Sugar-Coated Sundays: Chai Latte Cupcakes

This post was originally shard on Scout's Stitches.  Zoe was my partner for Serendipity & Spice's Trading Blogs project.  The experience was great!  Melissa matched everyone up. and I couldn't have asked for a better partner than Zoe.  I'm really glad we're bloggy friends now.  So here's my very first guest post EVER!  Zoe's readers loved this recipe and I hope you all do too.

And if you missed out on the first round of Trading Blogs, you're in luck!  Melissa just started the sign-up for Trading Blogs 2.  I'm all signed up and ready to find out who my new partner will be.  I hope you'll swing by Serendipity & Spice and sign up.  Who knows...maybe we'll be Trading Blog Partners.  :)  You have until April 29th...go, Go, GO! 

Don't worry if this is your first time guest posting.  Melissa was even kind enough to share some Guest Posting Pointers for any newbies or for any one who wants to brush up on their guest posting etiquette.

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First things first, how much does Zoe look like Gwyneth Paltrow?

{Gwyneth photo source}

They totally look alike.

Ok.  I’m better now.  After seriously stalking Zoe’s blog and trying to figure out what I wanted to share with her and all of her lovely readers I realized I should stick to what I’m good at.  Food.  I cook and bake A LOT.  When I saw Zoe’s list of likes and dislikes {you should always know these things about your friends} it hit me, Chai Cupcakes! Yes.  Zoe likes Chai Latte Frappuccinos, exclamation points, and scrabble.  I like Caramel Macchiatos, exclamation points, and scrabble.  She’d be a great coffee and Scrabble date friend to have.  BTW, my Wordfeud and Words with Friends ID is julerybox, hit me up.

And since I’m baking for Zoe, I figured some old school country music was in order.  I love to listen to music while I cook and bake and since Zoe lives in the country I figured why not!

Chai Cupcake Baking Music

Johnny Cash - I'm Gonna Sit on my Porch and Pick on my Ol' Guitar
Marty Robbins - El Paso
Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire
June Carter - Times a Wastin'
Loretta Lynn - You Ain't Woman Enough to Take my Man
Hank Williams - Move It On Over

Chai Latte Cupcakes with Vanilla Chai Buttercream

Cupcakes from A Spicy Perspective    ][    Buttercream from The Novice Chef

Makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

Chai Latte Cupcakes

½ cup unsalted butter

½ cup sugar

2/3 cup instant chai powder**

¼ tsp ground cardamom, optional  {you could also substitute ground ginger}
2 eggs

½ cup milk  {it’s a latte people}

1 teaspoon vanilla

¾ cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

¾ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

Vanilla Chai Buttercream

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups powdered sugar, sifted   {don’t skip the sifting!}

Chai Spice Mix (see below)

1 to 2 tablespoons cold milk, if needed

Half cinnamon sticks for garnish, if desired

Directions:

Cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, salt, and baking powder.  Set aside.
3. Cream the butter and sugar with a mixer.  Add the chai powder and extra cardamom is desired.
4. Mix in the eggs, milk, and vanilla.
5. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients in 3 additions.  Mix until just moistened after each addition; scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
6. Fill prepared liner 2/3 full and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Allow cupcakes to cool in the pan for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Buttercream

1. Using a mixer, beat together butter until it is creamy, about 2 minutes.  On low, mix in the vanilla and chai spice mix.  Carefully beat in the powdered sugar, about ½ cup at a time. 
   
   If the buttercream is too thick, add 1 tablespoon of cold milk at a time until the desired consistency is reached.  If the buttercream is too thin, add some more powdered sugar.   {I didn't need to add milk or extra sugar, the frosting came out just right the first go round.}

Garnish with half a cinnamon stick, if desired.

The frosting gives these cupcakes a little extra spice.  Yum!

Chai Spice Mix

Ingredients:

¾ teaspoon ground cardamom (or substitute ground ginger if you’re cheap like me)

¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Mix ingredients together until well combined.

**If you have any instant chai mix at home.  I found this recipe from Southern Plate so you can make your own.

I hope these cupcakes make you feel all cozy and snuggly and special, because you are special.

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