Chocolate Mint Cupcakes |

Chocolate Mint Cupcakes

Filed under dessert - cakes/cupcakes

Nov 10
This may sound really silly, but this blog has brought so much joy to my life over the last year and 8 months. Silly, because really, it’s just blog, and it’s only about food. But it has really helped me to find something that I love and that I am passionate about. I’ve always enjoyed both making and eating food, but being able to share that passion – it just really makes everything more intense. And exciting. And I know that sometimes, I want to throw in the towel because really, it takes a lot of time and effort. But I don’t know – I almost feel like a piece of me would be missing without my blog.

I’ve really been touched lately. Maybe I’ll blame it on the pregnancy hormones, but every time I see my blog listed somewhere else, it makes me smile, and it makes me wonder how the little blog I started back in March of 2007 has made it this far. I know there are lots of food blogs out there that are a lot better than mine, but just knowing that it’s mine - somehow it makes me smile knowing that I have been able to do what I have done and learn what I have learned from this whole experience.

I don’t look at my stats very often, maybe once or twice a month, but I checked the other day and found out that the Salted Peanut Chews that I posted about last week were listed on Apartment Therapy’s The Kitchn as one of their delicious links for 11/06/08. I also got an email informing me that I was listed as one of the top 100 food blogs on the Culinary School Guide website. And then I got a call from a neighbor this past weekend, informing me that she had just received a copy of a local magazine in the mail, and was excited to see that I had contributed to it. I got an email months ago, asking if I’d contribute – and back then, I was seriously flattered and excited. And even though it’s only a local magazine, it’s the first time I’ve actually been in print, and it was an honor. So for the past day or two, I’ve been asked by many neighbors and family members about my blog, and although I claim to them that it’s just a “hobby”, it really has become a part of me and who I am. I know it would all sound silly to someone who doesn’t blog about food, but I’m sure many of you out there know exactly what I’m talking about! (To see the article, click here. Another wonderful food blogger – Stephanie from Stephanie’s Kitchen also contributed, so make sure to check it out!)

So really – I want to thank all of you who read my little blog – from the very depths of my heart. I have made so many online friends, and I even talk about some of you to people in real life. You have really changed my life – for the better. I know that first and foremost, I do this for myself, it’s my hobby and my little escape from the real world, but without all of you reading and commenting, it just wouldn’t be quite so much fun. I just hope that I bring a little bit of something into your lives like you have brought into mine.

I wanted to bring a virtual treat to all of you, and I thought – what better way to say “thanks” than to show a recipe made by another food blogger? I know it’s the ultimate compliment to me when you make one of the recipes I have posted. So here are some delicious Chocolate Mint Cupcakes that I made from the wonderful blog – How to Eat a Cupcake. The only change I made to them was to leave out the chocolate chips, because I didn’t have an mini ones, and since I made mini sized cupcakes, I knew regular chocolate chips would be just too big. This was a great recipe – and really – food bloggers rarely let me down!!

Chocolate Mint Chip Cupcakes
from How to Eat a Cupcake, who got it from Crazy About Cupcakes

Makes 18-20 regular cupcakes

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup (2 ounces) unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped, melted
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 cup chocolate milk
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup (6 ounces) mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F. Insert liners into a medium cupcake pan.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3-5 minutes. Beat the melted chocolate into the butter mixture. Add the eggs, peppermint extract, and chocolate milk. Beat until creamy.

In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour and baking soda.

Add the dry ingredients to the chocolate mixture and beat until blended – do not over beat. With a rubber spatula, stir in the chocolate chips.

Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 – 3/4 full. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in pan.

Mint Swiss Meringue Buttercream
from How to Eat a Cupcake

Makes about 3 cups

3 egg whites
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Put egg whites and sugar in a double boiler over simmreing water. Whisking constantly, cook until sugar has dissolved and mixture is warm (about 160 degrees).

