Chocolate Mint Cupcakes
Makes 12 Cupcakes
100g plain or all-purpose flour
20g cocoa powder
140g caster
1 ½ tsp baking powder
a pinch of salt
50g unsalted butter, softened
2tbsp Creme de Menthe
120ml milk
1 egg
For the Mint Buttercream:
250g icing sugar
85g unsalted butter, softened
25ml milk
50ml Crene de Menthe (more or less to taste)/few drops mint extract
3 squares Dark chocolate plus extra for topping, finely grated
Silver Edible cake glitter I grated dark chocolate
Preheat oven to 170c/GM 3 and line muffin tin with large cupcake cases.
With an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar till well creamed.
In a separate bowl add flour, coco and baking powder. And in a jug beat the egg till frothy and and add the milk.
Sift a third of the flour mixture into the butter and sugar and mix. Then while mixing add a third of the milk mixture. Keep adding the ingredients alternately until all combined.
Continue to beat till mixture slightly lightens. When ready add the Creme de Menthe/mint extract and mix in with a spatula. If you want it more minty add more but the icing has plenty so not too much is needed. You can also keep the sponge mint free if you like and just have the mint frosting.
Spoon the batter evenly between the cake cases and bake for 20-25 minutes until springy and a sharpe pointed knife comes out of the cake clean.
While the cake is in the oven it's time to make the frosting.
Mix the very soft butter and milwith 1/4 of the icing sugar and add a few drops of the Creme de Menthe/mint extract and use an electric mixer to beat. Continue to add all the icing and beat until light and fluffy. Add more mint to taste. If using extract add a few drops of green food colouring if desired. Once ready grate in the chocolate and combine with a spatula.
Put into a piping bag with your desired piping nozzle.
Once the cakes come out I the oven leave to cool for ten minutes and transfer to a wire cooling rack. When completely cooled pipe the icing in your desired design and sprinkle over more grated chocolate and the glitter.
