This post contains affiliate links and/or images. We are going to get our Christmas tree this weekend. After we decorate it, we will sit in our pajamas, drink hot chocolate with marshmallows and watch Elf. Once the tree goes up, we start our hard core baking! I love to bake with my kids. We have fun creating recipes that will become a family favorite holiday tradition. At Caitlin’s request, we are making Candy Cane Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream Frosting.
I love peppermint in small doses. Caitlin on the other hand could eat it in just about everything. As soon as the candy canes hit the shelves, she starts stocking up! She is rarely seen without one in her mouth! She will stir the marshmallows in her hot chocolate with them!
For our holiday baking needs, we usually have 2-3 bottles of peppermint extract in the spice cabinet. We also use it when we make out peppermint bath bombs, which I will be posting the DIY for that next week on the blog!
Wilton Christmas Cupcake Liners, 75-Count
Kootek 42 Pieces Cake Decorating Supplies Kit with 36 Icing Tips, 2 Silicone Pastry Bags, 2 Flower Nails, 2 Reusable Plastic Couplers Baking Supplies Frosting Tools Set for Cupcakes CookiesDarice 2655 Decorative Vintage Wooden Sleigh Medium 16 x 6 x 4.7 InchesBrach’s Star Brites Peppermint Starlight Mints Hard Candy, 5 Pound Value Pack
For the Candy Cane Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream Frosting we had to play with the recipe to get the right balance between the extract and the crushed peppermint candies. If you used too much of either, the taste was overpowering.
Another thing we found was the original Candy Cane Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream Frosting recipe for the frosting did not hold up as well as I would have liked. I did some research and found if you added shortening to your recipe, the frosting will be stiffer. The original recipe substituted shortening for butter 100%. We felt the taste was not right. When we added just 1/3 cup, it was perfect! The taste was buttery and the frosting stood up quite well!
We shared our final Candy Cane Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream Frosting recipe with several of Caitlin’s teachers and friends. They really loved them! The frosting is absolutely dynamite! I could eat that by the truckload! It is smooth and creamy and has just a hint of the peppermint flavor. It is the perfect topping to the moist and tasty cupcakes. They turned out just perfect! I know you will think so too!
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix
- Water, vegetable oil and egg whites for cake mix
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 teaspoon red paste food color
- For the Peppermint Buttercream:
- 1 cup butter, room temperature (2 sticks), for stiffer frosting, substitute 1/3 cup shortening.
- 4 cups confectioner’s sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 tsp peppermint extract
- 1/4 cup peppermint candies, crushed
Instructions
- Mix cake according to directions and add the peppermint extract and food coloring.
- Bake as cupcakes according to directions on cake mix box
- While cupcakes are cooling, fit stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Cream butter on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes, or until light and fluffy
- Reduce speed to low, and add the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until thoroughly combined. Add the vanilla and peppermint extract. Increase speed to medium and mix for one more minute. Frost cupcakes and sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies.
What is a dessert recipe you would like to try this holiday season? Or what is a family favorite you make every year?
robin rue says
November 28, 2017 at 4:21 pmThose cupcakes sound awesome. I can’t wait to make these for dessert on Christmas!
Maureen says
November 28, 2017 at 5:07 pmThese are all sorts of Christmas, holiday spirit for sure! I love the idea of making candy cane cupcakes with peppermint buttercream frosting. What a delicious treat for the holidays!
Stacie says
November 28, 2017 at 5:12 pmThere literally could be nothing better for Christmas than these cupcakes. They look so good, and peppermint is always a winner.
Colleen says
November 28, 2017 at 5:16 pmI need these in my life immediately! I go for everything peppermint this time of year. I love the idea of peppermint buttercream. That just sounds amazing.
Kim Avery says
November 28, 2017 at 5:39 pmMy mom makes some awesome rum balls and real fudge with walnuts…the kind you need a candy thermometer for! I’m good with the melted chocolate chips lol! Also I try and !ake my great grandma’s molasses cookies but they never taste as good as hers did!
Marcie W. says
November 28, 2017 at 6:31 pmTis the season for peppermint and these cupcakes look just as delicious as they do festive. My kids would love them!
Mitch says
November 28, 2017 at 6:50 pmThose cupcakes are gorgeous! So festive looking! And they sound delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Christie says
November 28, 2017 at 6:54 pmYour recipes never cease to amaze me! I’d love to sample a couple! I may have to make these.
travel blogger says
November 28, 2017 at 6:58 pmThis is such a fantastic idea! I love candy canes and anything peppermint flavored. We will definitely be giving this a try!
kim says
November 28, 2017 at 8:06 pmAll round goodness here!!! And I love Buttercream frosting!!!
GiGi Eats says
November 28, 2017 at 9:00 pmHellooooo beautiful and fluffy deliciousness!! <3
Pam says
November 28, 2017 at 9:01 pmThese look perfect for Christmas. I love peppermint and candy cane flavored anything.
Cynthia R says
November 28, 2017 at 9:01 pmWow this are gorgeous, looks professionally made. I love candy cane flavor.
Arlett from Chasing Joy says
November 28, 2017 at 9:26 pmI am not a huge mint fan. But I do love the presentation of these. They would make lovely gifts.
Sarah L says
November 28, 2017 at 9:38 pmI like peppermint everything. These look so festive. Thanks for the tips about the frosting.
