GINGERBREAD MUFFINS WITH LEMON GLAZE

Gingerbread Muffins with Lemon Glaze image

Yield Makes 16 gingerbread muffins

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 cup mild-flavored light molasses
1 1/3 cups cold water
Lemon glaze
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Whipped cream (optional)

Steps:

For gingerbread muffins:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter 16 standard (1/3-cup) muffin cups. Whisk flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt in medium bowl to blend.
Using electric mixer, beat unsalted butter and sugar in large bowl to blend. Add large eggs and beat to blend. Beat in light molasses. Add half of dry ingredients, beating until blended. Beat in remaining dry ingredients. Gradually add 1 1/3 cups cold water and beat until incorporated. Divide batter equally among 16 prepared muffin cups.
Bake gingerbread until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool 10 minutes. Remove muffins from pan and place on rack over sheet of foil.
For lemon glaze:
Whisk powdered sugar and lemon juice in small bowl until smooth. Spoon lemon glaze over tops of warm muffins, using about 1 tablespoon glaze for each.
Serve muffins warm with whipped cream, if desired, or at room temperature.