Hello, my name is Dannelle and I am a chocolate addict. I think there should be a required five servings a day and could easily make that happen. Keeping my addiction in mind, I am also a great enabler…as I share yet another chocolate recipe with you: Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cupcakes!

These bad boys even have peppermint frosting! Just remember, I make these from scratch but you CAN used a boxed mix to make the cupcake bases.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients:

1 C all-purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C hot water
1/2 C cocoa powder
6 TBSP butter, room temp
3/4 C sugar
1 large egg
1/4 C vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract

Cupcake Directions:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake tin with cupcake paper liners.
-Whisk flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt in s medium bowl. Set aside.
-Whisk hot water and cocoa powder in a small bowl.  Set aside.
-Using a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
-Mix the egg, vegetable oil, and vanilla until well combined.
-Add in the flour mixture, alternate with hot cocoa mix until there are no lumps.
-Using a large ice cream scoop the batter into the lined cupcake tins until they are 3/4’s filled.
-Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
-Remove from oven allowing cupcakes to cool in cupcake pan for 10 minutes.
-Take out of cupcake pan and place individual cupcakes on a wire rack to cool completely.

Peppermint Frosting

Frosting Ingredients:

1 C butter, softened
2 C powdered sugar
1 – 2 TBSP heavy cream
2 tsp peppermint extract
crushed candy canes
candy canes to stick on top

Frosting Directions: 

-Beat butter and sugar till combined
-Mix in heavy cream and extract and mix until blended.
-Spoon into a pastry bag with a large tip.
-Frost cupcakes from the outside working the tip toward the center of the cupcake.
-Sprinkle crushed candy canes and top with candy canes