North Pole Cupcakes
Makes 12 jumbo or 24 standard cupcakes
Ingredients
Mint Chocolate Cupcakes
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3 oz semisweet chocolate (pieces or chips), melted & cooled slightly
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1½ cups whole milk, room temperature
- 2 tbsp peppermint extract
Candy Cane - Oreo Frosting
- 8 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
- 8 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 sleeves Oreos (about ⅔ package)
- ¼ cup crushed candy canes
Garnish
- 1 lb white chocolate (pieces or chips), melted
- mini candy canes
Special Equipment
- stand mixer with paddle attachment
- 12 (jumbo) or 24 (standard) cup muffin tin
- cupcake liners
- cooling rack
How-to
Make Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350º
- Prepare muffin tins with paper liners. The batter makes 12 jumbo or 24 standard cupcakes
- Add all dry ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer and allow to process on low to sift ingredients, about 2 minutes
- Add butter and mix on low until it starts to incorporate with the flour
- Slowly drizzle in chocolate while mixing on medium speed. Allow to mix and combine, about 2 minutes
- Add eggs, 1 at a time, then milk and peppermint extract. Mix on medium speed about 1 minute
- Divide batter between cups of muffin tin, two-thirds to three-quarters full – however, this cake doesn’t rise an extraordinary amount, and you don’t need to worry about over-filling
- Bake 15 minutes for regular-sized cakes or 20-22 minutes for jumbo cupcakes
- Allow to cool completely
Add Chocolate
- Dip the top of each cupcake in melted white chocolate Allow chocolate to set 5-10 minutes before applying frosting (you can speed up this process by briefly refrigerating them)
Make Frosting & Decorate
- Cream butter in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed until fluffy
- Reduce speed to low. Add powdered sugar, a little bit at a time until incorporated
- Add vanilla and heavy cream. Mix until combined
- Add Oreos, a few at a time, and mix until broken into pieces, but still fairly chunky
- Mix in candy cane pieces
- Dollop a large spoonful of frosting atop each chocolate-dipped cupcake. Top with mini candy canes or other festive candy toppings