Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Peppermint Chocolate Cupcakes




Welcome to Day #3 of Christmas Week, a multi-blogger event co-hosted by Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic and Jen from Juanita's Cocina! Each day we will be celebrating the holidays with a different set of Christmas-themed treats, as well as a fabulous Christmas giveaway. We hope you enjoy this fabulous event. Tune in each day starting today, Monday, December 9th and ending Saturday, December 14th.

I'm kind of weird about peppermint. It doesn't sound good to me, then I take a bite of something minty and I can't stop eating it. When I thought about what kind of Christmas cupcake to make, I wasn't so sure peppermint would be the best flavor, but it's so festive (am I right?) that I couldn't resist. Let me tell you this: BEST decision I've made all week. Maybe it's the chocolate, or maybe it's the buttercream...I dunno..but I really liked how these turned out. I think you will, too.


Peppermint Chocolate Cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients:
1 egg
2/3 c. vegetable oil

1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. buttermilk

2 c. flour
1 3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. cocoa (use the dark version, if preferred)
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. baking soda
1 c. hot coffee

Frosting Ingredients:
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 cup butter, softened 
1 cup white sugar 
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
red food coloring
crushed candy canes or peppermint baking bits for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin pans with paper liners (about 30).

Combine egg, oil, vanilla and buttermilk. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa, salt and baking soda. Combine the egg mixture and the flour mixture, mixing well. Slowly mix in hot coffee. Batter will be thin. 
Fill the muffin cups about 2/3 full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool completely.

For buttercream, whisk the flour and the milk in a small saucepan until smooth. Place over medium heat and cook until thick and bubbly, whisking the entire time. Place thickened mixture in a small bowl and cover with plastic wrap and cool to room temperature (or chill until ready to use).

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the butter and the sugar. Beat at high speed for several minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Add the cooled flour mixture and the peppermint extract. Continue to beat until the mixture is fluffy and smooth. Add a few drops of red food coloring until the color is to your liking (I went with hot pink). Fit a pastry bag with a star tip and fill with the frosting. Pipe the buttercream on each cupcake; garnish with crushed candy canes or peppermint baking bits.




I tried to do the two-toned frosting thing and eventually gave up. It looks just as pretty with one color, no?

Visit all the other Christmas Week Peeps for more Holiday Baking Goodness:
Ginger Bears by Cravings of a Lunatic
Santa’s Favorite Holiday Bark by The Weekend Gourmet
Gingerbread Linzer Cookies by Chocolate Moosey
Bourbon Barrels by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
Toasted Almond Shortbread by The Messy Baker
Midori Melon Cupcakes by Ninja Baking
Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti by Noshing With The Nolands
Wine Poached Pear and Almond Rugelach by The Little Ferraro Kitchen
Artichoke Dip Tarts by Food Lust People Love
Layered Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Peanut Brittle by Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker
Peppermint Chocolate Cupcakes by The Dutch Baker's Daughter
Chocolate Dipped Baked Potato Chips by Dizzy Busy and Hungry
Chocolate Chip Collapsidies by Try Anything Once Culinary




Today's #ChristmasWeek giveaway comes courtesy of Freund Container & Supply. Freund Container & Supply has been helping build businesses since 1938 as the largest distributor of glass bottles, containers, and wholesale packaging supplies online. Freund offers over 5,000 items in stock every day, 98% same day shipping, and low-price guarantees. Take a look at Freund’s wide selection of jars, tins, bottles and vials for all your crafting and food related needs! To enter to win one of FIVE different Freund gift certificates, read the details and use the Rafflecopter below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

***Disclaimer: This giveaway is being provided by Freund Container  Supply. #ChristmasWeek bloggers have not received product or been compensated as a part of this giveaway.***

13 comments:

  1. I crave peppermint all winter long. LOVE these!

    Happy day #3!

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  2. Can't wait to try these. The peppermint frosting looks AMAZING!

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  3. Would love to have some 4ounce canning jars for homemade lotions and butters. Also some little metal ones. And some larger jars for jams and some plastic storage containers and oh my!

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  4. Oh your cupcakes look so fresh and tempting. For a second I saw a rose, that well the icing was piped! Nice one, thanks =)

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  5. I NEED SOME NEW SPICE JARS, and some PET bottles, and some open top tins, and some steel cans!

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  6. I love peppermint and chocolate together, what a gorgeous cupcake you made!!

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  7. You can't beat the combo of peppermint and chocolate. Anytime of the year. Such pretty cupcakes!

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  8. I baked nearly the same thing this week! I didn't have any mint extract though so I had to settle for some creme de menthe for the buttercream. And then threw Andes chocolate mints on top. Yum.

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  9. Funny. I'm of the same mind set, Cathy. But the other night I had a taste of chocolate peppermint frozen yogurt and I was over the moon with delight. Your pretty cupcakes are positively picture perfect AND undoubtedly yummy!

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  10. Beautiful cupcakes, Cathy! Peppermint is always perfect for the holidays...and your cupcakes topped with the delicious mound of buttercream look irresistible!

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  11. These are so cute. I love peppermint, I love cupcakes and I love that you joined us for Christmas Week. xx

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