Christmas Cupkins Link Party: Gingerbread Cupcake House and More Cupcakes

I couldn't wait to host this months Cupkins link party. I just love holiday baking! Normally Cupkins is a collaboration between Joanne at Ready, Set, Craft and myself. But as some of you may know, Joanne has a lot on her plate right now including starting a new job so she's is taking some time away from blogging and I'm flying solo this month.

I love gingerbread and new that I wanted to do something with it for this month's Christmas theme. Instead of gingerbread cookies... how about gingerbread cupcakes, three different ways. Traditional cupcakes, gingerbread men, and a cupcake house!

I don't know about you but I've made gingerbread from scratch before and it wasn't particularly fun. So this time I used a a boxed mix.

For the gingerbread men I used a shaped silicone cupcake pan. Then decorated them with icing and little cinnamon candies.

Then I also made some traditionally shaped cupcakes, with piped icing and a sprinkle of nutmeg.

To finish them off I made a gingerbread man topper from fondant. I cut out and formed this little guy then stuck him on a toothpick and into the cake.

And last but not least, since I love gingerbread houses but hate the hard disappointing cookies that come in those kits. I used a "giant cupcake" pan to make a gingerbread cupcake house.

I covered the entire cupcake with frosting and brown fondant.

Then decorated it with icing, candy, and confectioners sugar (for that fresh fallen snow look).

A sliced gumdrop walkway, some landscaping and a little gingerbread boy complete picture.

The great things about doing a gingerbread house this way is the cake stays nice and soft for a few days (so it's actually edible, not just decorative) and you don't have the construction issues that usually accompany trying build a traditional gingerbread house.

2 packages of cake mix got me 6 gingerbread men 6 traditional cupcakes (medium sized) and the cupcake house. If I did it again I'd use another box and fill the giant cupcake pan more. The fill line imprinted on the pan left too much unused room, the cake could have been bigger.

I'd love to see your Christmas Cupcake or Muffin Ideas- so share your link below! Happy Holidays!