Peppermint Cupcake

I love the Holiday's and nothing says its almost Christmas than peppermint ice cream, white chocolate covered Oreo's, and egg nog. My favorite holiday treat is peppermint bark, so i thought i would make a cupcake inspired by it. This is just a simple chocolate cake with a mint frosting. The frosting has the perfect minty taste, not over powering. I think this would taste even better with semisweet curls on top. I tried making the frosting look like swirls of a candy cane, but yeah, as you can tell it just turned pink. I think next time i try swirling it, i would drop the color in the bag instead of mixing it in a bowl. The color gets to mixed in and muddy.

As of right now this is my favorite chocolate cupcake recipe, its super moist and has a great flavor. I would only fill the batter half way in the liner, these puppies got huge in the oven.

Chocolate Cupcake

• 8 ounces sour cream
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup strong brewed coffee
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour into cupcake liners about 2/3 full. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks.

Peppermint Icing

• 8 tablespoons of butter (1stick) room temperature
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract

 Mix everything together until smooth.

Cookies 'n Cream Cupcake

I love cookies and cream ice cream, so i knew i had to try this recipe when i saw it. Even if you're just a fan of Oreo's I'm sure you'll love these too. I think kids would love these also, their favorite things together; cookies and cupcakes! The recipe is a basic vanilla cake with crushed Oreo's mixed in and a vanilla buttercream. With holidays around the corner, i promise to make more holiday themed treats! Or you could also try using the Holiday Oreo's (the red ones) and make this recipe...

Cookies 'n Cream Cupcake

• 1 3/4 cups cake flour, not self-rising
• 1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes (room temp)
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 pack of Oreos

Preheat oven to 325°. Line cupcake pans with paper liners, twist oreos apart and put frosted side in the paper liner; set aside. Empty the pack of oreos in a bowl or bag and crush the life out of them. I put them in a bowl and used a potato masher and mashed the crap out of them. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt; mix on low speed until combined. Add butter, mixing until just coated with flour.

In a large glass measuring cup, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla. With mixer on medium speed, add wet ingredients in 3 parts, scraping down sides of bowl before each addition; beat until ingredients are incorporated but do not overbeat. Add about half of crushed oreos.

Divide batter evenly among liners, filling about two-thirds full.

Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 17 to 20 minutes.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.Makes about 30 cupcakes

Vanilla Buttercream

• 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream (i need about 3)

Mix together sugar and butter, preferably in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Start on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.

Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.

I piped on the icing, which was hard, the icing was a little stiff. I used the left over oreo crumbs and sprinkled it on top of the icing.