Tag: cupcakes

  • Santiago Cupcakes

    Santiago Cupcakes

    Been having *SO* much fun…

    Been having SO much fun coming up with baking ideas related to Nickelodeon’s new show (premiering 10/9/20) Santiago of the Seas!

    The following is a descriptive quote from Nickelodeon’s site! 

    “Santiago of the Seas” – ‘This interactive animated series follows the adventures of 8-year-old Santiago Montes, and brave and kind-hearted pirate, and features a Spanish-language and Latino-Caribbean culture curriculum.”

    Two cupcake ideas below – one featuring on Santiago of the Seas and his ship and friends, the other featuring Lorelai the magical mermaid who can transform into a human and back again! Feel free to make or buy your cupcakes / frosting – no wrong approaches here!

    Recipes + supply links and printables below!

    (Disclosure: As an Amazon associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, and my posts often contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you!) 

    Santiago of the Seas Cupcakes

    Inspired by Nickelodeon's 'Santiago of the Seas' – recipes and videos show you how to make these Santiago- and Lorelai- themed cupcakes!
    Prep Time20 minutes
    Cook Time20 minutes
    Decorating time35 minutes
    Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Lorelai Cupcakes, Santiago Cupcakes, Santiago of the Seas cupcakes
    Servings: 24 cupcakes
    Calories: 495kcal

    Equipment

    Ingredients

    Cupcakes

    • 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
    • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 4 large eggs (or ¾ cup egg whites if coloring your cupcakes)
    • 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 cup buttermilk
    • 2 Tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
    • Purple gel food coloring (Optional; I used purple gel color for the Lorelai cupcake set)

    Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

    Decorations

    Instructions

    Cupcakes

    • Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F, and prepare 24 muffin tins with cupcake liners. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir to combine and set aside.
    • In a medium or stand mixer bowl, cream together butter and sugar until lightened. Mix in eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk – the mix will look clumpy and strange at this stage. This is normal!
    • Add flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined, then gently fold in your food coloring if using. Don’t overmix! The batter will be fairly thick.
    • Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake liners, filling them about 2/3 to 3/4 full. Bake for 16-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

    Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

    • Beat together softened cream cheese and butter; slowly add in powdered sugar alternating with milk until frosting reaches desired consistency. Add vanilla and salt if needed and beat until well combined.
    • Remove 1 cup frosting into each of 3 small bowls and color red, yellow, and purple. Transfer to piping bags.
    • Decorate each cupcake with frosting – I used a mix of red, yellow, and white for the Santiago cupcakes and purple for the Lorelai cupcakes. But you can decorate however you'd like!

    Cupcake toppers (Printable coloring pages)

    • I’ll attach the photos I used for toppers below, but if you want the PDFs I created for printing please feel free to email me! The PDF files weren’t playing nice with Wordpress. :/
    • Print your toppers out, have your kiddos cut them out, and tape them to toothpicks to make cute cupcake toppers! Eat your cupcakes while you enjoy the next episode of Santiago of the Seas!

    Video

    Notes

    Please note nutrition information is an estimate and may not be exactly accurate.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 495kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 24g

    Coloring pages (printable)

    http://s3.amazonaws.com/nickelodeonparents.com-production

    If you'd like the PDFs I created for printing please feel free to email me! I tried to upload them below but the PDF files weren’t playing nice with Wordpress. :/

    Did you make these Santiago cupcakes? 

    Let me know how it went - or find me on Pinterest or on Instagram and tag @IntensiveCakeUnit in your photo!

    You can also add a comment or a recipe rating at the bottom of the page! :)

    Other recipes you may love…

    (Click / tap the photos to be taken to the recipe pages!)

  • Easter Egg Samoas Cupcakes

    Easter Egg Samoas Cupcakes

    If you're looking for a quick and easy Easter cupcake idea...

    Look no further! These cupcakes are adorable, fast, easy, and delicious! They look like tiny birds nests with eggs inside - great for spring and perfect for Easter! Rich chocolate cupcakes, coconut cream cheese frosting, a Girl Scout Samoas cookie, and mini Cadbury Easter Eggs - sure to be an Easter dessert hit! 

    Check out the video - and the recipe - below! 

