Ingredients
- 1/4 cup dark rum or water
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 cup unsulfured molasses
- 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
- 1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange zest
- 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/3 cup minced dried crystallized ginger (not in syrup)
For the frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 pound confectioners' sugar, sieved
For the decoration:
- 6 pieces dried crystallized ginger (not in syrup), sliced in half
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners.
Place the rum and raisins in a small pan, cover, and heat until the rum boils. Turn off the heat and set aside. Place the butter and molasses in another small pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Pour the mixture into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cool for 5 minutes, then mix in the sour cream and orange zest.
Meanwhile, sift the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt together into a small bowl. Mix with your hand until combined. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the molasses mixture and mix only until smooth. Drain the raisins and add them and the crystallized ginger to the mixture with a spatula.
Divide the batter among the muffin pan (1 rounded standard ice cream scoop per cup is the right amount). Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan.
For the frosting, mix the cream cheese, butter, orange zest and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until just combined. Add the sugar and mix until smooth.
When the cupcakes are cool, frost them generously and garnish with a slice of crystallized ginger.
1 Video | Photo: Gingerbread Cupcakes with Orange Icing Recipe

















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By mrsmamab_13090349
Northeast Ohio
on January 20, 2013
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These are a moist, delectable favorite! I never count the little bit of sugar on the crystalized ginger and I eat one without the frosting so I can have a sugar free cupcake!
By BurnitBetty
on December 29, 2012
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Simply wonderful. I have made these or in cake form 3 times this holday season. I am at 5000 feet in elavation and didn't change a thing. I didn't have any crystalized ginger once and they were still great. Truly a taste from the past. Our great grandmothers or their cooks would be proud to know we can cook without eggs.
By Serafina Cakes
Longview, WA
on December 26, 2012
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These are for true gingerbread fans. They are rich, moist and heavy. When I got through the recipe and realized I had not used and sugar nor eggs I was a bit worried. Not a hit with the kids, and a little much after a big dinner. But I think they would go over well in a mature setting where they could be on their own.
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