Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 6 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • a pinch freshly grated nutmeg
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg, beaten lightly
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1/4 cup (2 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup or honey

Method

  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • and line six 1/2-cup muffin tins with paper liners.
  • In a small heatproof bowl cover cranberries with boiling water and soak 5 minutes.
  • While cranberries are soaking, into a bowl sift together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch salt.
  • In another bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy and beat in egg, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition.
  • Beat in vanilla.
  • Stir in flour mixture and milk alternately in several batches, beginning and ending with flour and stirring until smooth
  • after each addition.
  • Drain cranberries and pat dry.
  • Chop cranberries fine and stir into batter.
  • Divide batter among muffin tins and bake in middle of oven until a tester comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
  • In a bowl beat together frosting ingredients until smooth and chill.
  • Turn cupcakes onto a rack and cool 10 minutes.
  • Spread cupcakes with frosting.