    Why make these Easter cupcakes? 
    • Delicious blend of chocolate, caramel, and coconut - able to satisfy any sweet tooth (without being sickeningly-sweet)! 
    • Rich homemade chocolate cupcake base (that features my favorite cupcake secret ingredient - buttermilk) 
    • Decorated with swirls of coconut cream cheese buttercream - and topped with a Samoas cookie, Cadbury mini eggs, and pastel sprinkles
    • Insanely easy to decorate - you really don't even have to pipe the frosting if you'd rather not!  Also an especially great recipe for piping bag beginners; no one will ever notice if the piping doesn't really go the way you want. Put on the rest of the decorations; no one will ever notice! 

    (Disclosure: As an Amazon associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, and my posts often contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you!) 

    Easter Egg Samoas Cupcakes

    Don't Girl Scout Samoas cookies look just a bit like a nest...? These cute Easter Egg Samoas Cupcakes feature chocolate eggs in a cookie nest!
    Prep Time30 minutes
    Cook Time25 minutes
    Decorating time35 minutes
    Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Coconut Easter Cupcakes, Easter Cupcakes, Easter Egg Cupcakes, Easy Easter Cupcakes, Easy Easter Desserts
    Servings: 24 cupcakes
    Calories: 320kcal

    Equipment

    Ingredients

    Cupcakes

    • 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour (350g)
    • 2 ¼ cups granulated sugar (450g)
    • 1 ¼ cup cocoa powder (100g)
    • 1 tsp baking soda
    • ¾ tsp salt
    • 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks/250g; softened)
    • 4 large eggs (at room temperature)
    • 1 ½ cups buttermilk (350mL)
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

    Coconut Cream Cheese frosting

    • 8 ounces cream cheese (one package; softened)
    • 1 cup butter (two sticks, softened)
    • 6 cups powdered sugar
    • 1-2 Tablespoons milk
    • 1 Tablespoon coconut extract
    • ¼ teaspoon salt (if using unsalted butter)

    Decorations

    Instructions

    Cupcakes

    • Preheat an oven to 350℉(180C). Line 24 muffin tins with cupcake liners. In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, stir together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Add in bits of softened butter until no lumps of butter are visible and the mixture looks crumbly.
    • Whisk together eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla until well combined. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients in a slow and steady stream until just combined. Scrape down the bowl and beat on medium for another 20 seconds.
    • Fill each liner 2/3 full (using a large cookie scoop to transfer the batter makes this a quick and easy process).
    • Bake for 20-25 min or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow them to cool completely on a wire cooling rack before frosting. Set in the fridge or freezer to accelerate the cooling process if desired.
    • This is a great time to make your frosting!

    Coconut Cream Cheese frosting

    • Beat together softened cream cheese and butter; slowly add in powdered sugar alternating with milk and coconut extract until frosting reaches desired consistency. Add salt if needed and beat until well combined.

    Decorating

    • Transfer frosting to your piping bag – I used a large star tip, similar to the Wilton 1M. Pipe flat swirls of frosting onto your cupcake tops – I find it easiest to start at the center and swirl outward. Top each one with a Samoas cookie. Add a few pastel sprinkles to each cupcake. To make the Easter eggs stick, pipe a bit of frosting in the center of each cookie and press 2-3 eggs onto each cupcake.
    • And you’re done! Super easy and so cute - enjoy, and Happy Easter!

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 20g

    Did you make these Easter Egg Samoas Cupcakes?

    Let me know how it went - or find me on Pinterest or on Instagram and tag @IntensiveCakeUnit in your photo! 
    You can also add a comment or a recipe rating at the bottom of the page! 🙂

    Other recipes you may love…

    (Click / tap the photos to be taken to the recipe pages!)

  • Candy Cane Cupcakes

    Candy Cane Cupcakes

    Can you find ANY candy more Christmas-y than candy canes? 

    HOW my 3-year-old remembers candy canes from three quarters of a year ago - when she hasn't seen a single one since then - I'll never know. But it's the middle of August as I update this post, and not too long ago she asked me for a candy cane. 

    Apparently come Christmastime, it's time for another round of these Candy Cane cupcakes! 

    Why you'll love this Candy Cane Cupcakes recipe - 

    • This recipe features a light mint cupcake, peppermint candy filling, and a swirl of mint-flavored frosting.
    • Then they're topped with a sprinkle of crushed peppermint candy and a mini candy cane! 
    • Simple to make, easy to decorate, easy to transport, and sure to be a hit at any holiday gathering.
    • A delicious, easy, and light minty dessert perfect for the holiday season!

