Not Tai Chi: Chai Tea Cupcakes with Pumpkin Spice Frosting Recipe from Betty Crocker Wannabe

Image and recipe c/o Betty Crocker WannabeCakeSpy Note: You know what's totally sweet? Receiving great recipes from readers. This recipe, dreamed up by Tiff of Betty Crocker Wannabe, is possibly the most delicious-sounding use of chai spice I've ever heard of: chai cupcakes with pumpkin spice frosting. As the French would say, "le nom nom nom". Here's her intro:

When I went to Nevada in December, my best friend’s daughter made me a fabulous hot drink.  It was Chai tea with pumpkin spice creamer.  I had never tried Chai before and fell in love with it!  As I was brainstorming cupcake flavors to invent, I instantly thought of a Chai cupcake with pumpkin spice frosting.  Here’s what I came up with.   Let me know what you think! (the frosting is a twist on the Perfect Cupcake Frosting recipe from Our Best Bites).

CHAI CUPCAKES & WHIPPED PUMPKIN SPICE FROSTING

CAKE:

• 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 2 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. instant Chai mix (I used Spiced Mystic Chai from Sam’s)
• 1 cup real butter, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup sour cream, at room temp
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 eggs, at room temp
• 3/4 cup liquid Chai tea concentrate (I used Oregon brand from Wal-Mart)
• 1/4 cup milk, at room temp

Procedure

1. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and dry Chai mix in medium bowl. Set aside.
2. In separate bowl, or measuring cup, mix together milk and liquid Chai concentrate.  Set aside.
3. In large bowl, preferably a bowl to an electric mixer, beat together butter, sour cream, and sugar until smooth.  Add one egg at a time, beating until well incorporated.
4. Add the flour in three additions, alternating with the milk mixture.  Be sure to start and end with the flour mixture.   Do not over beat!
5. Divide the batter among paper lined muffin tins.  Fill each paper 3/4 full.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
6. This recipe makes approximately 2 dozen cupcakes.

FROSTING: (doubled from OOB)

• 6 Tbsp. flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup pumpkin spice coffee creamer
• 1 cup real butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice (THIS is what makes this frosting fabulous!)
• 2 tsp. vanilla

Procedure

1. Whisk together the flour, creamer, and  milk. Heat in a small sauce pan on medium heat.
2. Whisk continuously until it starts to thicken. Let it cook, while stirring, until you can start to see the bottom of the pan.
3. Place the mixture in a mesh strainer and stir with a rubber spatula to push it through.
4. You should end up with a nice, smooth mixture. It’s almost like pudding before it’s set.
5. Put this mixture in the fridge and let it cool completely, it’s fine if it stays in there long enough to get chilly, you just don’t want it warm at all. When it is chilled, you can move on to the following step.
6. In an electric stand mixer, beat the butter,  sugar, and pumpkin pie spice for a minute or two until well combined and fluffy. You’ll want to use the whisk attachment on a stand mixer, not the flat paddle. Then while beating, add in the thickened milk mixture and the vanilla. Beat to combine and then scrape down the sides.
7. Beat on med-high for 7-8 minutes. ENJOY!

For more of Tiff's work, visit bettycrockerwannabe.com.

Comments

[Candy Crusader]

These look great!! Starbucks is going to want to hijack these for their new minis!!

[KayB]

I was just contemplating baking with some sort of pumpkin twist this weekend, what perfect timing! Yum yum

[Audrey]

WOW! I had one of these today. They are amazing.

[Nina A]

VERY delicious! I had one yesterday and they are my new favorite.

[Carla P]

Tif is a great cook, decorator and baker The great part about it is........it is always melt in your mouth wonderful! Will have to try these myself.

[Donna B]

I was lucky enought to get one yesterday.....soooo good!