Pour heated egg mixture into a clean bowl of a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat egg white mixture on high speed until it forms stiff (but not dry) peaks. Continue beating until fluffy and cooled, about 6 minutes. (It’s very important to beat it for the whole 6 minutes.)
Switch to the paddle attachment. With the mixer on medium-low, add butter several tablespoons at a time, beating well after each addition. (If frosting appears soupy or separated after all butter has been added, beat on medium high speed until smooth again, 3-5 minutes more.)

Beat in all extracts. Reduce speed to low; beat 2 minutes to eliminate air bubbles. Stir with a rubber spatula until smooth.
52 Comments

52 Responses to “Chocolate Mint Cupcakes”

kat said on November 10th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

I know what you mean about how much food blogging has brought into your life because I feel the same way. We have such a wonderful community out there

[Reply]
AnticiPlate said on November 10th, 2008 at 5:23 pm

I feel the same way about food blogging. I am a ballet dancer by profession which is a very passionate field, but I never thought I would love something as much as ballet dancing. Yet, I love blogging and cooking just as much!

Congrats on your success! I have enjoyed reading your blog and will continue to!

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Tasty Trends said on November 10th, 2008 at 5:30 pm

i hear ya on the blogging…i love it! i also love reading your blog! those cupcakes sure look yummy!

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Lisa said on November 10th, 2008 at 5:36 pm

These look like a great treat. It is so nice to see others feel the same way about food blogging. It’s just great, isn’t it? I love your blog and will keep reading!

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Ingrid said on November 10th, 2008 at 6:07 pm

Congrats…..how exciting! You go girl! Keep up the DELISH recipes and great photos!
~ingrid

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Rosa's Yummy Yums said on November 10th, 2008 at 6:32 pm

Dainty little cupcakes! Really delicious looking and perfect!

Cheers,

Rosa

[Reply]
Mary said on November 10th, 2008 at 7:22 pm

I love your little blog too. How terrific to receive so many kudos! And these little cupcakes look delicious!

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Maria said on November 10th, 2008 at 7:27 pm

Your cupcakes are super cute! I just adore your blog. Glad you are having fun with it!! Keep the wonderful posts coming! You are amazing!

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Birdie said on November 10th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

These cup cakes look great. I love chocolate and mint.

I only wish I had more time to blog. Seems like I can only manage 1 or 2 times a week. I love it though and blogs like yours are a real inspiration to novice bloggers like me!

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Colleen said on November 10th, 2008 at 8:08 pm

Wow, I have only been blogging for 3 months but I share a lot of your sentiments – especially the first few sentences. I am glad to see that it just gets better! Congrats on all of your accomplishments…the cupcakes look delicious too!

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Melanie said on November 10th, 2008 at 8:31 pm

Wow…I’ve never made chocolate mint cupcakes but I love that combo. They look beautiful (and delicious). I read your recipe submission (and Stephanie’s, too) in the UVMag…what fun! You deserve the accolades!

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ashley said on November 10th, 2008 at 8:52 pm

i totally agree with you that its so great to be a part of such a wonderful food blog community. i’m so glad i discovered the world of food blogging and i love it. congrats on being featured in a local magazine!! that is very cool!

Thanks for blogging! I really do enjoy reading your blog! Oh and the cupcakes look fabulous!

[Reply]
The Food Librarian said on November 10th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

Wow! These look awesome! Thank you for sharing. Blogging is fun, isn’t it!?

[Reply]
Steph said on November 10th, 2008 at 9:53 pm

What a great post! It was lovely and I’m so excited for you! You have a great blog here and I don’t know if you know this, but you are the very reason I started my blog last January. Taste and Tell was the very first food blog that I ever saw. I didn’t even know such a thing existed. I just happened upon your blog from a friends blog and there it was. I was so impressed. I read it daily and it inspired me to start my own. Great recipe in the magazine! Thanks for sticking around!

[Reply]
Ning said on November 10th, 2008 at 11:01 pm

Hey! I totally understand your passion about food blogging because I feel the same way, too! Of course, I do not have your “fame” I also agree that we have a wonderful community here. You have a lovely blog! Congratulations!

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Mrs. L said on November 10th, 2008 at 11:15 pm

How cute these cupcakes are! They look very yummy. Congrats on all the accolades, well deserved!

