Ginger and Molasses Cupcakes


Each month I look forward to the baking assignments with the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes Club.  It always forces me to stretch.  It forces me to learn something new.


Take this homely root, for example.  I've used fresh ginger in an occasional stir fry, but never before in baking.  This recipe called for a lot of it - a whole cup!


Believe it or not, I don't own a food processor, (Christmas - anyone?  anyone?) so I was left peeling and cutting and chopping a whole lot of ginger by hand.


Here are the wet and dry ingredients for the cupcakes.  Normally, I take the shortcut and just dump everything into one bowl.  Today, however, I was glad I chose two bowls.  The dark molasses needed the eggs and the hot water to thin it down before combining.


Isn't it beautiful?  And yes, I am taking these photos out on my deck to take advantage of that last bit of autumn daylight!  Why does my kitchen have to get dark so early?

At this point the batter is tasting heavenly, and it is with fear and trepidation that I put in all that ginger.  Most gingerbread recipes call for 2 teaspoons of powdered ginger.  What would a whole cup of fresh ginger do?  Would it be mellow? Would it be spicy?  Would it be heavenly? Would it gag me?

I put the cupcakes in the oven.  In the fine print, the recipe said that the cupcakes would not "dome."


Mine cratered.  What happened?  Did I underbake?  Did I overfill?

The perfectionist in me wanted to re-bake. The realist in me thought of options.  Ginger Cake balls? Ginger Trifle?  I felt a glimmer of possibilities.


After reviewing my situation at hand, I decided that a crater was simply a space for MORE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING!


Finally, the taste test.  My first bite was way too spicy. (A food processor would have helped eliminate big chunks!)  But by my second bite, I decided that it was really delicious, especially with the extra frosting on top. After my third bite, I decided that the amount of fresh ginger would have Florian of  Cupcake Wars saying, (I can reeaally taste zee ingreeedee ent.) In fact, I found myself snitching the ears off the fallen cupcakes each time I passed through the kitchen. (After that, I decidedly sent them to work with my husband.)


Fresh ginger and molasses elevate these fallen cupcakes from gingerbread to ginger gourmet.  They are a bit spicier than the standard cupcake, but all in all, I really did enjoy them.  Thanks to Rebecca of Beurrista for this month's selection!  You can find the recipe on Martha's website.

UP NEXT:  Red Velvet Cupcakes!



THIS POST MAY BE LINKED TO: MONDAYSMOUTHWATERING MONDAYSMADE BY YOU MONDAY,MINGLE MONDAY , HOME SAVVY A TO ZTUESDAYSTALENT SHOW TUESDAYSMUSHKI LOVES MY STUFF TUESDAYS AND THE TABLE, TEMPT MY TUMMY TUESDAY,TWO MAIDS A BAKING, TIP JUNKIE ,GET YOUR CRAFT ON, CRAZY SWEET TUESDAYS!  TEA PARTY TUESDAY  MANDY'S RECIPE BOX WEDNESDAYSSHOW AND TELLWORKS FOR ME WEDNESDAYTHIS CHICK COOKSLADY BEHIND THE CURTAINGINGER SNAP CRAFTS,  THURSDAYS IT’S A KEEPER THURSDAYSSTRUT YOUR STUFFFULL PLATE THURSDAYS , CHIC & CRAFTY PARTY, THRIFTY THURSDAYS  FRIDAYS: I’M LOVING IT, FOODIE FRIDAYGROCERY CART CHALLENGEFOOD ON FRIDAYSFRIDAY POT LUCK, TATERTOTS AND JELLO,  SWEET TOOTH FRIDAY,,  FRIDAY FAVORITES,  FUSION FRIDAYS FRIDAY FOOD , BACON TIME SATURDAYS:SWEETS FOR A SATURDAY SIX SISTERS STUFFCRUMBS AND CHAOS SUNDAYS: NIFTY THRIFTY SUNDAYAWELL SEASONED LIFE

Comments

tomiannie said…
Oh, golly -- these look delicious! I had to pin them right away!
Monica Lifferth said…
Mine did sink a little. I have found that with some recipes any sort of jiggling after they have started baking can cause them to fall. These were fun. Glad you liked them!
Your cupcakes are beautiful! I also had a hard time not nibbling- and it was supposed to be a no-sweets day...

Thanks for baking along.
Those look fantastic. A new favorite. Come visit us. We have a terrific mulled cider and a legacy cookbook today.
Candi said…
Yum! They look lovely!
Joy Burkhart said…
You've been pinned! Had to - so I could find these wonderful little morsels again!!!
xoxo
Joy
Miz Helen said…
These are just awesome and I can't wait to make them. My very best wishes to you and your family for a blessed Thanksgiving. Thanks for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you again real soon!
Miz Helen
Donna said…
ooo...I love these! Not only do I LOVE that you used fresh ginger, but you NEVER would have known they didn't dome:) Great job!! (and so festive for the holidays:)
These look wonderful! I am over from Tater Tots and Jello!!

Nettie
i love love ginger! Cute cupcakes.
So pretty! That piping is perfect. These cupcakes sound so good too. Thanks for sharing on Crazy Sweet Tuesday!
D+B said…
Oh so pretty. and soooo delicious.. I am your newest follower.. If you would like to check out my blog to that would be so great, and follow me back and facebook too. I will be doing free giveaways here shortly on clothing and mineral makeup :)

-Thanks
Brooke
blushboutiquestyle.blogspot.com
Unknown said…
Wow these look great! can't even tell they sunk a little bit!
Come to A Themed Baker's Sunday where this week's theme is Thanksgiving treats. Be sure to vote on the side bar for next week's theme as well! Happy Holidays!

Cupcake Apothecary

http://cupcakeapothecary.blogspot.com/2011/11/themed-bakers-sunday-14.html
Mandy Bird said…
These looks delicious! So delicious that I'm featuring them on TTT tomorrow so come own it! Thanks for linking up!
Candy said…
These look amazing! Fresh ginger is one of my favorite ingredients to use in savory and sweet dishes. The smell alone is worth the effort it takes to prep it!
Unknown said…
this looks fantastic! Amazing flavors, I love BOTH! Thx for linking up last week, sorry for the delay in visiting but sure glad I didn't miss this!
This looks AMAZING! Awesome job!

Popular posts from this blog

Butter Bean Soup

Dr. Seuss Snacks!

Candy Cornucopia