Gingerbread Cupcakes with Caramelized Mango Buttercream

For the ginger syrup:




1 cup water

1 cup granulated sugar

1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped



For the cupcakes:



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

1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted

3/4 cup dark brown sugar

2 large eggs

6 tablespoons black strap molasses

3/4 cup water



For the caramelized mango buttercream:



2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 cups (1 pound) unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into small pieces

1 to 2 tablespoons honey

3 ripe mangoes, peeled, pitted and coarsely chopped

6 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 cup candied ginger, finely diced



Directions:

For the ginger syrup:

1. Bring all the ingredients to a boil in a small saucepan and cook until the sugar has melted and the mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat and infuse for 30 minutes. Remove ginger just before using.




For the cupcakes:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 12-muffin tin cups with paper cupcake liners and spray the inside of each liner and the top of the pan with nonstick cooking spray.





2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon and cloves into a medium bowl.





3. Whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, and molasses in a large bowl until blended. Add some of the water to batter then some of the dry ingredients to the batter. Continue alternating with the water and flour until everything is added and smooth.





4. Fill each paper liner with 1/3 cup of the batter, about 1/4-inch below the top of the liner.





5. Place into preheated oven and bake just until the tops feel firm and a toothpick inserted into the center come out clean, about 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush the tops liberally with some of the ginger syrup.





6. Allow cupcakes to cool prior to frosting.



For the caramelized mango buttercream:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in large saute pan over high heat. Add the honey and the mangoes and cook until caramelized and soft. Transfer to a food processor and process until smooth. Pass mixture through a medium mesh strainer into a bowl.





2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a wire whip attachment, beat the egg yolks at medium-high speed until creamy and pale yellow, about 5 minutes.





3. In a nonstick saucepan, combine the sugar and corn syrup. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a full rolling boil without stirring and cook until it reaches soft-ball stage (238 to 242 degrees F) on a candy thermometer. Immediately pour the mixture into a buttered measuring cup to halt the cooking.





4. Add a small amount of the syrup to the beaten egg yolks, turn on the mixer to high speed, and beat for about 5 seconds. Continue stopping the mixer, adding syrup, and beating in the same manner until all of the syrup is incorporated and the mixture is cooled completely.





5. Add the butter, 1 piece at a time, and beat until incorporated before adding the next piece. When all of the butter has been blended in, add the vanilla and slowly add the mango puree. Continue beating until combined.





6. Frost each gingerbread cupcake with the caramelized mango buttercream and sprinkle with the candied ginger.