Chocolate and mint are a great combination, especially when you use fresh mint. I used chopped mint leaves steeped in cream to make the ganache filling. It is addictive on its own and I love the grassy taste of fresh mint.
The cupcakes are a slight variation on the recipe I have been using lately. The texture is a little less brownie like, but dense, moist, and not-to-sweet chocolatey, just like I like.
I opted for peppermint extract for the frosting. I was doubtful of the outcome, but went easy on the extract and was very happy with the results. I am allowing myself only a half of one of these which I will eat later, so I will have to update the post with the “tasting notes” of the end result.
Update: I ate my half a cupcake…
I have tasted a number of cupcakes in the past year and am a little jaded, you could say. But the combination of the cake and frosting in this recipe is amazing. I could have had a whole one. I will be honest, you can skip the filling and keep it simple, the cake and frosting alone make one hell of a tasty cupcake.
Chocolate Cupcakes
24 regular cupcakes / 350 degree oven
200 gram bar of Valrhona 61% cocao
3 sticks butter
2-1/4 cups sugar
8 eggs
1-1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder, unsweetened
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of salt
1. chop chocolate and transfer into the bowl of a standing mixer.
2. add butter to the chocolate and place the bowl over a pan of simmering water. stir until chocolate melts and butter is combined.
3. remove from heat and stir in sugar. let mixture cool for 10 minutes.
4. beat in an electric mixer for 3 minutes.
5. add one egg at a time, mixing for 30 seconds between each
6. sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and a pinch of salt into the mixture and mix until blended.
7. scoop into cupcake cups and bake at 350 F for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
cupcakes cooling
Chocolate-Mint Ganache
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup + 1 teaspoon chopped mint leaves
1 tablespoon butter, room temperature
1. chop chocolate and transfer into a heat proof bowl.
2. heat cream and 1/4 cup mint until bubbles form around the edge of the pan, pour cream through strainer, over the chocolate.
3. let sit for 1 minute then stir until combined.
4. add butter and the remaining teaspoon of chopped mint and stir until combined.
5. let cool then transfer to the refrigerator to thicken, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
filling pastry bag
frosting cupcakes
Mint Buttercream Frosting
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
4-5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/4 cup milk
1/8 teaspoon all natural peppermint extract
1. beat butter until creamy, scrape bowl.
2. add 4 cups of sifted powdered sugar, milk, and peppermint extract, beat until combined.
3. add more powdered sugar as needed to get piping consistency.
Note: I tried to keep the mint flavor subtle and not too overpowering. I recommend starting on the light side with 1/8 teaspoon or less and tasting to get the flavor you want.
Assemble
1. stuff the cupcakes with ganache using the cone method (cut out a cone shape from the top, cut off the pointy cone part, stuff the whole with filling, then put the top back on)
2. frost them.
3. top with something green (if you want), like a mint leaf, green candy, or whatever you fancy.
Ohhh how lush. I also pipe my icing with a star tip, but if it gets too cool, it doesn’t flow smoothly, but rather unevenly (generally when I use melted chocolate in, say, a buttercream). Do you make sure the icing is room-temp? Or perhaps I am adding too much powdered sugar (makes it stiff). Heh, anyway, yours is perfection :}
Comment by mollie — March 26, 2006 @ 7:40 pm
Incredible!
These are going on the must-try list!
Comment by Ivonne — March 26, 2006 @ 7:53 pm
Hey, Mollie. Yeah frosting consistency is definitely a challenge, especially with melted chocolate! With plain-old buttercream, I keep everything at room temp, get consistency with powdered sugar, and use asap (buttercream gets crusty). With melted chocolate-based frostings, it’s a balancing act with regfrigeration, mixing, and ingredients.
Those air bubbles are what get me! Everything can be piping out great and then, oops…
Comment by chockylit — March 26, 2006 @ 8:17 pm
I love love love love your blog and your cupcakes! Where do you get your papers? I’m in Italy so little chance of finding them here but though maybe I could get them on the web. Keep up the wonderful work.
