Thursday 13 June 2013

Peppermint Crisp Cupcakes




As a kid did you ever suck milk through a peppermint crisp chocolate? I remember first licking the milk chocolate off both ends of the bar and then dunking it straight into milk and using the mint as a straw. Mmm…

Although these cupcakes aren’t milky in any way, tasting them brought back memories of the dunking / sucking process.
Isn’t it wonderful how a certain smell or taste can do that?

These cupcakes are delectably moist and super pepperminty.

Chocolate cupcakes - Makes 24 regular sized cupcakes or 18 BIG cupcakes.
(this recipe is my all-time favourite go to for the moistest, tastiest chocolate cupcakes – original here)

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (best quality available)
1 cup boiling water

Directions

  • Line muffin tin with paper liners.  Heat oven to 180C
  • In a large mixing bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla.  Beat on medium speed for one minute.
  • Stir in boiling water (the batter will be thin, don’t worry, this is right).
  • Fill liners 2/3 full with batter.  (I usually put the batter into a large measuring cup with a pour spout, and then pour the batter into the liners.)
  • Bake cupcakes for approximately 18-22 minutes.
  • Cool completely on wire rack before frosting.


Choc Mint Frosting

Ingredients

3/4 cup unsalted butter
½ cup cream cheese
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons pure peppermint extract
1-2 drops green food coloring

85g semi sweet chocolate, grated

Directions


  • Grate the chocolate and set aside (I would not recommend chocolate chips, as they will be a bit too chunky).  
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter until smooth.
  • Add cream cheese, and continue to beat until smooth and fully incorporated.
  • Begin adding powdered sugar, one cup at a time (while mixing). 
  • Continue mixing, and add vanilla and 1 teaspoon of mint extract.  Once incorporated, stop mixer and taste frosting for minty-ness.  Decide if you’d like to add an additional 1/2 teaspoon mint.
  • Add 1 or 2 drops of green food coloring and blend until fully incorporated.
  • Add most of the chopped chocolate, reserving about 1/3 of it for garnish.  Beat just until incorporated.
  • I originally tried to pipe the icing onto my cupcakes but because of the chocolate bits my piping tip kept getting jammed. (I actually exploded an old piping bag as I tried to just squeeze through the blockage, which resulted in the icing exploding – literally – out through the bag seams. A very tasty mess all over my hands and counter!)
  • Ice the cupcakes (you choose your method – you’ve been warned) and sprinkle with chocolate bits. Enjoy!


8 comments:

  1. wow this looks beyond delicious!

    xx Kate

    The Style
    Department

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  2. Thanks Kate. They really were very tasty even if I say so myself. I was way happy with the result.
    xx

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  3. These cupcakes look absolutely divine! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe :)
    xox,
    Cee
    www.cocoandvera.com

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  4. My pleasure Cee! If you give them a try do let me know how you like them!
    xx

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  5. Thanks Kierra! Choc and mint is a great tasting combo!
    xx

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  6. My stomach actually did a little OMG-i-want-those-NOW squeeze when I saw this! I love peppermint flavoured stuff. Probably gonna have to feed my face with these soon :)

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  7. Hi Love these choc cupcake. Do you have a similar cupcake recipe but for vanilla cupcakes? But also be so moist? Please thank you

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