Twelve Days of Christmas Goodies ~ Day 5: Festive Cupcakes

I had planned to make these festive little treats a couple of days ago, on National Cupcake Day, but never had the time, so my daughter and I made them this evening after a great day of Christmas sightseeing and ice skating. A red velvet base, with a peppermint buttercream frosting, these cupcakes are filled with holiday joy and taste divine.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup milk

1 (1 ounce) bottle red food coloring

2 tsp vanilla

(Frosting)

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

3-4 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted

1/4 tsp salt

1 tbsp vanilla

up to 4 tbsp milk

1/4 tsp peppermint extract (or to taste)

green food coloring (few drops)

Procedure

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl. Set aside. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in sour cream, milk, food coloring, and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until just blended. Do not overbeat. Spoon batter into 24 paper-lined or lightly greased muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until toothpick inserted into cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely. Frost with peppermint buttercream icing.

To prepare frosting, beat butter on medium speed until fluffy. Slowly add 3 cups of confectioner's sugar and beat on low until mixed. Increase speed to medium, add vanilla, salt, and 2 tbsp milk, beat for 3 minutes. To increase consistency, slowly add more sugar, or to decrease consistency, slowly add more milk. Beat in peppermint extract and a few drops of green food coloring. Adjust mint and/or coloring to suit your taste. 

Nutritional Information (per cupcake) *May vary depending on amount of frosting used. Calories 276, Fat 13.1g, Cholesterol 60.9mg, Sodium 173.6mg, Carbohydrates 37.8g, Protein 3.2g