Spice Cupcakes with Sugared Cranberries

Ingredients
For Sugared Cranberries:
24 Cranberries
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water

For Cupcakes:
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup boiling water
1 large egg

Directions:

  1. Make the sugared cranberries: Put the cranberries in a medium bowl. Bring 1/2 cup sugar and water to a simmer in a small sauce pan over medium-high heat; cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Pour over cranberries and set aside for 1 hour. Drain the cranberries, then toss with the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Spread the cranberries and sugar on a baking sheet and set aside to dry for 2 to 3 hours, rolling occasionally in the sugar.
  2. Meanwhile, make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350. Line a 12 cup muffin pan with liners. Whisk flour, cocoa, allspice, cloves, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the molasses, sugar, oil and vanilla in a large bowl or with the whisk attachment on your mixer. Dissolve the baking soda in the boiling water in a liquid measuring cup and then whisk into the molasses mixture. Whisk in the flour mixture, then the egg until combined.
  3. Divide batter among the prepared muffin cups, filling each to about 2/3 full. Bake until the tops spring back when gently pressed, about 22 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes in pans and then remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack.
  4. Frost with favorite icing and decorate with cranberries.