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Erin said on November 10th, 2008 at 11:47 pm

These cupcakes look great. I love the chocolate and mint combination. I really enjoy your blog. You always have great recipes that I would actually make!

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Mary said on November 11th, 2008 at 12:15 am

What a wonderful treat! I love your blog – you deserve the attention it’s getting. Congratulations.

[Reply]
PheMom said on November 11th, 2008 at 2:57 am

My blog is just coming up to its 1 year mark actually at New Years and I have loved it and know what you mean already. I’m so glad for you that things are going so well. You absolutely deserve it! I’m so happy for you and Stephanie (YAY!) about the article.

Those little cupcakes are just way too darn cute, I have to say!

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Patsyk said on November 11th, 2008 at 2:58 am

What a wonderful treat!

Congrats on making it into print! that is quite exciting. I know what you mean about the impact that writing a blog about something that you are passionate about. I know I’ve discovered a love of writing in the process during this past year.

[Reply]
Claire said on November 11th, 2008 at 2:59 am

Congrats for all your success. It is exciting to get attention for your blog, isn’t it? This little cupcakes look fantastic. My dad would really like them.

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mimi said on November 11th, 2008 at 3:03 am

what great cheer for all your blogging success! these little cupcakes look fantastic. i’ve been wanting to do something with my peppermint extract and i think i’ve found the one! so you’ll probably get one more link again

[Reply]
Paula said on November 11th, 2008 at 4:49 am

Congratulations on all the shout-outs that your blog has received. It’s been a pleasure to read your blog, and I look forward to reading more. The entire blog community is looking forward to the arrival of your petite chef!

[Reply]
myfoodstoragedeals said on November 11th, 2008 at 5:08 am

I love your blog! I am not surprised you are getting all of the attention…you deserve it! My sisters and I follow your blog faithfully. We love to cook and enjoy trying your new recipes. If you are wanting to know a way you can make money from your blog, email me. I have a blog as well and a company that I think you would enjoy and that your readers could benefit from as well. Check out my blog at http://www.myfoodstoragedeals.blogspot.com and our website http://www.myfoodstoragedeals.com. We are a Utah company that I would love to get your feedback from and see if our business could benefit your readers. I would love to chat with you, my emial is Shandra@myfoodstoragedeals.com. Good luck with everything, you are fabulous

[Reply]
Peabody said on November 11th, 2008 at 8:22 am

Food blogging has changed my life in many ways! So you don’t sound silly at all!

[Reply]
Patricia Scarpin said on November 11th, 2008 at 1:10 pm

I don’t think you are silly – I think you are adorable, Deb!
I love blogging, too, and cannot picture myself without it any longer. It has changed me and my life in lots of ways, in different levels. Not to mention the wonderful people I have met that share the passion for cooking and baking with me (and you are one of them!).

The cupcakes look lovely. Just like you!

[Reply]
giz said on November 11th, 2008 at 1:44 pm

Food bloggers are really kind and special people aren’t they. I mean what can be more nurturing that sharing food?
I love love love the green in the icing – such a pretty shade and the cupcakes look exactly like their name.

[Reply]
RecipeGirl said on November 11th, 2008 at 2:44 pm

I could have written everything that you just did- I agree wholeheartedly about how you feel about blogging. It’s extremely flattering to see your blog out there and that people are actually reading!!! Congrats on the magazine. I was flattered to make that top 100 list too

Thank you for the cupcakes. They’re so pretty!

[Reply]
mikky said on November 11th, 2008 at 3:59 pm

very lovely cupcakes…

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Grace said on November 11th, 2008 at 5:52 pm

amen! delightful commentary and lovely recipe. chocolate and mint go together as wonderfully as you and blogging.

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Sara said on November 11th, 2008 at 8:20 pm

Your cupcakes are adorable!

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kimberleyblue said on November 11th, 2008 at 10:40 pm

Wow, congrats! That’s quite the honour, to show up on that list. And you definitely deserve it! I love your blog.

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Darius T. Williams said on November 12th, 2008 at 12:21 am

Yup – love these cupcakes…love them, love them, love them!