    These Candy Cane cupcakes are also super easy to dress up with Christmas cupcake liners!

    For a lot of chocolate Christmas cupcakes I had to spend some more money and buy the foil liners. The chocolate cupcake  was too dark for the designs on the liners to show. (Fail.) The upside of a lighter-colored cupcake - designs on regular paper liners will show up just fine! 

    Super easy and SO delicious! Recipe and links to the supplies I used are below! 

    One quick recipe note -

    Peppermint candy - when left on buttercream frosting overnight - will often start to look a little 'melty.' The red coloring may also start to run. This won't affect the taste, but it's not a bad idea to wait to add the candy cane toppers until within a few hours of serving. 

    (Disclosure: As an Amazon associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, and my posts often contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you!)

    Candy Cane Cupcakes

    An easy Christmas dessert for your holiday table - make these cute and delicious peppermint Candy Cane Cupcakes!
    Prep Time20 minutes
    Cook Time20 minutes
    Decorating time30 minutes
    Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Candy Cane Christmas Cupcakes, Candy Cane Cupcakes, Christmas Candy Cane Cupcakes, Christmas Cupcake ideas, Peppermint Christmas Cupcakes
    Servings: 24 cupcakes
    Calories: 509kcal
    Author: Sarah H

    Equipment

    Ingredients

    Peppermint Candy Cane Cupcakes

    • 1 cup unsalted butter (melted and cooled)
    • 3 cups all purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 2 cups granulated sugar
    • 5 large eggs
    • 2 teaspoons peppermint extract
    • 1 cup milk - I used whole milk
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • ¼ cup crushed peppermint candy (save and add later - you can crush candy canes or buy crushed peppermint candy)

    Peppermint Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

    • 8 ounces cream cheese (one package; softened)
    • 1 cup butter (two sticks, softened)
    • 6 cups powdered sugar
    • 1-2 Tablespoons milk
    • 1 Tablespoon peppermint extract
    • ¼ teaspoon salt (if using unsalted butter)

    Decorations

    Instructions

    Peppermint Candy Cane Cupcakes

    • First – melt your unsalted butter and set aside to cool (so it doesn’t cook your eggs when you add it!) Preheat your oven to 350℉(180℃), and prepare pans with cupcake liners. Set aside.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, milk and sour cream. Add the cooled melted butter and whisk again until well combined.
    • Add flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined, being careful not to over mix the batter. The batter will be thick.
    • Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake liners, filling them about 2/3 full. Sprinkle each cupcake with a bit of crushed peppermint candy/candy canes, and swirl them in a bit with a spoon or toothpick.
    • Bake for 16-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
    • Allow to cool completely before frosting. (This is an excellent time to make your frosting and filling!)

    Peppermint Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

    • Beat together softened cream cheese and butter; slowly add in powdered sugar alternating with milk and peppermint extract until frosting reaches a pipeable consistency. Add salt and beat until well combined.

    Peppermint filling

    • Save out about ¾ cup of frosting to use for cupcake filling, and stir in an additional ½ Tablespoon of peppermint extract and ¼ cup crushed peppermint candy. Set aside until you’re ready to fill your cupcakes.
    • Once the cupcakes have cooled, core them - you can use a cupcake corer, the back end of a large piping tip, or....you can do what I do and cut a cone-shaped core out with a plastic knife. Up to you! I saved the tops from the cores to put back over the filling and make frosting a bit easier.
    • Transfer your filling to a piping bag, and fill your cupcakes with peppermint filling.
    • Pipe your mint frosting in large swirls onto your cupcakes. Decorate the top of each frosting swirl with a mini candy cane and a few sprinkles of crushed candy cane if you’re feeling fancy! (Of note, crushed peppermint candy will get weird-looking and ‘melty’ if left on cupcake frosting overnight – add this the day you plan to serve them!)
    • Done and done! Enjoy!

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 509kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 24g

    Did you make these Candy Cane Cupcakes? 

    Send me an email and let me know how it went – or make my day and find me on Pinterest or on Instagram and tag @IntensiveCakeUnit in your photo!

