Description

These Easy Chai Spiced Cupcakes are a cozy, flavor-packed treat that combines aromatic spices and a tender crumb with a luxurious vanilla bean frosting. Perfect for autumn gatherings or a sophisticated afternoon tea, they offer a sophisticated flavor profile that is surprisingly easy to achieve in under 50 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cupcake Base:
1.5 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
0.5 teaspoon baking soda
0.5 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
0.5 teaspoon ground cardamom
0.25 teaspoon ground cloves
0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper
0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
0.5 cup sour cream
0.25 cup whole milk
2 chai tea bags
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Vanilla Bean Frosting:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1 vanilla bean (scraped) or 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
A pinch of salt

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Instructions

Infuse the Milk: Heat 0.25 cup milk until steaming. Steep 2 chai tea bags for 10 minutes, squeeze tightly, and let cool.
Prepare: Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 12-count muffin tin.
Mix Dry Ingredients: Whisk together flour, sugar, leavening agents, and all spices in a medium bowl.
Cream Butter and Egg: Beat softened butter, egg, and vanilla until pale and fluffy.
Combine: Alternately add dry ingredients, sour cream, and chai milk to the butter mixture. Mix until just combined; do not overmix.
Bake: Fill liners two-thirds full and bake for 18-22 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Frost: Beat butter for 3 minutes until white, then add powdered sugar, vanilla bean, and cream. Pipe onto completely cooled cupcakes.

Notes

Never frost a warm cupcake or the butter in the frosting will melt. For a professional look, garnish with a single star anise or a sprinkle of cinnamon. If you don’t have sour cream, full-fat Greek yogurt is an excellent substitute to keep the cakes moist.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cupcake
Calories: 320
Sugar: 28g
Sodium: 150mg
Fat: 16g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Carbohydrates: 42g
Protein: 3g