Mint Chocolate Cupcakes
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 2/3 cup (1 stick and 2-2/3 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1-1/2 cups superfine sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons peppermint extract
- 1 cup milk
- FROSTING:
- 3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin cups with paper liners. Sift flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa. Set aside. Cream butter and sugar until light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in peppermint extract. Slowly blend in flour mixture, alternating with milk, until blended. Spoon batter into paper liners, filling each cup three-fourths full.
- Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Do not overbake. Cool cupcakes in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes to wire rack to cool completely.
- Melt chocolate and butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir until smooth. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in peppermint extract. Cool frosting until spreadable. Frost cupcakes.
- YIELDS: 20 cupcakes