The Pioneer Woman Tasty Kitchen
Profile Photo

Chai Cupcakes with Honey Buttercream Frosting

4.00 Mitt(s) 1 Rating(s)1 vote, average: 4.00 out of 51 vote, average: 4.00 out of 51 vote, average: 4.00 out of 51 vote, average: 4.00 out of 51 vote, average: 4.00 out of 5

Prep:

Cook:

Level: Intermediate

System:

24
x

Print Options

Page size Letter 3x5 4x6
Text Size Small Medium Large
Content Include description
Include prep time, etc.
Show image

Description

You know PW’s “Coffee Cake Literally” recipe? Well, that recipe was the inspiration for this. I have some friends who don’t like coffee ( gasp! ) but who do like tea! I took PW’s basic recipe for the cake but switched out the coffee for chai tea and replaced the frosting with a light honey sweetened buttercream and Ta-da! A whole new cake was born. Enjoy… It’s great with a cup of coffee but then again isn’t everything?

Ingredients

  • FOR THE CUPCAKES:
  • 2 cups Flour
  • 2 cups Sugar
  • ¼ teaspoons Salt
  • 2 sticks Butter
  • 1 cup Chai Tea
  • 2 bags Chai Tea
  • ½ cups Buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 2 whole Eggs
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla
  • _____
  • FOR THE ICING:
  • 1 stick Butter, Softened
  • 8 ounces, weight Cream Cheese
  • ¼ cups Honey

Preparation

For the Cake:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line 2 12-count muffin tins with baking cups and lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray. This batter is very wet and without spritzing the baking cups the paper will stick to the cakes. I find the foil baking cups work even better.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix sugar, flour, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Set aside

Melt 2 sticks of butter in medium saucepan. Once it’s melted add the cup of chai. I use the Tazo Chai concentrate because it’s easy. You could certainly make your own chai but make sure you use several tea bags to 1 cup of water. You want the chai to be really strong. After you add the concentrated chai to the butter, add 2 chai tea bags to the pot. Bring it to a boil then turn the heat off, cover the pot and let it steep for about 5 minutes.

While that’s doing it’s thing get another bowl and mix the buttermilk, baking soda, eggs and vanilla together.

Remove the tea bags and add the chai/butter mix slowly to the flour mixture stirring gently. I use setting 2 on my Kitchen Aid. It doesn’t have to be one homogenous mix – yet you don’t want to cook the eggs when you add the the buttermilk mix to the batter. Another way to cool it down is to pour it down the sides of the bowl as you add it to the flour.

After a few gentle turns of the machine add the buttermilk mixture to the bowl. Make sure it’s all well combined and then portion out the batter into the muffin cups. I use a 1/4 cup so that the cupcakes end up mostly the same size. This batter is very wet!

Bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees or until a toothpick inserted the middle comes out clean. When done remove from oven and cool on a rack until they are cool to the touch. Don’t rush or the buttercream will melt all over your cupcakes. Tasty yes but very messy and not nearly so pretty.

For the Icing:
With an electric mixer beat the butter and cream cheese until it is nice and creamy. Add the honey. Mix until fluffy. This is a softer frosting and if you plan on piping it I would recommend putting it in the fridge for a little while to get it firmed up.

Go ahead and frost the cooled cupcakes. I find that just a thin smear on the top is more than enough and lets the taste of the chai shine through.

Enjoy!!

3 Comments

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Profile photo of kaila lief

kaila lief on 6.19.2011

the taste is delicious! however, i had a hard time with the consistency. i made them in cupcake form, and all of my cupcakes deflated. I’m new to baking, so i’m not sure where the problem could have come from. Suggestions? my love and i both enjoy them though, as a crumbly mess :o)

Profile photo of kellirae

kellirae on 11.3.2010

This is an amazing dessert! I made it for my best friend’s b-day tonight. I added ground cardamom and cinnamon to the frosting and also cinnamon to the top.

Excellent!

Profile photo of SinCitySugar

SinCitySugar on 9.6.2010

This cake is also great plain without any frosting at all!

One Review

You must be logged in to post a review.

Profile photo of kaila lief

kaila lief on 6.19.2011

we love them! and as soon as we figure out how to keep them from deflating, we will be making them to share with friends :o)

Related Recipes

Cannoli Cupcakes
Profile Photo by Krystle in Desserts
Rich vanilla cupcakes topped with cannoli cream and chocolate coffee frosting....
0.00 Mitt(s) 0 Rating(s)0 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 5

Prep: Cook:

Serves: 24 Level: Intermediate


Pumpkin Cupcakes
Profile Photo by Beth Pierce in Desserts
These scrumptious and adorable moist cinnamon pumpkin cupcakes are topped with...
0.00 Mitt(s) 0 Rating(s)0 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 5

Prep: Cook:

Serves: 12 Level: Easy


No-Bake Peanut Butter Cups
Profile Photo by AD Kitchen in Desserts
A perfect dessert for all peanut butter fans! No-Bake Peanut Butter...
0.00 Mitt(s) 0 Rating(s)0 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 5

Prep: Cook:

Serves: 12 Level: Easy


Vegan Funfetti Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Profile Photo by Green Eatalia in Desserts
You can now have your (vegan) cake and eat it too!
0.00 Mitt(s) 0 Rating(s)0 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 5

Prep: Cook:

Serves: 12 Level: Intermediate


Lemon Cupcakes with Blackberry Buttercream
Profile Photo by Amy McCauley in Desserts
This featherlight lemon cake is not your ordinary sponge cake. Topped...
0.00 Mitt(s) 0 Rating(s)0 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 50 votes, average: 0.00 out of 5

Prep: Cook:

Serves: 12 Level: Easy