Mint Chocolate Cupcakes

Why I Love This Recipe
Ingredients You'll Need
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup cocoa powdered
2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
1-1/2 cups milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
Mint Buttercream
1-1/2 sticks butter, room temperature
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp peppermint extract
Directions
Beat butter until softened. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating 30 seconds after each addition.
Measure the flour, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, and espresso powder into a medium sized bowl and whisk to combine.
Measure the milk and vanilla into a measuring thing.
Add about a third of the dry ingredients to the butter/sugar and beat to combine. Add about a half of the milk/vanilla and beat to combine. Continue adding, alternating between dry and wet and finishing with the dry.
Scoop batter into cupcake cups about 3/4’s full. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25-30 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
Buttercream:
Beat butter briefly, scrape bowl.
Add the sifted powdered sugar and milk. Beat until smooth.
Add peppermint extract.