If there is one flavour combo to me that screams winter it’s chocolate and peppermint, it’s one of my favourite hot chocolate drinks and I wanted to recreate it in a cupcake. And because it’s coming up to Christmas I decorated them with broken up candy canes for a little more peppermint flavour and for a slightly more festive look. So grab the ingredients because you will not be able to resist these delicious candy cane chocolate cupcakes with peppermint frosting.















Chocolate

The base of this gorgeous little treat is a moist chocolate cupcake that is packed full of chocolate with each bite. The chocolate comes from a good dose of good quality unsweetened cocoa powder, I use 80 grams (3/4 cup) in this recipe and it gives them the perfect chocolate flavour.















I also use sour cream to keep these babies moist and fluffy, there is nothing worse than a dry heavy chocolate cupcake.















Peppermint

You get a double hit of peppermint in these cupcakes and its just the perfect amount. First you have a hint of it in the chocolate cupcake. I replaced the vanilla extract in the batter with peppermint extract instead.















What you get is a lovely pepperminty after taste through the intense chocolate flavour… heavenly 😀















Then on top is a generous swirl of super creamy peppermint frosting, the thing I love about this frosting is that its not overly sweet and sickly. I personally hate frosting that is so sweet it makes your teeth ache! This frosting is perfect not to sweet just perfect 😉 and the little bit of cream added to it makes it so rich and smooth.















I found the perfect amount of peppermint extract to add was 3 teaspoons. But start with a small amount then add a tiny touch more and taste before adding more. There is a fine line between peppermint frosting and toothpaste! Peppermint extract is strong and a little goes a long way.

Candy Canes















For a little festive decoration I have crushed a few candy canes and sprinkled them on top, as an added bonus they too are peppermint flavour.















The candy canes are optional but recommended at this festive time 😀 So rush off to your kitchen and whip a batch of these up I promise you won’t regret it and your friends and family will love them 😀