chocolate peppermint cupcakes.

I guess we have officially entered the holiday season! While most people are going crazy over the pumpkin spice lattes, my go-to holiday flavors are chocolate and mint. I've always put mint in my hot chocolate and I will be ordering peppermint mocha's for many more months to come.I find the flavor combination so festive and decadent I put them in a cupcake!

I cheated a little bit with these and used boxed cake mix, but the shining star of these little cakes is the peppermint icing. Soft chocolate cupcakes topped with cool peppermint frosting are a perfect sweet treat for this time of year.

If you want to make your cupcakes from scratch I recommend these from Joy the Baker. They are so freaking soft…I think I even made a comment about wanting a mattress made out of those cupcakes once. I still stand by that statement.

Peppermint Buttercream

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3-4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
splash of milk or cream, if needed

In the bowl of a stand mixer cream together softened butter and cream cheese. 

Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time with mixer on low speed. When the sugar is incorporated mix on high for a minute or two.

Add in the peppermint extract and mix until combined.

If your frosting is too thick add in a splash of milk until it's creamy. 

Pipe onto your cooled cupcakes, top with crushed candy canes and chocolate syrup.