Cinnabon Cupcakes

I entered these cupcakes in my county fair and got an honorable mention in 2011! This cupcake is one of my all time favorites! They are adapted from a recipe I found online years ago (sorry I dont remember the original source)

For the cupcakes:
1 1/2 sticks salted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups of all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3 eggs & 1 egg white
3/4 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla extract

Cinnamon Mixture: 4 tb granulated sugar, 3 tsp cinnamon, 2 tb cold butter. Mix with a fork until you make a crumby, coarse mixture. Try not to let it sit out too long or it will get soft and hard to work with.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. In another bowl combine eggs, milk, and vanilla then mix with a fork or egg beater.
Once butter & sugar is mixed completely add 1/3 of the flour mixture. Add 1/2 the wet ingredients. Alternate twice until everything is incorporated
Line cupcake pan with liners and fill 2/3 full with batter. Take the cinnamon mixture and sprinkle pieces on top of the batter. It will sink some during baking to go throughout the cupcake. Bake at 350 degrees until done, when a toothpick inserted comes out clean. This usually takes about 18-20 minutes in my oven.

For the frosting: (This frosting can be a little soft and is made to frost on the cupcake. I sometimes add either excess powdered sugar or a little bit of hi-ratio shortening to thicken it up so I can be piped on the cupcake when needed)
6oz. of cream cheese
1 stick salted butter at room temperature
4-5 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 tb milk

Beat the cream cheese and butter together until thoroughly mixed. Slowly add powdered sugar in small batches and mix well between each addition. After all powdered sugar is added, add the milk and mix. Beat on high for about 5 minutes to make light and fluffy. Add vanilla and lemon juice and mix for another couple minutes.

After cupcakes are cooled, frost or pipe and then sprinkle a little bit of cinnamon on top.

These are some of the Cinnabon cupcakes with toppers from Two Sugar Babies from my sister in laws baby shower a couple years ago.

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