Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

My sister made these chocolate peppermint cupcakes in a mini version for a baby shower this past weekend and I fell in love. I'm not really one to go gaga over minty flavored desserts or candy but there is just something about the intense chocolate of this cake recipe paired up with the cool, crunch of the peppermint that just sends me over the edge.

I just couldn't stop eating these things. The fact that this recipe uses cool whip instead of frosting makes it even easier to down one after the other.  She got the recipe from a Kraft magazine but I replaced the box cake with a scrumptious, moist homemade devils food cake and it made a perfect recipe even better in my opinion.

These chocolate peppermint cupcakes looks so festive around Christmas time, like something straight from a professional bakery. I think these would be great to take into work as a lil treat for the co-workers (if they deserve it) or to a school Christmas party.

They are easy, quick, festive and best of all, a great pairing of flavors and textures.

Watch me make these Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes from start to finish!

Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup hot coffee

1 cup milk

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla
8 oz cool whip

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (plus more for melting and drizzling over cool whip

6-7 candy canes, crushed


Preheat oven to 325. Bake cupcakes for 15-20 minutes. Do Not Overbake. The center of cupcakes will spring back when touched when they are done.

Notes:
Crush the candy canes into bits. If you leave them in large chunks they will sink to the bottom of the cupcake while baking and make the bottom of the cupcakes stick to the paper. The candy canes will melt while baking


The cupcakes will not have a coffee taste. The coffee just kicks up the flavor of the chocolate. I always add coffee to my baked chocolate desserts to enhance the chocolate flavor. Yum!


Wanna Use A Boxed Cake Instead? Follow this recipe for super moist results:

1 pkg. devils food cake mix

1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding

1 cup Sour Cream

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup  water

4 eggs