    You can also add a comment or a recipe rating at the bottom of the page! 🙂

    Other recipes you may love…

    (Click / tap the photos to be taken to the recipe pages!)

  • Pink Velvet Cupcakes

    Pink Velvet Cupcakes

    Looking for a dressed-up cupcake - without all the dye involved in red velvet cupcakes? 

    Look no further! These pink velvet cupcakes are SO simple, and perfect for any occasion you might make red velvet cupcakes for! They're great for bridal showers, baby showers, anniversaries, Valentines day, tea parties, and girl's nights. But honestly - make them any time you just feel like an easy and beautiful cupcake! 

    Why you'll love this Pink Velvet cupcake recipe - 

    • Seriously - the cupcakes take ONE bowl to make - as does the frosting! 
    • You get a gorgeous batch of cupcakes for minimal work and clean-up! Win, win, win, right? 
    • Also easy to customize - and to dress up! If you're feeling fancy and want to dress them up a bit more, you can fill them. I've used chocolate or white chocolate ganache - both delicious!
    • You could even bake these in mini cupcake pans for the most adorable mini pink cupcakes. 

    Pictures and video came from a batch of Pink Velvet Cupcakes for a co-worker’s baby shower – they’re super cute with pink and gray frosting, but any color you want (white included) would work! Vanilla White Chocolate ganache filling optional but recommended 😉

    (Disclosure: As an Amazon associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, and my posts often contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you!) 

    Pink Velvet Cupcakes

    These Pink Velvet Cupcakes with cream cheese buttercream have all the richness of their red velvet cousins, without all the red food dye!
    Prep Time30 minutes
    Cook Time18 minutes
    Decorating time20 minutes
    Total Time1 hour 8 minutes
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Baby shower cupcakes, Easy Cupcake recipes, Pink Cupcakes, Pink Velvet Cupcakes, Valentine's Day cupcakes
    Servings: 24 cupcakes
    Calories: 495kcal

    Equipment

    Ingredients

    Pink Velvet Cupcakes

    • 2 ½ cups flour
    • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 ¼ cup sugar
    • 1 cup butter (2 sticks; slightly softened)
    • 6 egg whites (for a brighter pink color; you can also use 4 eggs )
    • 1 cup buttermilk
    • 2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract
    • 1 large drop soft pink gel food coloring (or 8 drops liquid pink food color)

    (White Chocolate ganache filling – optional but recommended!)

    Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

    • 8 ounces cream cheese (one package; softened)
    • 1 cup unsalted butter (two sticks, softened)
    • 6 cups powdered sugar
    • 1-2 Tablespoons milk
    • 1 Tablespoon clear vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1-2 drops soft pink gel food coloring (Save and add later!)
    • 1 drop gray gel food color (Save and add later!) Note: I've tried to make gray frosting black food color - and for some reason it turns more purple than gray. :/ Not what I wanted! I saved that batch with activated charcoal, but I recommend saving yourself the grief and just using gray gel color!)

    Instructions

    Pink Velvet Cupcakes

    • Preheat oven to 350℉. Line 2 cupcake pans (24 cups) with paper or foil liners, and set aside.
    • Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar together in a large mixing bowl and whisk until combined. With a pastry cutter (or with a stand mixer/paddle attachment if you have one) cut in the butter until no large lumps of butter remain, and the mixture looks crumbly.
    • Add in the egg whites (or eggs) one at a time, mixing after each addition. (The mix will be stiff at this point; this is normal!) Add buttermilk, vanilla extract, and gel food color, and mix until well combined.
    • Divide the batter evenly into the 24 cups – I usually use a large (1/4 cup) cookie scoop for this, but a spoon will work as well. Bake until the tops of the cupcakes spring back when touched; 14-18 minutes. Cool completely before filling and/or decorating. (This is a great time to make your frosting (and / or filling)!)

    (White Chocolate ganache filling – optional but recommended!)

    • Place heavy cream and white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on 50% power in 30-second intervals until smooth, stirring in between. Cool until a pipeable consistency is obtained.
    • Once the cupcakes have cooled, if you want to fill them it's time to core them. This can be done with a cupcake corer, the back end of a piping tip, or a plastic knife. Transfer ganache to a piping bag and pipe into cored cupcakes (or use a spoon; it's just messier).

    Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

    • Beat together softened cream cheese and butter; slowly add in powdered sugar alternating with milk until frosting reaches desired consistency. Add vanilla and salt and beat until well combined. Divide in half; color half the bath pink and the remaining half gray.

    Decorating

    • Pipe in frosting onto cupcakes in large swirls, rosettes, or small stars onto your cupcakes (or however you feel like icing them). I bought my favorite set of piping bags & tips on Amazon! Decorate the tops with pink and gray sprinkles if desired.
    • Done and done! Enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    (Please note nutrition information is an estimate and may not be exactly accurate. Counts will be lower in all fields if the entire batch of frosting is not used.) 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 495kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 24g

    Did you make these Pink Velvet Cupcakes? 

    Let me know how it went – or make my day and find me on Pinterest or on Instagram and tag @IntensiveCakeUnit in your photo!

    You can also add a comment or a recipe rating at the bottom of the page! 🙂

    Other recipes you may love…

    (Click / tap the photos to be taken to the recipe pages!)

  • York Mint Snowflake Cupcakes

    Once...I made ugly snowflake cupcakes. 

    Nope, I wish I was joking! True story. Let me explain.

    My first mistake was to use white frosting. Next, tried piping snowflakes with candy melts and using them as cupcake toppers. I think I overheated the candy melts a bit, because they didn't pipe well at all. I set them on an off-white stand to take pictures. Against a white background. (What was I thinking??) Anyway...I realized that the decorations just blended into the frosting! I don't think I even saved pictures, cause man. It just didn't work.

    So I went back to the drawing board. I melted my next round of candy melts more carefully. I also realized lack of color contrast part of my problem. Piping snowflakes onto dark peppermint patties made the snowflakes pop, and these York Mint Snowflake Cupcakes were born! 

    I know it’s not traditionally a "Christmas candy," but York mints are one of my favorite chocolate peppermint candies….and I found a way to make them Christmas-ish! Candy melt snowflakes turn York mints into the perfect Christmas cupcake toppers! Paired with a rich chocolate cupcake and easy peppermint candy filling, these cupcakes were a huge hit and definitely one I'll be making again!

    I didn't think about it when I took the pictures, but a sprinkle of crushed peppermint candy would add a fun pop of color to these cupcakes too, if you're feeling fancy. Recipe below - Merry Christmas, and happy baking! 

    FAQs: 

    “How do I store these cupcakes?”
    • Store in a cupcake carrier or sealable container; I often put a layer of plastic wrap over the top between the container and lid for a better seal. Cupcakes will keep at room temperature for 1-2 days or in the fridge for 3-5 days as long as they're protected from drying out.

    “Do I have to make the cupcakes / frosting from scratch?”
    • Absolutely not if you don't want to! You can substitute your favorite cake mix plus the ingredients the mix calls for; keep the baking pans the same! The cake layers will just be a little less rich. Substituting butter for oil, buttermilk for water, and adding an extra egg will help!

    • Store bought frosting is usually thinner than my recipe; add a 1/4 cup of extra powdered sugar at a time until you reach a consistency that is pipeable and stays in place on the cupcakes well.

    (Disclosure: As an Amazon associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, and my posts often contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you!) 

    York Mint Snowflake Cupcakes

    White candy melt snowflakes turn York peppermint patties into the perfect Christmas cupcake toppers!
    Prep Time15 minutes
    Cook Time25 minutes
    Decorating time15 minutes
    Total Time55 minutes
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Christmas cupcakes, Snowflake cupcakes
    Servings: 24 cupcakes
    Calories: 310kcal
    Author: Sarah H

    Equipment

    Ingredients

    • 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour (350g)
    • 2 ¼ cups granulated sugar (450g)
    • 1 ¼ cup cocoa powder (100g)
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks, softened)
    • 4 large eggs (at room temperature)
    • 1 ½ cups buttermilk (350mL)
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Frosting

    Filling

    • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract (add to reserved frosting; see instructions)
    • ½ cup crushed peppermint candy or crushed candy canes (add to reserved frosting; see instructions)

    Instructions

    Cupcakes

    • Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (180C) or 325 F (160C) for a convection oven. Line 24 muffin tins with cupcake liners. In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, stir together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Add in bits of softened butter until no lumps of butter are visible and the mixture looks crumbly.
    • Whisk together eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla until well combined. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Scrape down the bowl and beat on medium for another 20 seconds.
    • Fill each paper 2/3 full (using a large cookie scoop to transfer the batter makes this a quick and easy process). You may find that you have a little batter left over – I don’t recommend over-filling the cupcake tins or they may overflow.
    • Bake for 20-25 min or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow them to cool completely on a wire cooling rack before frosting. Set in the fridge or freezer to accelerate the cooling process if desired.
    • This is an excellent time to make your frosting and/or pipe your snowflake decorations!

