should be enjoyed all year round. the spices worked well with the smooth frosting and the smell lightened anyone's mood. they were dry which only made them better with a nice drink.