Gingerbread Cupcakes

Christmas is just a couple days away and I am just baking non-stop! These cupcakes are a new holiday favorite of mine that I created for my parents holiday party. They have the perfect classic gingerbread flavor and everyone said they weren't overly sweet and paired perfectly with a cup of tea or coffee. 

INGREDIENTS

 cupcakes

• 1½ cups flour
• 2 tablespoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 1½ cups butter
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons molasses
• 4 eggs, at room temperature
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla
• 
  

 Frosting

• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 2-4 tablespoons heavy cream

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 and line muffin tins with cupcake liners. Whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Set aside.
2. In a another, large bowl cream together butter and sugars until pale and fluffy. Add molasses, beat until combined. Add eggs, beating after each until incorporated. Beat in vanilla. Gradually mix in flour mixture until combined.
3. Divide batter evenly among the lined cups, filling each ¾ full. Bake about 25 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in the muffin tins for about 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
4. When cupcakes are completely cooled, prepare the frosting. Beat the cream cheese until fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add vanilla, cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream and mix until smooth. Gradually mix in powdered sugar. Add 1-2 more tablespoons of heavy cream as needed to thin the frosting to a spreadable consistency. Spread on cooled cupcakes. (see note) Store in airtight container 

Happy Holidays!

Share and enjoy :)

Cranberry Bliss Bars

 These bars are very reminiscent of the classic Starbucks Bliss Bars. They are the perfect sweetness and the excellent indulgence on a cold winter night. They pair wonderfully with a warm cup of coffee.

Yield: 2 1/2 dozen bars

Ingredients:

BLONDIE LAYER:

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) salted butter, cubed
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup dried cranberries
6 ounces white chocolate chips

FROSTING:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
6 ounces white chocolate chips
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.

2. Prepare the blondie layer: In a medium bowl, melt butter for one minute in the microwave; stir in brown sugar. Scrape the butter & sugar into a large bowl and let cool to room temperature. Use an electric mixer to beat in the eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; gradually add the dry mixture to the butter mixture. Stir in the cranberries and chopped chocolate (the batter will be thick).

3. Spread the blondie batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 18-21 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean (do not overbake). Cool completely on a wire rack.

4. Prepare the frosting: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until well-blended. Gradually add half of the melted white chocolate; beat until blended. Frost brownies. Sprinkle with cranberries. Drizzle with remaining melted white chocolate. Cut into bars- square or triangle-shaped. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. 

Happy Hoildays

Share and enjoy :)

Eggnog Snickerdoodles

 My family loves eggnog especially me and my little sister, so I knew these these cookies would be a huge hit . These cookies are thick and soft, with a complementing eggnog flavor. The spices add a nice flavor to the cookie while contributing to the classic eggnog flavor we all know and love. These cookies stay soft and moist for longer then any other cookie I have made ever made. These cookies turned out so well, I will be sure to make a few batches for my friends and family this holiday season.

Yield: 4 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
2 2/3 cups sugar, divided
1 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla 
1 cup eggnog
4 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
5. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, alternately with the eggnog. The dough will be thick and slightly sticky.
6. Mix together 2/3 cup sugar, ground nutmeg and cinnamon  in a small bowl.
7. Shape the dough into rounded ball about a table spoon amount ; roll in sugar and spice mixture.
8. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until cookies are just set and golden on the bottom.

Happy Holidays 

Share and enjoy :)