I've become abit cupcake obsessed lately, trailing through many Instagram pictures and Pinterest until the early hours of the morning. Which, is a bad thing because I seem to dream about cupcakes and when I need to be up early it really doesn't help with the whole 8 hours of sleep. I mainly look for flavour inspiration and I just love to see what other people are baking, plus I love looking at the amazing photography out there!
When I find inspiration I write things down in my brown book which is full of random recipes, flavour combinations and dodgy looking drawings of what I have in mind. Art was never my strong point. I have always loved the combination of mint and chocolate together, every trip to the sea side would end in a mint choc chip ice cream (before my intolerance.) It just goes together perfectly, like chips and ketchup, raspberry and white chocolate, peanut butter and jelly for the Americans among us. These mint inspired cupcakes are just made with a simple chocolate cupcake, with a subtle mint flavoured frosting topped off with a mint chocolate.
I think that cupcakes look amazing when they have rounded frosting on top, it gives them that classic cupcake look. I used my new piping kit from Lakeland that I got for Christmas for the first time and it was so easy to use I was really impressed with how easy it was to pipe with. I really recommend this piping set if your a beginner or even if your skilled at piping, it comes with a washable reusable bag and 7 different piping nozzles. Here's a link if you fancy having a look.
Equipment
Cupcake tray
6 Cupcake cases
Electric Mixer or Mixing bowl and wooden spoon
Piping bag
Large round 1.5cm piping nozzle
Ingredients (6 Cupcakes)
50g Plain flour
10g Cocoa powder
70g Caster sugar
1 Tsp baking powder
20g Unsalted butter
60ml Whole milk
1 Egg
1 Tsp vanilla extract
Frosting
115g Butter
200g Icing sugar
¼ Tsp peppermint extract
2 Drops green food colouring
Pinch Salt
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line the cupcake tin with cupcake cases, this mixture will make around 6 large cupcakes.
This is my go to recipe for plain chocolate cupcakes, really easy to make and super moist. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Sift in the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder into the butter mixture and beat together until well combined.
Add in the egg, milk and vanilla extract and mix again for around 2 minute until all the ingredients are well incorporated.
Separate the mixture evenly between the 6 cupcake cases and place in the oven for around 15-20 minutes. To test if the cupcakes are cooked, place a cake tester or skewer into the middle of the cupcake, if clear then it is cooked. Place on a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Whilst the cupcakes are cooling down this is a perfect time to make the frosting. In an electric mixer place the butter in the bowl and beat for 3 minutes until soft. Place the icing sugar into the bowl and beat again for 3 minutes, if the frosting isn't thick enough then add a further tbsp of icing sugar. Once you have the desired texture for your frosting add the peppermint extract and food colouring and beat again for 3 minutes.
Place the frosting into the piping bag. Once the cupcakes are cooled pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes in a circular motion to get that classic cupcake look, this video demonstrates at the end how to do this:
Then take an after eight mint and place on top of the cupcake. Mint and chocolate, whats not to love?
Whats your favourite cupcake flavours?
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