    Frosting & Filling

    • Beat together softened cream cheese and butter; slowly add in powdered sugar alternating with milk until frosting reaches desired consistency. Add peppermint extract and salt if needed and beat until well combined.
    • Remove about ¾ c of frosting and stir an additional 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract and crushed peppermint candy in to make peppermint cupcake filling.

    Decorating

    • To decorate your peppermint patties, melt down about half a bag of White candy melts and transfer them to a piping bag fitted with a small tip. Pipe three lines to make the six points of the snowflake, and then add angled lines to finish the snowflake design. (See the YouTube video below; its about 30 seconds long).
    • Once the cupcakes have cooled, you're ready to core and fill them -you can buy a cupcake corer, but you can also just do what I do and cut the centers out with a plastic knife. 😉  Pipe your peppermint filling into your cored cupcakes.
    • Transfer frosting to a large piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe frosting in large swirls onto your cupcakes (or however you feel like icing them).
    • Decorate the top of each frosting swirl with a decorated York mint! Enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    Please note nutrition information is an estimate and may not be exactly accurate. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 2.4g | Fat: 18.8g

    Did you make these York Mint Snowflake Cupcakes?

    Let me know how it went – or make my day and find me on Pinterest or on Instagram and tag @IntensiveCakeUnit in your photo!

    Other recipes you may love...

    Pictured: Christmas Light Cupcakes, Sprinkle Christmas Tree Cake, Christmas Cupcakes 
    (Or click / tap the photos to be taken to the recipe pages!)

     

  • Peppermint Bark Cupcakes

    Peppermint Bark Cupcakes

    Can it even BE Christmas without peppermint bark...?

    ...it’s just one of those flavors that tastes like Christmas! I know I'm not alone in that opinion from one look at the Christmas candy aisle. ;)  Peppermint's a CLASSIC Christmas flavor - and it only gets better with chocolate! 

    Anyway, if you're looking for a fun, delicious and decorative Christmas dessert - I've got you covered with these Peppermint Bark Cupcakes!

    Why you'll love these cupcakes - 

    • These Christmas cupcakes have a rich chocolate base with a peppermint chocolate filling 
    • They're topped with a large swirl of mint frosting and a generous piece of peppermint bark!
    • You can toss on some more crushed candy cane for good measure and a touch more color. Recipe below!
    One quick recipe note - 

    I made my own bark to decorate the cupcakes in the pictures. However, I'd be lying to say I never just skip that step and buy peppermint bark!  Obviously - feel free to do the same; honestly I recommend it! Depending on the brand, pre-made peppermint bark can produce more uniform-looking cupcakes. Despite all my best efforts, my homemade peppermint bark doesn't often break into even pieces! 

     

    FAQs - 

    “How should I store any leftover cupcakes?”
    • Store in a cupcake carrier or sealable container. If I'm using a lidded container, I often put a layer of plastic wrap over the top between the container and lid for a better seal.

    • Cupcakes will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days as long as they're protected from drying out - just note any peppermint candy may 'bleed' a bit from the moisture in te cupcakes.

    “It's the holiday season; everyone's insanely busy and I'm super pressed for time. Can I just buy a cake mix / frosting?”
    • Definitely not if you don't want to! Substitute your favorite cake mix plus the ingredients the mix calls for; keep the baking pans the same! Substituting butter for oil, buttermilk for water, and adding an extra egg will help create a richer-flavored cupcake. 

    • Add some peppermint to the frosting, and you're good to go! Just note that canned frosting runs on the thin side- and the peppermint extract won't help matters. I'd recommend adding a 1/4 cup of extra powdered sugar at a time - until you reach a decently thick consistency that is pipeable and stays in place well.

    (Disclosure: As an Amazon associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, and my posts often contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you!) 

