Gingerbread Cupcakes with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting

Warm spices and rich honey come together in these Gingerbread Cupcakes with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting, creating a cozy dessert that feels made for the holiday season.

The cupcakes bake up soft and fragrant with ginger, cinnamon and cloves, while honey adds natural sweetness and depth that pairs perfectly with the tender crumb. We just can’t say no to Cupcake Recipes.

Finished with a smooth honey-sweetened cream cheese frosting, this recipe delivers classic gingerbread flavor in an easy, crowd-pleasing cupcake form that works beautifully for holiday parties, classroom treats or a festive dessert night at home.

Want more cupcake inspiration? Make Santa Hat Cupcakes, Flower Candy Corn Cupcakes and Owl Cupcakes.

And don’t forget the Perfect Vanilla Frosting for Cupcakes!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These Gingerbread Cupcakes with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting combine warm spices and rich honey flavor in a perfectly soft holiday cupcake.

• Classic gingerbread spice: Ground ginger, cinnamon and cloves create that cozy, familiar gingerbread taste.
• Naturally sweetened richness: Raw honey adds depth and warmth to both the cupcakes and the frosting.
• Moist, tender crumb: Buttermilk and butter keep the cupcakes soft and bakery-worthy.
• Smooth, creamy frosting: Cream cheese, butter and honey whip into a perfectly balanced topping.
• Holiday-ready dessert: These cupcakes fit right in on any seasonal dessert table.

This recipe delivers comforting gingerbread flavor with a luscious honey frosting that makes every bite feel special.

A special thanks to Busy Bee Raw Honey for this recipe.

What To Serve with Gingerbread Cupcakes

Gingerbread Cupcakes with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting pair well with cozy holiday recipes that highlight warm spices, creamy textures, and bright contrasts.

• Cranberry Orange Bread: The tart cranberries and citrus notes cut through the sweetness of the honey frosting and enhance the spiced cupcake flavors.
• Vanilla Bean Cheesecake: Its smooth, mild richness balances the bold gingerbread spices without competing with them.
• Peppermint Bark: The cool crunch of peppermint and chocolate adds contrast to the soft cupcakes and rounds out a holiday dessert spread.
• Apple Cider Donuts: Apple and cinnamon flavors naturally complement ginger, creating a warm, bakery-style pairing.
• Homemade Nonalcoholic Eggnog: Creamy, spiced eggnog echoes the holiday warmth of the cupcakes while adding a comforting texture difference.
• Spiced Pear Tart: Tender pears and subtle spices provide a lighter, fruit-forward option alongside the richer cupcakes.
• Hot Apple Cider or Chai: Both drinks reinforce the ginger, cinnamon, and clove notes while offering a cozy beverage pairing.

Together, these recipes create a festive dessert pairing that enhances the warm spices and honeyed sweetness of the gingerbread cupcakes without overwhelming them.

Gingerbread Cupcakes Ingredients

Prep time: 20 minutes
Bake time: 20–22 minutes
Cool time: 20 minutes
Total time: About 1 hour
Servings: 12 cupcakes

• all-purpose flour
• dark brown sugar
• baking powder
• ground ginger
• ground cinnamon
• ground cloves
• salt
• unsalted butter
• Busy Bee Raw Honey
• egg
• buttermilk
• vanilla extract

Honey Cream Cheese Frosting:

• cream cheese
• unsalted butter
• Busy Bee Raw Honey
• vanilla extract
• powdered sugar

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

Here are the essential kitchen tools you need to make Gingerbread Cupcakes with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting.

• Measuring cups and spoons: to accurately measure dry and wet ingredients.
• Medium mixing bowl: to whisk together the dry ingredients.
• Large mixing bowl: to combine the wet ingredients and cupcake batter.
• Hand mixer or stand mixer: to beat the butter, honey and frosting until smooth and fluffy.
• Whisk: to evenly blend the dry ingredients.
• Rubber spatula or wooden spoon: to gently fold the batter without overmixing.
• 12-cup muffin pan: to bake the cupcakes.
• Paper cupcake liners: to line the muffin cups.
• Ice cream scoop or spoon: to evenly divide the batter among the liners.
• Wire cooling rack: to cool the cupcakes completely before frosting.
• Piping bag or offset spatula: to frost the cupcakes neatly.

With these tools on hand, you’ll be set up to bake perfectly spiced cupcakes topped with smooth, honey-sweetened cream cheese frosting.

How to Make Gingerbread Cookies

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.

Whisk the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt in a medium bowl.

Beat the softened butter and honey in a large bowl with a hand or stand mixer until smooth and slightly fluffy, then beat in the egg and mix in the buttermilk and vanilla until combined.

Gently stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture just until no streaks of flour remain, taking care not to overmix.

Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.

More Gingerbread Recipes with a Twist

Explore more gingerbread recipes with a twist that add creative flavor and festive flair to classic favorites.

• Perfect Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
• Gingerbread Holiday Fudge
• Gingerbread Madeleines
• Triple Chocolate Gingerbread Cake
• Easy Gingerbread Brownies
• Gingerbread Holiday Pecans
• Gingerbread Caramel Corn
• Chocolate Gingerbread Man Mummy Cookies