Mini Chocolate Chip Gingerbread Cupcakes With Molasses Buttercream

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups (about 10 5/8 oz.) all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup chopped crystallized ginger
• ¾ tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. table salt
• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup hot strong-brewed coffee
• 1/3 cup unsulphured molasses
• 1 cup (6 oz.) Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips (from 1 [12-oz.] pkg.)
• 48 miniature paper baking cups
• Cooking spray
• 3/4 cup (6 oz.) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ Tbsp. unsulphured molasses
• 1/8 tsp. table salt
• 4 ½ cups (about 18 oz.) powdered sugar
• 3 to 4 Tbsp. whole milk
• GARNISH: Finely chopped crystallized ginger