    Peppermint Bark Cupcakes

    Packed with peppermint and white and semisweet chocolate, these Peppermint Bark Cupcakes are sure to be a Christmas favorite!
    Prep Time20 minutes
    Cook Time25 minutes
    Decorating time20 minutes
    Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Christmas cupcakes, Peppermint Bark, Peppermint Bark Cupcakes
    Servings: 24 cupcakes
    Calories: 325kcal
    Author: Sarah H

    Equipment

    Ingredients

    Peppermint Bark Cupcakes

    • 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour (350g)
    • 2 ¼ cups granulated sugar (450g)
    • 1 ¼ cup cocoa powder (100g)
    • 1 tsp baking soda
    • ¾ tsp salt
    • 1 cup unsalted butter 16 Tablespoons, softened
    • 4 large eggs at room temperature
    • 1 ½ cups buttermilk (350mL)
    • 2 teaspoons peppermint extract
    • 1/4 cup crushed candy canes (or you can save some time and mess and buy crushed peppermint candy)

    Frosting

    Filling & Decorations

    Instructions

    Cupcakes

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180C) or 325 F (160C) for a convection oven. Line 24 muffin tins with cupcake liners. In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, stir together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Add in bits of softened butter until no lumps of butter are visible and the mixture looks crumbly.
    • Whisk together eggs, buttermilk, and peppermint extract until well combined. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients in a slow and steady stream until just combined. Scrape down the bowl and beat on medium for another 20 seconds. Stir in the crushed candy canes.
    • Fill each liner 2/3 of the way (using a large cookie scoop to transfer the batter makes this a quick and easy process). You may find that you have some batter left over – I don’t recommend over-filling the cupcake tins or they may overflow. :/ (I sometimes bake about 12 mini cupcakes with the extra batter).
    • Bake for 20-25 min or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow them to cool completely on a wire cooling rack before frosting. Set in the fridge or freezer to accelerate the cooling process if desired.

    Frosting & Filling

    • This is an excellent time to make your frosting (and peppermint bark if you’d like)! I like this Peppermint Bark recipe if you'd like to make your own.
    • Beat together softened cream cheese and butter; slowly add in powdered sugar alternating with milk and flavor extracts until frosting reaches desired consistency. Add salt if needed and beat until well combined.
    • Save out about ¾ c of frosting to use for cupcake filling, and stir in an additional 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract. Set aside until you’re ready to fill your cupcakes.
    • Once the cupcakes have cooled, you're ready to core them. This can be done with a cupcake corer, or....you can do what I do and cut a cone-shaped core out with a plastic knife. Up to you! Drizzle some chocolate ganache or hot fudge topping into a disposable piping bag, add your filling, and pipe it into your cupcake centers! Sprinkle with a bit of crushed candy cane for an extra peppermint kick.

    Decorating

    • Transfer frosting to a large piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe your mint frosting in large swirls onto your cupcakes.
    • Decorate the top of each frosting swirl with a piece of peppermint bark and a few sprinkles if crushed candy cane if you’re feeling fancy!
    • (Of note, crushed peppermint candy will get weird-looking and ‘melty’ if left on cupcake frosting overnight – add this the day you plan to serve them!)
      Done and done! Enjoy! 

    Video

    Notes

    Please note nutrition information is an estimate and may not be exactly accurate.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 2.4g | Fat: 18.5g

    Did you make these Peppermint Bark cupcakes?

    Let me know how it went – or make my day and find me on Pinterest or on Instagram and tag @IntensiveCakeUnit in your photo!

    You can also add a comment or a recipe rating at the bottom of the page! 🙂

    Other recipes you may love…

    Pictured: Christmas Light CupcakesYork Mint Snowflake CupcakesChristmas Cupcakes 

    (Or click / tap the photos to be taken to the recipe pages!)

     
     
  • American Flag Cupcakes

    American Flag Cupcakes

    I have the perfect dessert 4th of July or Memorial day recipe for you - American Flag cupcakes!

    Did it sneak up on you too? I DON'T know how it happens - the 4th of July sneaks up on me EVERY year! I can't seem to remember that coming to the end of June means that the 4th of July is just around the corner

    So...cue my yearly scrambling for quick and easy 4th of July party food. 

    (Which honestly - is a little pathetic. I'm in my 30s as I write this post. You'd think by now I'd have learned. Meh....nope. But I digress.) 