I wish you could see my ‘love them’ dance.

-DTW
[www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com]

[Reply]
Cynthia said on November 12th, 2008 at 12:39 am

And through this blog you have brought a lot to us too… so thank you honey and I look forward to more.

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Debbie said on November 12th, 2008 at 11:52 am

I know what you mean about food blogging. I started my blog last June and I never thought I could enjoy it like I do. I am always thinking about what to cook next and share on my blog. It is more fun than I would have ever thought. Your blog is wonderful and I “check in” all the time and enjoy it!!!

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Susan from Food Blogga said on November 12th, 2008 at 2:17 pm

Aren’t those just the sweetest cupcakes? They’d be ideal for St. Patrick’s Day too. PS-Your blog is wonderful.

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Dawn said on November 12th, 2008 at 7:41 pm

My food blogging brings me a lot of joy too. Addicting in a way, but a good way. And the best part? I love all the new people I’ve met on here.
Love mint cupcakes…been to long since I’ve made them.

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glamah16 said on November 12th, 2008 at 9:29 pm

Great news. Food blogging opens up so many avenues and really just changes our lives for the better.

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noble pig said on November 13th, 2008 at 1:49 am

Thanks for the treat and congrats on all the good press, you deserve it!

[Reply]
Aggie said on November 13th, 2008 at 5:35 pm

Food blogging has changed my life in a way too…since I stopped working years ago to stay home with the babies I didn’t have much going on that was just for me…so this has been a wonderful creative outlet for me as well…and I’m so passionate about it! I love all the foodies I meet along the way too!

Congrats on all of your recognition and your article!! That is so wonderful!

And your little cupcakes look fantastic!!

[Reply]
Kevin said on November 14th, 2008 at 2:31 am

Congrats on the article! Those muffins look great! I really like the chocolate and mint combo.

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Sophie said on November 14th, 2008 at 4:50 am

Congrats! How cool, you’re a food celeb! I bet your baby will be born with a little apron on !

The cupcakes are so pretty! The green really makes me think of mint :0).

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eatme_delicious said on November 14th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

Aw great post. And I totally know what you mean about how sometimes you want to just give up on food blogging but you don’t because you feel like part of yourself would be missing. That’s exactly how I feel. The food blogging community is such a great thing to be a part of. And wow those cupcakes look gorgeous!

[Reply]
Katie said on November 15th, 2008 at 10:06 am

Congraultions on being publish and on all your other successes. Your words sum up perfectly about how I feel about my own blog.
Thanks for the virtual mint cupcakes, they’re so cute

[Reply]
Jaime said on November 17th, 2008 at 5:02 am

those are adorable! i feel the same way as you do about food blogging – it’s become a wonderful hobby for me you have a great blog and you should be proud of it!

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Amanda at Little Foodies said on November 18th, 2008 at 2:14 pm

I love this post. Pregnancy hormones or not it’s good to share your feelings.

Chocolate Mint Cupcakes – surely the stats will go even higher.

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Emily said on November 22nd, 2008 at 12:53 am

Congrats on the article! That’s amazing.
I love your blog. You do such a good job.

I was a little behind, but I caught up.

The cupcakes look great!

[Reply]
Vicky said on September 5th, 2009 at 1:08 pm

OOh thanks for crossposting this! I made the cupcakes yesterday and they were DELICIOUS!

[Reply]
Anonymous said on October 27th, 2009 at 1:27 am

Hi, I was just wondering where you purchase mint extract from?

Thanks

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Deborah said on November 5th, 2009 at 3:43 am

Anon – you should be able to buy it in any grocery store, in the spice isle. Usually where the have the vanilla extract. Good luck!

[Reply]
Me said on September 2nd, 2010 at 11:23 pm

We really like your mint cupcakes so have included them in our five mint cupcake feature at http://www.partycupcakeideas.com

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Paulina said on March 17th, 2012 at 6:38 pm

I loved these cupcakes! The icing was amazing! but I added a little less peppermint extract. I made them for St Patricks Day and brought them to a party and everyone loved them. Thank you for the recipe!

[Reply]

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