#27 Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

Peppermint!!!! I just cant get enough of it. I've made marshmallows, bark, and of course cupcakes with this flavor. I found the loveliest cupcakes in my mom's Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Baking issue. These cupcakes had frosting in the middle and on top. They were rolled in crushed candy cane and sprinkles. The only part I didn't like was cutting the cupcake in half. So I decided to just fill the centers with frosting instead. I already had a bag of  crushed candy canes so the decorative part was taken care of.

Chocolate Cupcakes

I went with my all time favorite chocolate recipe by Martha Stewart which I used when making my marshmallow turkeys. If you've got another recipe in mind then use what you like. I also added a tablespoon of black cocoa powder that I bought on the King Arthur Flour website. This gives the cupcake a really rich chocolate flavor and makes the cupcakes really dark in color which is a nice contrast with the frosting.

Peppermint Buttercream
This should put you in a peppermint coma for sure ;)

The Goods
2sticks butter room temp
5cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons peppermint extract

The How To
Beat butter on medium speed until fluffy 2-3mins. Change to a slower speed and gradually add 2 cups of powdered sugar., beating well. Beat in milk and peppermint. Gradually beat in the last 3 cups of sugar until smooth. If necessary, beat in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, to make it spreading consistency.

Now fill centers and tops with frosting. You can now roll the edges in candy or sprinkles.

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