    These were easy and quick to put together. Some gel food coloring made the frosting colors come out exactly the way I wanted. And the arrangement made for a visually stunning display - up until they all got eaten, anyway! 

    These would be a great fit for the 4th, for Memorial Day, or for a military event or deployment homecoming. Lots of options! 

    "In the same boat and kind of short on time - any way to make this recipe any faster?" 
    • I mean obviously I recommend the recipes I posted below, but I know sometimes time is of the essence! You can substitute your favorite white cake mix plus the ingredients the mix calls for. The cupcakes will probably be a little less rich - but substituting butter for oil /buttermilk for water helps.

    • If you want to use canned / store-bought frosting, just know that it's usually thinner than scratch recipes. But you can fix this by adding powdered sugar (a 1/4 cup at a time) until you reach a consistency that pipes and stays in place well.

    (Disclosure: As an Amazon associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, and my posts often contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you!) 

    Don't forget to pin this recipe for later! 

    American Flag Cupcakes (red, white, and blue cupcakes decorated and arranged to resemble the American flag)

    American Flag Cupcakes

    Perfect for the 4th of July or Memorial day - make these insanely easy red, white and blue American Flag Cupcakes!
    Prep Time30 minutes
    Cook Time25 minutes
    Decorating time45 minutes
    Total Time1 hour 40 minutes
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: 4th of July Cupcakes, American Flag Cupcakes, Easy 4th of July desserts, Easy Red, White, and Blue desserts, Memorial Day cupcakes, Red, White, and Blue cupcakes
    Servings: 24 cupcakes
    Calories: 495kcal

    Equipment

    Ingredients

    Vanilla Cupcakes

    • 1 cup butter (melted and cooled)
    • 3 cups all purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 2 cups granulated sugar
    • 5 large eggs
    • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
    • 1 cup milk (I used whole milk)
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • liquid red food coloring (optional)
    • liquid bluefood coloring (optional)

    Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

    Filling (optional) + Decorations

    Instructions

    Cupcakes

    • (First – melt your unsalted butter and let it cool - this ensures it won’t cook your eggs when you add it!) Preheat your oven to 325℉, and prepare 24 muffin tins with cupcake liners.
    • Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine and set aside.
    • In a medium bowl, beat sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, milk and sour cream until well combined. Add the cooled melted butter and whisk again until well combined.
    • Add flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Don't overmix. The batter will be fairly thick; this is normal.
    • Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake liners, filling them about 2/3 full. (I like to use a cookie scoop for this part!) If desired, add a couple of drops of red food coloring to 9 cupcakes / blue to 6 cupcakes, and swirl the color in with a toothpick.
    • Bake for 16-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. Allow to cool completely before decorating. (This is a great time to make your frosting!)

    Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

    • Beat together softened cream cheese and butter; slowly add in powdered sugar alternating with milk and vanilla until frosting reaches a smooth and pipeable and consistency.
    • Transfer about 1 cup of frosting to a small bowl; divide the remaining frosting in half. Color the smallest bowl navy blue, and one of the other bowls red (leaving the last one white).

    Filling (optional)

    • (I cored my cupcakes and filled them with chocolate ganache, but this step is 100% optional. To make ganache, microwave 6 ounces semisweet chocolate + 6 ounces heavy whipping cream together in 30-second increments on half power until melted & smooth, then cool until thick enough to transfer to cupcake centers.)

    Decorating

    • Arrange your cupcakes in a 6-by-4 rectangle. (If you've colored them, place the 6 blue cupcakes to the top left, and the remaining cupcakes in red and white stripes.)
    • Transfer frostings to piping bags. Pipe blue frosting onto the six top left quarter (2x3) cupcakes, and red and white frosting onto the remaining 9 cupcakes in red and white stripes (see photo).
    • Cut 6 small fondant stars, and add stars (and sugar pearls if desired) to the blue ones.
    • And you're done! You'll have an awesome-looking cupcake display.....right up until they all get eaten! Enjoy!

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 495kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 24g

    Mentioned in post -
    Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting 

    Did you make these American Flag Cupcakes? 

    Let me know how it went - or find me on Pinterest or on Instagram and tag @IntensiveCakeUnit in your photo!

    You can also add a comment or a recipe rating at the bottom of the page! 🙂

    Other recipes you may love…

    (Click / tap the photos to be taken to the recipe pages!)