Chocolate Cupcakes with Our Hot Fudge Filling and Mint Buttercream Icing

Purchase one of our gourmet Hot Fudge Sauces HERE

It's that time of year again.... Baking season!
We have a great recipe for you that not only captures the tastes of the season but also incorporates our gourmet hot fudge sauces as well!  It's like a little hidden surprise :)


Chocolate Cupcakes with Mint Buttercream Icing AKA Mint Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup boiling hot water
1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease or line 16 muffin cups with liners.
2.  In a small bowl, stir boiling water and the cocoa powder until smooth. Set aside and let cool while you prepare everything else.
3. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth. Beat in the vanilla. Then add the flour mixture and beat only until incorporated. Then add the cooled cocoa mixture and stir until smooth.
5. Fill each muffin cup about 1/2 full with batter and add a teaspoon of our Original or Mocha Hot Fudge.  Scoop a bit of batter over the top to cover the hot fudge and bake for 16-20 minutes or until springy to the touch and toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Place on a wire rack to cool.
6. Frost with mint frosting once cupcakes are completely cooled. You can either pipe them or spread them on with a spatula. Piping is pretty and so much fun to do! I also like to add festive sprinkles, candied cherries or a dusting of sweetened cocoa powder.

Mint Buttercream Icing
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tbsp milk
1/4 – 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
2 cups powdered sugar
Directions:
1. Beat the butter at medium speed until creamy. Beat in milk and mint extract.
2. Slowly add in the powdered sugar on low speed, stopping every once in a while to scrape down the sides of the bowl, until light and fluffy. Taste and add more mint extract if it isn’t minty enough.