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Friday, December 17, 2010

Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes



This week my husband asked if I could make some Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes for him to bring into work.   My husband's co-workers are often the recipients of my baking trials and triumphs, and always seem more than happy to eat my "experiments".   My husband doesn't often put in special requests, so I was glad to cater to him and sent him to work today with a dozen Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes.  My husband's work shift starts at 6am and he called me later in the morning to let me know the cupcake were gone by about 6:10am!  I guess that means they liked them  =)


The recipe is just a tiny variation of the Chocolate Cupcake and Cream Cheese Frosting recipes I've posted before, but I'll add them here to save you a couple clicks. 

Perfect Chocolate Cupcakes
(makes 24-27 standard sized cupcakes)

2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa (best quality available)
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 350*F.
*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 22-24 minutes.
*Cool completely on wire rack before frosting.

Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup (1 stick, 8 Tablespoons) butter, at room temperature
6 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature (about 3/4 of a regular block of cream cheese)
4 cups powdered confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 to 3 Tablespoons heavy cream, heavy whipping cream (or milk- although I do like the richness that cream adds)

~ Directions ~
*Place butter in a large mixing bowl and blend slightly. Add cream cheese and blend until combined, about 30 seconds.
*Add powdered sugar (a little at a time) and blend on low speed until combined. Increase to medium speed and beat until it begins to get fluffy.
*Add vanilla and peppermint extracts
*Slowly add the heavy cream, a little bit at a time until desired consistency is met. (Don't add too much if you want the frosting to stay in place when piped on cupcakes.)
*Beat until fluffy, about 1 minute.
*Use at once or keep refrigerated. (This frosting will keep well in the refrigerator for several days, but you may need to re-beat it for the best texture.)

To achieve the red stripe in the frosting:  Before filling a large piping bag with frosting, add some red gel food coloring to a toothpick, and draw two (vertical) lines with the red dye on the inside of the piping bag. Then carefully fill the piping bag with frosting.  Squeeze some frosting into a bowl until you begin to see the red stripe, then frost the cupcakes. 

Top cupcakes with some crushed candy canes (they will "melt" after a bit, so they need to be served right away) or a small piece of peppermint bark (I used a little peppermint Andes candy).


Bring some of these into work, or send them in with your spouse, and see how popular you quickly become! 

Happy Baking!

40 comments:

  1. These are so pretty! Funny - my husband never makes any special requests and normally takes what he can get but just today I received a, "Can you make me a dozen vegan cupcakes for an office potluck?"

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  2. These are so pretty! My mouth is watering just looking at them!

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  3. Why can't you be my neighbor? WHY! Oh the things we'd make (well, the cookies I would make to match the THINGS YOO WOULD MAKE, LOL!)

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  4. sigh...can I come vacation in your kitchen????

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  5. Absolutely love them. And I needed something to take to my sons next week. If I can only do them justice. Thanks

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  6. it looks so yummy !

    I tried the chocolate cupcake recipe and its nice. thanks

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  7. Just lovely, thank you for sharing I especially love the striping effect on the frosting, just like a peppermint candy!

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  8. No wonder they went fast - they look delicious!! He has good taste.

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  9. They look gorgeous and delicious - but 6am??? I guess they know Glorious Treats don't sit around very long. :) Way to go yet again!

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  10. So yummy!! Thanks for sharing! I'll try to make them this week!!

    Besos

    Victoria
    http://victoriascakes.blogspot.com

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  11. These look awesome! Thanks for the tip on the striped frosting!

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  12. These sound so yummy. Your frosting looks exactly like a candy cane.

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  13. I have to try this recipe! I love chocolate and peppermint! Yum!
    Love, Cecilia

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  14. Hi there! Just wanted to let you know that I just made these for Christmas Eve dinner! They turned out so cute and everyone loved them!

    Thanks for sharing!

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  15. Love the swirl! My kids will enjoy making this one since it's their first time to make a swirly cupcakes. LOL.

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  16. Wow! they look delicious!
    I'm definitely gonna try your recipe!

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  17. I love the combination of chocolate and peppermint. It always feel like heaven to me!

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  18. Where does your husband work? I'll try to apply for a job there!

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  19. Wow Those look amazing! Last Holiday season i tried to master a peppermint chocolate martini... but this looks even better. I am bookmarking this and linking to your page - can't wait to try!

    www.nwstamper.blogspot.com

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  20. I made these and they didn't bake well at all - sunk in the middle - followed the recipe to the letter.

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  21. The reason cupcakes sink in the middle is caused by overfilling. If there is too much batter, the cupcakes rise over the top but as there is no support, they collapse onto themselves. Next time, fill your liners only 1/2 full.

    That frosting looks incredible! I'm definitely giving it a go this weekend, thanks for the inspiration :)

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  22. i made these (well, i used my own choc. cupcake recipe, but your frosting recipe) for someone this week and they loved them! thnx!! :)

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  23. These are beautiful! Do you use liquid red food colouring or food colouring gel?

    Thanks!

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  24. Beautiful cupcakes. What does adding boiling water do versus room temperature water?

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  25. Have you ever added peppermint extract instead of vanilla extract to your chocolate cupcake recipe - to make the cupcake peppermint flavored? If so, did it work? Or what are you thoughts about trying it?

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  26. Those cupcakes look soooo cool & are very cute. Can't wait to try them out!

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  27. These are stunning!I want to bring a tray of peppermint cupcakes to a party and needed to know how to do the swirl look. So glad you shared the instructions. About how much red gel? TY!

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  28. Thanks, making these for my sons birthday tomorrow -- I know he is going to love it!! He is crazy for anything peppermint

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  29. Yum! That's the same chocolate cake recipe I use - It never fails!

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  30. Love these! I was planning on making peppermint cupcakes for Christmas. I think this recipe is the winner!!

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  31. Just made these tonight for work tomorrow and they are absolutely AMAZING!

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  32. I am a baking disaster waiting to happen. But these were perfect. They came out just right which rarely happens w/a new baking recipe. I will probably make them WAY TOO MUCH now.

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  33. I made your recipe for the Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes and was very dubious about the boiling water, but as you said, they turned out great! I added a peppermint patty to the batter and then pushed one into the icing. Thank you for sharing your recipe. Loved it!

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  34. I saw these on Pinterest and made them yesterday. They turned out perfectly, though I was a little over-zealous with the frosting and only had enough for 20 cupcakes. They were some of the most moist, delicious cupcakes I've had!

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  35. I was wondering...what do you think they would taste like if I substituted the vanilla extract in the batter for peppermint extract?? Would it be too much??

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  36. Any idea if these would require any changes for "high altitude"...I'm in Utah and it seems hit or miss with cupcake recipes!

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  37. Cooking a vegan version right now, will let you know how they turn out!

    Http://www.happykidsinc.blogspot.com

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  38. I made the peppermint icing tonight! It was awesome! I was concerned that the peppermint flavor would be overwhelming, since I like peppermint but don't love it, but it had just the right amount of peppermint flavor to it.

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