Christmas Recipes: The Ultimate Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

The holiday season is filled with joy, laughter, and of course, incredible food. Finding the perfect Christmas recipes to share with loved ones is a tradition in itself. These Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes are a festive showstopper, combining rich, moist chocolate cake with a cool, creamy peppermint buttercream that captures the magic of Christmas in every single bite.

Whether you’re looking for a stunning dessert for your holiday dinner or a sweet treat for a cookie exchange, this recipe is guaranteed to impress. It’s surprisingly simple to make but delivers a professional bakery-quality result every time. Let’s get baking and make this holiday season the most delicious one yet!

Why You’ll Love These Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

• Perfectly Festive Flavor: The classic combination of rich chocolate and bright peppermint is the quintessential taste of the holidays.
• Incredibly Moist Crumb: We use a specific combination of ingredients to ensure the chocolate cupcake is tender and moist, never dry.
• Easy to Decorate: A simple swirl of buttercream and a sprinkle of crushed candy canes is all you need to make these cupcakes look stunning.
• Crowd-Pleasing Treat: These cupcakes are a guaranteed hit with both adults and kids, making them ideal for any holiday gathering.

Essential Ingredients for Your Christmas Cupcakes

Before you begin, gather your ingredients. Using high-quality components is key to achieving the best flavor and texture in these festive Christmas recipes.

For the Chocolate Cupcakes:

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for our cupcakes.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: For that deep, rich chocolate flavor.
• Baking Soda: Helps the cupcakes rise and become fluffy.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake perfectly.
• Vegetable Oil: Guarantees a moist cupcake.
• Large Eggs: Binds the ingredients together.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: Enhances the chocolate flavor.
• Buttermilk: The secret to a tender, moist crumb.
• Hot Coffee: Blooms the cocoa powder for an intensely rich chocolate taste.

For the Peppermint Buttercream:

• Unsalted Butter: The base of our creamy frosting, ensure it’s at room temperature.
• Powdered Sugar: Thickens and sweetens the buttercream.
• Peppermint Extract: Gives the frosting its signature holiday flavor.
• Heavy Cream: Helps to create a light and fluffy consistency.
• Crushed Candy Canes: For a festive and crunchy topping.

Step-by-Step Guide to Perfect Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

Follow these simple steps to create a batch of the most delicious holiday cupcakes. This is one of those Christmas recipes you’ll come back to year after year.

Making the Chocolate Cupcakes

1. Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with festive paper liners.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and granulated sugar.
3. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk the vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined. Add the buttermilk and mix until smooth.
4. Mix Batter: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. The batter will be thick.
5. Add Coffee: Carefully pour the hot coffee into the batter and whisk until the batter is smooth and liquid. This will be a thin batter, but it’s correct.
6. Fill and Bake: Divide the batter evenly among the 12 cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Cool Completely: Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. It’s essential they are fully cooled before frosting.

Whipping Up the Peppermint Buttercream

1. Beat the Butter: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the room temperature butter on medium speed until it’s creamy and smooth.
2. Add Sugar and Cream: Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, alternating with the heavy cream. Mix on low speed until combined, then increase to medium-high and beat for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy.
3. Add Flavor: Beat in the peppermint extract until just combined. Be careful, as peppermint extract is potent!

Assembling Your Festive Treats

1. Prepare Piping Bag: Fit a piping bag with a large star tip (like a Wilton 1M) and fill it with the peppermint buttercream.
2. Frost the Cupcakes: Pipe a generous swirl of buttercream onto each completely cooled cupcake.
3. Decorate: Immediately sprinkle the frosted cupcakes with crushed candy canes for that festive finishing touch.

More Festive Holiday Recipes to Try

Once you’ve mastered these cupcakes, expand your holiday baking repertoire. For a wonderfully chewy and festive treat, try these White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies. If you’re looking for an incredibly easy no-bake option, these No-Bake Gingerbread Truffles are always a huge hit. And for a classic holiday bar, you can’t go wrong with these simple and delicious Sugar Cookie Bars.

The Recipe

FL Recipes

Christmas Recipes: The Ultimate Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

The ultimate Christmas recipe! These Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes feature a rich, moist chocolate cake topped with a cool, creamy peppermint buttercream and crushed candy canes. A festive and delicious treat for any holiday gathering.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 22 minutes mins

Total Time 42 minutes mins

Servings: 12 cupcakes

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 450

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.75 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1.5 tsp baking soda
• 0.75 tsp salt
• 1.5 cups granulated sugar
• 0.5 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs at room temperature
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 0.75 cup buttermilk at room temperature
• 0.75 cup hot coffee freshly brewed
• 1 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
• 4 cups powdered sugar sifted
• 1.5 tsp peppermint extract or to taste
• 3 tbsp heavy cream
• 0.25 cup crushed candy canes for garnish

Equipment

• 1 12-cup muffin tin
• 1 Electric mixer (stand or hand)
• 1 Piping bag and tip Optional, for decorating

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and granulated sugar.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla. Mix in the buttermilk until smooth.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined. The batter will be thick.
5. Carefully pour in the hot coffee and whisk until the batter is smooth and thin.
6. Divide the batter among the prepared liners, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Allow cupcakes to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. In a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, alternating with the heavy cream, and beat until light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes).
9. Mix in the peppermint extract until combined.
10. Once cupcakes are completely cool, pipe a swirl of buttercream on top of each cupcake.
11. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 450kcalProtein: 5gFat: 25gFiber: 3g

Notes

Make-Ahead Tip: Cupcakes can be baked up to 2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Frost just before serving for the best results.
Buttermilk Substitute: If you don't have buttermilk, you can make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a measuring cup and adding enough milk to equal 3/4 cup. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using.

Keyword chocolate peppermint cupcakes,christmas recipes,holiday baking

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Share Your Holiday Creations!

We hope these Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes become a new favorite in your collection of Christmas recipes! There’s nothing better than sharing a homemade treat with the people you love during the holidays. If you make this recipe, we’d love to see it! Share a photo on Pinterest and let us know how it turned out in the comments below.