Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

It's beginning to taste a lot like Christmas...

the combination of chocolate and peppermint always makes me think of the holidays.

This recipe for Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes will put you in a festive mood!

It combines chocolate peppermint cake, peppermint buttercream frosting,
chocolate ganache and crushed peppermint candies.

They would be great for neighbor gifts and Christmas parties!

Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

by Bird On A Cake

Ingredients

Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

1 cup boiling water
2 cups granulated sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk (OR 1 tablespoon vinegar mixed with 1 cup milk)
1/2 cup oil
2 teaspoons peppermint extract

Peppermint Buttercream Frosting

1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
6 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons peppermint extract
approx. 1/4 cup milk

Chocolate Ganache

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners. Bring some water to a boil and keep it simmering while you mix the other ingredients.

In a large mixing bowl whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil and peppermint. Beat with electric mixer until well combined.

Add 1 cup of the boiling water and carefully stir until it is mixed in. Beat for 1 1/2 minutes with mixer. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full with batter. Bake for 18-20 minutes (until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean).

Peppermint Buttercream Frosting

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter with electric mixer for 1 minute. Alternate adding confectioners' sugar and milk; mixing on low speed. Mix in peppermint extract. Keep covered.

Chocolate Ganache

Heat cream in microwave for one minute. Add chocolate chips to the cream. Let stand for 1 or 2 minutes, then slowly stir the mixture. Continue to stir until all the chips have completely melted. Stir in the vanilla.

Drizzle ganache over frosted cupcakes and sprinkle with crushed peppermints.