I admit it, every now and then it’s nice to take a break from chocolate. It’s also a good idea to have alternatives to chocolate since there are folks who either don’t care for it (I know!) or are allergic to it. These Cinnamon Swirl cupcakes from Your Cup of Cake remind me of a breakfast cake. Only better because these have a Cinnamon Buttercream frosting!
Cinnamon Swirl Cupcakes
Cakes:
French Vanilla or Vanilla Cake Mix
3 eggs
½ cup oil
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 tablespoons white sugar
½ tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
butter
cinnamon sugar
Cinnamon Buttercream:
8 ounces cream cheese
½ cup butter
4 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons milk (if needed)
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
Cinnamon sugar to decorate
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin tins with cupcake liners (about 24).
2. In a large bowl, mix oil, eggs, vanilla and almond together.
3. Sift (for easy mixing) in about ½ of the of the cake mix and stir only until combined.
4. Add buttermilk and sour cream.
5. Sift in the last half of the cake mix and fill cupcake liners ¼ full.
6. Combine sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and sprinkle generously over batter.
7. Fill liners again over the cinnamon mixture with batter until ¾ full.
8. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.
9. For an extra crunch, run a stick of butter over the rim of each hot cupcake when it comes out of the oven and then roll in cinnamon sugar.
10.Cinnamon Buttercream: Beat cream cheese and butter for 2 minutes. Then add powdered sugar, milk, cinnamon and vanilla. Let beat for 3-5 minutes. If too stiff—add more milk. If too thin—add more powdered sugar.
11. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes and sprinkle cinnamon sugar to top.