Mary Songer says
November 28, 2017 at 9:48 pmThese are lovely. They look like something I would find in a great bakery. I’m not a big peppermint person but I know people who are and these would be beautiful on my party dessert buffet. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your holiday recipes!
Claudia Krusch says
November 28, 2017 at 9:49 pmI have been looking for some recipes to make for my holiday party. These Candy Cane Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream Frosting look so delicious I am sure they will be a big hit.
tara pittman says
November 28, 2017 at 10:00 pmThese look so good. This would be a great use for all those candy canes that we get.
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
November 29, 2017 at 12:15 amThese look really good! Christmas is not complete in our house without peppermint desserts! This is a must make!
Tonia says
November 29, 2017 at 12:22 amI offices I still have mint extract very Fromm like Asta’s year and I was just planning to out it to use. These cupcakes would be perfect.
Annemarie LeBlanc says
November 29, 2017 at 1:08 amOoh, peppermint cupcakes! Delicious! I could eat a dozen of them! I will ask my sister to help me with this. We can make a big batch to share with friends and family on Christmas day!
Dogvills says
November 29, 2017 at 2:01 amWow. What a delicious looking batch of cupcakes! My children would go nuts over these. Thanks for sharing the recipe. You can be sure I will make these for Christmas!
Sara Welch says
November 29, 2017 at 3:20 amThis is such an amazing recipe idea! I love candy canes and everything to do with them.
brianne says
November 29, 2017 at 7:09 amThese cupcakes look so yummy! I love the candy cane on top making it look so festive!
mycraftingworld says
November 29, 2017 at 7:30 amIt looks very good. What is red paste food color? I have never heard of “paste” food color. I want to try it out. I love peppermint flavored items too.
Amy D says
November 29, 2017 at 9:17 amGreat recipe! I love the idea of crushed candy can on top of the cupcake instead of sprinkles. I will be making this recipe for my neighborhood holiday party.
Rachel says
November 29, 2017 at 12:27 pmWhoa! This just screams “The holidays”! Beautiful and festive! My family would love these! I am a fan of peppermint/candy cane flavor so this is right up our alley! Great recipe!
Rosie says
November 29, 2017 at 2:03 pmoh wow this recipe has me totally forgetting about everything pumpkin spice – bring on the peppermint!! I’d love to try this!
Claire says
November 29, 2017 at 4:41 pmI love the visual but I am curious what it will actually taste like! Does it taste like candy muffin? haha.
Diana Elizabeth says
November 29, 2017 at 7:47 pmThis is the 100% Christmas cupcake! They look so delicious and festive! I love the colors too!
Bernadette Callahan says
November 29, 2017 at 8:11 pmThose look amazing! We are making a list of holidays treats and goodies to make and these might be added to the list.
Tiffany Haywood says
November 29, 2017 at 10:10 pmButtercream is my absolute fave!! I would love to give this recipe a try for Christmas or even Christmas Eve!
Veronica Solomon says
November 30, 2017 at 1:10 amThe perfect treat for Christmas time. Yum!
donna porter says
November 30, 2017 at 12:13 pmThese cupcakes look so delicious and festive for the holidays. I will make these for our Christmas party and sure they will be a hit!
Mary Songer says
November 30, 2017 at 8:04 pmI bet this frosting would be great with chocolate cupcakes. Every year I serve a large dessert buffet at the holiday. Cakes, pies, cookies, and more. These would look fabulous.
Candy Rachelle says
December 1, 2017 at 6:51 amWow! This candy cane cupcakes with peppermint buttercream frosting are really tempting and delicious. This is perfect for a Holiday treat. I will definitely try to make this one.
Nicole says
December 1, 2017 at 12:50 pmThese look so good! I’m not sure how I’d feel about the peppermint icing, but I’m definitely going to give it a try. These look like the perfect holiday treats! Thanks for sharing!
Owen Kelly says
December 1, 2017 at 6:56 pmI was actually thinking of spicing my holiday kitchen routine up this year. Thank you for useful tips.
Sarah L says
December 1, 2017 at 10:46 pmThese would be great to take to a party I’m going to. Most people like peppermint.
lisa says
December 2, 2017 at 1:54 pmThese cupcakes would be great to make for the kids Christmas party nothing says Christmas like a candy cane flavored cupcake.
Melissa Storms says
December 4, 2017 at 7:49 pmThese sound amazing and with cake mix as a starter they sound easy enough that I think I will bake them during the holidays.
Debbie Welchert says
December 5, 2017 at 3:16 pmWhat a wonderful recipe. The cupcakes are so pretty and they would be a wonderful surprise for my family. They would love them.
mami2jcn says
December 5, 2017 at 6:49 pmI’d love to try gingerbread cookies. I think it would be fun to decorate them.
Katie Bellamy says
December 8, 2017 at 3:39 pmThese look delicious! I love peppermint anything!
Lisa says
December 10, 2017 at 4:16 pmThese look so good. I love Candy Canes. Definitely want to make these.
mycraftingworld says
February 1, 2018 at 7:19 amWe are going to make these for Valentines Day for the Sunday School Class. The girls are so excited.
Katie Bellamy says
February 8, 2018 at 3:50 pmThese are so pretty 🙂 I love anything peppermint!