Gluten Free Vanilla Chai Cupcakes with a Honey Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Today is my dear friend Sarah's birthday. Well actually it is not really her birthday, her birthday is at the end of the month. Today for all purposes is the day we celebrate her birthday. Sarah is loads of fun and she loves tea. My friend Marissa is going to be giving Sarah fun and tasty teas and a cute teapot. To go with Marissa's theme I decided to make Vanilla Chai cupcakes. That seems like they would go with the tea theme pretty well. Here is the list of things you need for this recipe.

Ingredients for the cupcakes:

• 1 and 1/3 C of milk
• 6 chai tea bags, I used Stash Chai Tea
• 4 whole eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 tsp of pure vanilla extract
• 3 and 1/2 C of GF All purpose flour ( I used Bob's Red Mill)
• 1 tsp of xantham gum
• 2 cups of sugar
• 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp of baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 C (2 sticks) of unsalted butter at room temp.

• Preheat the oven to 350 Degrees F.

Place cupcake liners in a 12 - cupcake baking pan.

In a small saucepan bring the milk to a simmer over low med-low heat. Add the tea bags, careful not to let the paper tag fall into the milk. Remove from heat and allow the tea to steep for 5 minutes. Remove the teabags and squeeze out the milk. Let the chai milk cool completely.

In a medium bowl mix the eggs, egg yolks, vanilla, and 1/3 cup of the chai milk. Whisk together.

Combine the flour, xantham gum, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cardamom, and salt in the bowl of a mixer. Beat on low for 30 seconds.

Add the butter and the remaining chai milk, on med-low speed.

Raise the speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy. Add the egg mixture in three additions scraping the between additions.

Pour into the prepared cupcake pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes depending on your oven. I had to go the full 20 minutes when I made mine.

Ingredients for Honey Buttercream Frosting;

• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 to 2 tbsp whipping cream
• 1 tsp of honey

Directions

In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.

Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.

Bon Appetit.