Cupcake Monday: Spiderweb Pumpkin Ginger Cupcakes

                                    I decided it was time for some more fall cupcakes!

                                                           Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

                                       Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
                                                           3/4 teaspoon baking powder
                                                           3/4 teaspoon baking soda
                                                           1/4 teaspoon salt
                                                           1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
                                                           1 teaspoon ground ginger
                                                           1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled slightly
                                                           1 cup sugar
                                                           1 cup canned pumpkin
                                                           3 large eggs
                                                                             
                                      Frosting:     1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
                                                         6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
                                                         1 teaspoon vanilla extract
                                                         3 cups powdered sugar

                                 Spiderweb:     1/4 cup of cream cheese frosting
                                                        1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
                                                        1 teaspoon whole milk

              Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger into a medium bowl and set aside.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on low-medium speed, beat the melted butter, sugar , and pumpkin until smoothly blended. Then, mix in the eggs.

Fill each paper liner with a generous scoop of batter, to about 1/2 inch below the top of the liner. Bake just until the tops feel firm and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. About 25 minutes.

While they're cooling, you can make the frosting!

For the frosting: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on low speed, beat the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until smooth and thoroughly blended, about 1 minute. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed during mixing. Add the powdered sugar, mixing until smooth, then beat on medium speed for 1 minute to lighten the frosting further. For the spiderweb, mix 1/4 cup of the cream cheese frosting with the cinnamon and milk. Then put it in a piping bag and make 3 little circles on the top and use a toothpick to make lines through it. 

And we're done! They have a really nice spiced flavor! I hope everyone had a nice Monday!