Chai And Honey Cupcakes

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 3 chai-spice tea bags
• 2/3 cup boiling water
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup honey
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• honey, to drizzle (or honeycomb, cut into 1-inch pieces, for garnish)
• 1 cup cold heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons honey

Recipe

• 1 position oven rack in the middle of oven; preheat to 350°; line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper or foil liners.
• 2 in a small bowl, steep the tea bags in the boiling water for 5 minutes.
• 3 discard tea bags and let the tea cool to room temperature.
• 4 in a bowl, whisk the flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt together.
• 5 in a big bowl, combine the honey, melted butter, buttermilk, and egg.
• 6 add the flour mixture and, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat until just combined, about 2 minutes.
• 7 add in the cooled tea and beat until just combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• 8 divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full.
• 9 bake about 18-20 minutes, until a pick comes out clean.
• 10 let the cupcakes cook in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
• 11 transfer the cupcakes to the wire rack and let cool completely, about 1 hour (the unfrosted cupcakes can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days; bring to room temperature before frosting and garnishing).
• 12 just before ready to serve, make the honey whipped cream--in a chilled bowl, combine the cream and honey; using an electric mixer on low speed, beat until slightly thickened, 1-2 minutes.
• 13 gradually increase speed to medium-high and continue to beat until the cream holds soft peaks, 2-3 minutes; use right away.
• 14 frost the cupcakes with the honey cream, garnish with the honeycomb pieces, if using; serve right away.
• 15 *if not using the honeycomb, can drizzle with additional honey just before serving.