Recipe

2 Holiday Peppermint Cupcake Recipes

By Roann Pao at University of California – Berkeley

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it’s all about peppermint. Thank you, December, for bringing us the wonders of Starbucks’ Peppermint Latté, Chik Fil A’s Peppermint Milkshake, Ghirardelli’s Peppermint Bark and countless other peppermint-flavored pastries. Here are two easy and delicious peppermint cupcake recipes to try.

Candy Cane Kiss Peppermint Cupcake Brownies

Prep time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 28 minutes
Cooling time: 15 minutes
Total time: 58 minutes

Servings: 24 cupcake brownies

Ingredients:
1 box brownie mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
3 tablespoons water
1 bag Hershey’s peppermint candy cane kisses
¼ cup chocolate chips (optional), plus extra for frosting
3 candy canes for decorating

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Pour brownie mix into a bowl.

2. Add oil, water and eggs.

3. Mix until smooth.

4. Add chocolate chips (optional).

5. Line cupcake pan with cupcake liners.

6. Pour brownie batter into cupcake holder.

7. Press candy cane kiss in center of each cupcake. TIP: Be careful not to push all the way down. Leave the tip of the Hershey’s kiss visible.

8. Bake for 28 minutes at 350°F. Remove cupcake brownies from oven and let cool for 15 minutes.

9. Crush candy canes into small chunks and set aside in a bowl

10. Microwave chocolate chips in a small bowl until they melt. Dip each cupcake bownie into melted chips.

11. Dip each cupcake brownie into bowl of crushed candy canes.

Ta-da: the most festive cupcake brownie you’ve ever seen!

Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

Prep time: 20 minutes
Baking time: 18 minutes
Cooling time: 15 minutes
Total time: 43 minutes

Servings: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 box chocolate cake mix
3 eggs
1 cup water
1/3 cup oil
6 ounces cream cheese
2 candy canes, crushed and/or 1 bag Hershey’s peppermint candy cane kisses (optional)
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups powdered sugar
½ cup butter

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Pour chocolate cake mix into a bowl.

2. Add water, oil and eggs.

3. Mix until smooth.

4. Line cupcake pan with cupcake liners.

5. Pour batter into cupcake pan.

6. Bake for 18 minutes at 350°F.

7. To make the icing, place butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl.

8. Blend together on medium speed.

9. Gradually, add powdered sugar and blend on low speed.

10. Add milk, peppermint extract and vanilla extract. Mix everything together until smooth and fluffy.

11. Cut a triangle out of the corner of a Ziploc bag to make icing pipe.

12. Scoop icing into pipe and ice cupcakes.

13. Sprinkle crushed peppermint on top or place a Hershey’s kiss in the center to decorate cupcakes.

Now, it’s time to bring these fun and festive cupcakes to your next Holiday Party!