Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes Food

PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cupcake or muffin pan with 24 regular-size cupcake liners.
• Combine the chocolate chips and hot coffee together, stirring occasionally until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. In a large bowl sift together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat the eggs with an electric mixer until thickened slightly. Slowly add the buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Add the melted chocolate mixture to the eggs, and combine completely. Add the sugar mixture and beat on medium speed until well combined.
• Fill the prepared cupcake liners three-quarters full with the cupcake batter. Place in the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 18 to 21 minutes. Cool the cupcakes completely.
• While the cupcakes are baking, prepare the Chocolate Ganache and the Peppermint Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting. Put the frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip.
• To assemble: Using an apple corer, remove the center of each cupcake. Fill each cupcake with a spoonful of the Chocolate Ganache. Using the frosting-filled pastry bag, frost the cupcakes. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies.
• Bring the heavy cream and butter to a simmer in a small saucepan. Turn off the heat and add in the chocolate. Stir the mixture until smooth. Set aside to cool.
• Whip together the butter and marshmallow cream, using an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Add the peppermint extract. Slowly add 2 cups of the powdered sugar and continue to mix on a slow speed. Add the milk and additional powdered sugar, up to 2 cups, until desired consistency is reached.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MINT CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.
• Whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Make a well in the center. Add the buttermilk, oil, 1 teaspoon peppermint extract and the eggs to the well and whisk together until there are just a few streaks remaining. Add the chocolate chips and fold them into the batter with a rubber spatula until just combined.
• Using an ice cream scoop, fill each cupcake liner about halfway to two-thirds full with batter. Bake until set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few a crumbs, about 25 minutes. Allow to cool completely in the pan.
• Meanwhile, place the frosting in a medium bowl. Fold in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract, then add the broken candy and fold together using a rubber spatula. Place a dollop of frosting on top of each cupcake and use an offset spatula to spread. Dust the tops with red sprinkles, if using.

PEPPERMINT MOCHA CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 cupcake pans with paper liners.
• Mix espresso powder and hot water in a measuring cup until powder is dissolved. Set aside.
• Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl until well combined.
• Cream butter, brown sugar, and white sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in egg until thoroughly combined. Mix in espresso mixture, vanilla, and peppermint extract. Add in 1/3 of the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Mix in cooled coffee until just combined. Stir in another 1/3 of the dry ingredients until just combined. Mix in buttermilk until just combined. Stir in remaining dry ingredients until just combined. Do not overmix. Fold in chocolate chips.
• Spoon batter into the prepared cups, filling each line just over 1/2 full.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cupcakes spring back lightly when touched, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool a few minutes in the pan before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

CHOCOLATE-PEPPERMINT CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.
• Stir cocoa, all-purpose flour, cake flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together in a large bowl.
• Beat sugar and butter together in a separate bowl until light and fluffy. Slowly beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in vanilla and peppermint extracts. Stir in dry ingredients until well mixed. Add buttermilk and stir just until moistened.
• Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cupcakes spring back when lightly touched, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

PEPPERMINT CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Place the candy canes in a food processor or blender and grind to a fine powder.
• Line two muffin pans (12 cups each) with cupcake liners and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Blend dry cake mix, water, oil, eggs, and peppermint extract in a mixing bowl at low speed for 30 seconds, beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Fold in 1/4 cup of the candy cane powder, reserving the rest.
• Divide batter among muffin pans and bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean after stuck into the center.
• Once cupcakes are removed from oven cool them completely.
• While cupcakes are cooling, stir remaining candy cane powder into the vanilla frosting.
• Frost cooled cupcakes and enjoy, or store in an airtight container.