Spice Cupcakes

From The Southern Heritage Celebrations Cookbook.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Yields: 2 dozen

Ingredients

• 1  cup butter, softened
• 1 1⁄4 cups  firmly packed brown sugar
• 2  eggs
• 2 1⁄3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon ground ginger
• 1⁄2 teaspoon allspice
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1  cup milk

• lemon frosting

• 1⁄4 cup butter, plus
• 2  tablespoons butter, softened
• 3 1⁄4 cups  sifted powdered sugar, divided
• 1⁄4 cup lemon juice
• 6  drops  yellow food coloring
• 1 -2  tablespoon  grated lemon rind

Directions

1. Cream butter; gradually add sugar, beating well.
2. Add eggs, beat well.
3. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
4. Spoon batter into greased muffin pans.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
6. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
7. For lemon frosting, cream butter; add 1 cup sugar, beating well at medium speed of electric mixer.
8. Add remaining sugar alternately with lemon juice, beating until smooth enough to spread.
9. Stir in food coloring.
10. Frost cupcakes with frosting, and sprinkle with grated lemon zest.