Best 5 Gingerbread Buttercream Recipes

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Indulge in the delightful world of gingerbread buttercream, a culinary masterpiece that elevates your baking creations to new heights. This versatile frosting, boasting a harmonious blend of warmth and sweetness, is crafted with the finest ingredients to ensure an unforgettable taste experience. Discover a realm of possibilities, from classic gingerbread cookies and cupcakes to intricate cakes and seasonal treats, where gingerbread buttercream takes center stage.

This article presents an array of gingerbread buttercream recipes tailored to suit every skill level and occasion. Dive into the classic recipe, where simple ingredients come together to create a timeless favorite. Experiment with variations that incorporate brown sugar for a deeper molasses flavor, or add a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg for a cozy holiday twist. Explore the possibilities of white chocolate or cream cheese for a velvety smooth texture, or infuse your frosting with the zesty kick of orange or lemon for a refreshing twist.

For those seeking a more decadent experience, explore the salted caramel gingerbread buttercream, where the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors creates an irresistible symphony on your palate. For those with dietary restrictions, discover the vegan gingerbread buttercream, a plant-based delight that delivers the same delectable taste without compromising on ethical choices.

Welcome to the realm of gingerbread buttercream, where creativity and indulgence intertwine. Embrace the joy of baking with these carefully curated recipes that promise to tantalize your taste buds and transform your desserts into unforgettable masterpieces.

Let's cook with our recipes!

GINGERBREAD COOKIES WITH ORANGE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING



Gingerbread Cookies with Orange Buttercream Frosting image

My favorite gingerbread cookie recipe. The cookies are soft and cakey. The orange buttercream icing really ties the flavors together.

Provided by Jasmin

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     Gingerbread Cookie Recipes

Time 1h20m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup molasses
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
3 teaspoons baking soda, divided
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
4 cups all-purpose flour, or more as needed
3 cups powdered sugar, or more as needed
1 cup butter, softened
2 oranges, zested and juiced

Steps:

  • Combine 1 cup butter and sugar in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Mix in molasses and egg until combined.
  • Mix together buttermilk and 2 teaspoons baking soda in a small bowl. Mix vinegar with remaining 1 teaspoon baking soda in another small bowl. Add the buttermilk mixture to the molasses-egg mixture. Then add vinegar mixture, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and salt; mix until well combined.
  • Gradually stir in 4 cups flour, 1 cup at a time, stirring until the dough comes together and forms a ball. Shape dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator until chilled, about 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Place chilled dough on a floured surface and roll to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out cookies with desired cookie cutters and place on ungreased cookie sheets.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until edges are golden, about 10 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute before removing to a wire rack to cool, 8 to 10 minutes more.
  • While cookies are cooling, place 3 cups powdered sugar, softened butter, orange zest, and 1/3 cup orange juice in a bowl. Discard remaining orange juice, or save for another use. Beat frosting ingredients with an electric mixer until consistency is similar to fondant or modeling dough, adding more powdered sugar, if necessary. Frost cookies.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 353.3 calories, Carbohydrate 51.1 g, Cholesterol 47.9 mg, Fat 15.9 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 2.9 g, SaturatedFat 9.9 g, Sodium 333.9 mg, Sugar 32.1 g

GHIRARDELLI MINI GINGERBREAD-CHOCOLATE CHIP CUPCAKES WITH MOLASSES BUTTERCREAM



Ghirardelli Mini Gingerbread-Chocolate Chip Cupcakes With Molasses Buttercream image

The perfect holiday marriage of gingerbread and chocolate, these versatile treats can be made full size or in miniature for easy gifting. Showcase your baking skills by learning how to top with chocolate 'trees.' While piping the trees may take a little practice, they really take the festive component over the top. And no worries if you mess up; simply try again by re-melting the chocolate chips.

Provided by Ghirardelli

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     Ghirardelli®

Time 1h30m

Yield 48

Number Of Ingredients 23

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
⅓ cup chopped crystallized ginger
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon table salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
2 large eggs
1 cup hot strongly brewed coffee
⅓ cup unsulfured molasses
1 cup Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips
48 miniature paper baking cups
Cooking spray
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ tablespoons unsulfured molasses
⅛ teaspoon table salt
4 ½ cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons whole milk, or more as needed
1 cup Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips
Finely chopped crystallized ginger

Steps:

  • Prepare the Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place flour, crystallized ginger, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cloves in a food processor; process until ginger is finely ground, about 1 minute.
  • Beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with a heavy-duty stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in applesauce until blended. Add eggs one at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
  • Stir together hot brewed coffee and molasses in a 2-cup glass measuring cup until blended. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with coffee mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat on low speed just until blended after each addition. Gently stir in Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips.
  • Place 48 miniature paper baking cups in four 12-cup miniature muffin pans, and coat cups with cooking spray. Spoon batter into cups, filling almost full.
  • Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from pan to a wire rack and cool completely, about 30 minutes.
  • Prepare the Molasses Buttercream: Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth; beat in molasses and salt until fully incorporated, about 1 minute. Gradually add powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons of the milk; beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. If needed, add remaining 1 tablespoon milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, and beat until desired consistency is reached.
  • Prepare the Chocolate Trees: Place 1 cup Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips in a small microwaveable bowl, and microwave on medium (50% power) until melted and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Transfer mixture to a piping bag or heavy-duty zip-top bag with a very small hole snipped in the corner.
  • Pipe into small Christmas tree shapes on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Chill until set, about 15 minutes; keep chilled until ready to use.
  • Pipe or dollop Molasses Buttercream on cupcakes. Garnish with finely chopped crystallized ginger, and top with chocolate Christmas trees.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 159.9 calories, Carbohydrate 26.8 g, Cholesterol 17.9 mg, Fat 6.2 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 1.5 g, SaturatedFat 3.7 g, Sodium 55.8 mg, Sugar 19.6 g

GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES WITH CARAMELIZED MANGO BUTTERCREAM



Gingerbread Cupcakes With Caramelized Mango Buttercream image

Provided by Bobby Flay

Time 1h45m

Yield 12 cupcakes

Number Of Ingredients 23

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped
Cooking spray
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
6 tablespoons molasses
2 cups (4 sticks) plus 2 tablespoons slightly cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
3 small or 2 large ripe mangoes, coarsely chopped
6 large egg yolks
Cooking spray
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup finely diced candied ginger, for garnish

Steps:

  • Make the ginger syrup: Combine the granulated sugar, fresh ginger and 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until the sugar has melted and the mixture thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let infuse for 30 minutes. Strain the syrup before using.
  • Meanwhile, make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners and spray the liners with cooking spray.
  • Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon and cloves into a medium bowl.
  • Whisk the melted butter, vegetable oil, brown sugar, eggs, molasses and 3/4 cup water in a large bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until the batter is smooth.
  • Fill each paper liner with cup batter, about 1/4 inch below the top of the liner. Bake just until the tops feel firm and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush the tops liberally with the ginger syrup. Let sit in the pan for 5 minutes before removing. Let the cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
  • Make the buttercream: Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large saute pan over high heat. Add the mangoes and cook until caramelized and soft, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a food processor and process until smooth. Pass the mixture through a medium-mesh strainer into a bowl. Discard the solids.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg yolks on high speed until creamy and pale yellow, about 5 minutes.
  • Spray a heatproof measuring cup with cooking spray. Combine the sugar and corn syrup in a saucepan and bring to a full rolling boil over medium-high heat. Cook without stirring until the syrup reaches the soft-ball stage, 238 degrees F to 242 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Immediately pour the syrup into the measuring cup to halt the cooking.
  • Add a small amount of the sugar syrup to the beaten egg yolks, turn the mixer on to high speed and beat for about 5 seconds. Continue stopping the mixer, adding syrup and beating until all of the syrup is incorporated. Beat the mixture until it is completely cool.
  • Add the remaining 2 cups butter, a few pieces at a time, beating until incorporated before adding more. When all of the butter has been blended in, add the vanilla and the mango puree and beat until combined.
  • Frost the top of each cupcake liberally with the mango buttercream and garnish with the candied ginger.

GINGERBREAD BUTTERCREAM



Gingerbread Buttercream image

Make sure the butter is at room temperature; cold butter will cause the buttercream to have a curdled appearance. Use this to make our Gingerbread Town-Square Cake.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cake Recipes     Fillings & Frostings     Buttercream Frosting Recipes

Yield Makes 14 1/2 cups

Number Of Ingredients 8

13 large egg whites
3 1/3 cups packed light-brown sugar
10 sticks plus 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Steps:

  • Whisk together egg whites and sugar in a large heatproof bowl. Clip a candy thermometer to side of bowl. Set bowl over a pan of simmering water, and whisk until mixture reaches 160 degrees and sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes.
  • With a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg white mixture on high speed until cooled and thick, about 12 minutes. Reduce speed to medium, and add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until incorporated after each addition. Beat in vanilla and spices. Buttercream can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month; bring to room temperature before using, and beat on low speed until smooth.

GINGERBREAD COOKIES WITH BUTTERCREAM ICING



Gingerbread Cookies with Buttercream Icing image

When it's time to start the cookie-baking season, this recipe always kicks off the festivities. My mother-in-law first shared it with me, but it's too good to keep to myself! You can tint the buttery gingerbread cookie icing a cheery pink or green and pipe it on with a decorating tip. -Ann Scherzer, Anacortes, Washington

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 40m

Yield 1-1/2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 15

2/3 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, cloves and ginger
ICING:
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
1/4 teaspoon butter flavoring
3 to 4 tablespoons milk

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and molasses. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and spices; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight., On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-1/2-in. cookie cutter into desired shapes. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Remove from pans to cool on wire racks., For icing, beat confectioners' sugar, butter, extracts and flavoring in a bowl. Gradually stir in enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Frost cookies.

Nutrition Facts :

Tips:

  • Soften your butter to room temperature: This will make it easier to cream together with the sugar and achieve a smooth, fluffy buttercream.
  • Use fresh ginger: Fresh ginger has a stronger flavor than ground ginger, and it will give your buttercream a more intense gingerbread flavor.
  • Grate your ginger finely: This will help to distribute the flavor evenly throughout your buttercream.
  • Start with a small amount of ginger and add more to taste: Ginger can be a strong flavor, so it's best to start with a small amount and add more until you reach the desired flavor.
  • Use a high-quality butter: A high-quality butter will give your buttercream a richer flavor and texture.
  • Don't overbeat your buttercream: Overbeating can cause your buttercream to become grainy.

Conclusion:

Gingerbread buttercream is a delicious and versatile frosting that can be used to decorate cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. It's perfect for the holiday season, but it can be enjoyed all year round. With these tips, you can make a perfect gingerbread buttercream that will add a festive touch to your baked goods.

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