Comment by Yael — March 27, 2006 @ 3:36 am
sorry just found the answer in your faq’s!
Comment by Yael — March 27, 2006 @ 3:39 am
I’ve been hoping you’d use some fresh mint!
Comment by Rachel — March 27, 2006 @ 4:12 am
Hi,
What type of piping bag do you use, it looks like a really good one.
I am still trying to perfect my piping technique. Do you have any tips?
I love your website, your cakes are heavenly.
I am from Britain and I have just started my own cupcake business, but we just don’t have the “cupcake culture” here that you do in the states.
Kepp up the good work, can’t wait for your next recipe.
Lindsay x
Comment by Lindsay — March 27, 2006 @ 11:54 am
Hi Chockylit!
Did you end up using the ganache on these babies? I didn’t see any assembly directions. I assume you just cut in a cone, filled them, topped it back and then frosted with the buttercream? I’ve only filled cupcakes using my finger to poke a hole, so i am curious about your cone cutting technique.
Thanks!
xo
kittee
Comment by kittee — March 27, 2006 @ 4:01 pm
I have a non-cupcake related question. The kitchen I see in the photos (marble countertops, subway tile backsplash), is it the kitchen in your home or is it a professional space? Love your blog and keep up the great work!
Comment by Anonymous — March 27, 2006 @ 5:14 pm
Hey, Lindsay, the bag I have is a Wilton 16″ Featherweight Decorating Bag. It’s my favorite of all the ones I have tried and has held up for a long time. That’s fantastic that you’ve started a business! It’s only a matter of time until cupcakes catch on :)
Kittee, Oops, I missed that instruction. My bad. I added it… I indeed used the cone method as the gananche is really thick.
Abuot the kitchen, it is in my home. I tiled that backsplash myself! Mostly it was pretty DIY, but I splurged on the counter tops…
Comment by chockylit — March 27, 2006 @ 10:26 pm
woohoo - big congratulations on your Chronicle mention today! Your cake pictures knock the socks off theirs.
Comment by Sam Breach (Sixy Beast) — March 29, 2006 @ 7:12 am
Wow! You are a superstar now. I can see the bones of the samoa cupcake recipe in the chronicle are the magnolia vanilla cupcake. That is a great base recipe, so glad I learned about that here.
Comment by Jennifer — March 29, 2006 @ 7:46 am
Great blog–I got directed here by the Chronicle article, and saw your recipe for the lemon, lime and grapefruit curd filled cupcakes. I have some key limes and Meyer lemons sitting in my fridge right now and I was wondering what to do with them.
Now, I know.
I would make these chocolate mint cupcakes, but the husband doesn’t like chocolate. He’s so weird.
Comment by Barbara — March 29, 2006 @ 10:46 am
I’m so glad that I found your site! I made the Lemon LimeCurd filled cupcakes. They were wonderful and the gang I served them to were duly impressed. I happened to have a nifty new tool around and rather than cut out the cone to fill the cupcakes, I used this new melon baller (never had one before). Then I had a cool little treat for “we who can’t keep our hands off anything” - the cute little ball to dip in the leftover icing! I think that it was faster for me to do it this way - tho you can probably “cone” yours in no time flat.
Comment by Lesley — March 29, 2006 @ 1:14 pm
Wow, thanks so much for the step by step process on this one. Baking is sort of the “next frontier” of learning how to cook for me and you make it seem approachable. Thanks.
Madeline
www.rachaelrayblog.blogspot.com
Comment by Madeline — March 29, 2006 @ 2:13 pm
i saw your photos on flickr. where do you buy those paper cups? i’d love to try using those to bake in, but i can’t find them anywhere.
Comment by Honey Bunny — March 29, 2006 @ 3:48 pm
These new mint cupcakes look delicious!! I want to try them, but I have been having a problem with your chocolate recipes. I made the old one twice (Devil’s Food… and Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes) and the new one twice (Peanut Butter… and Cherry Chocolate…). I keep having the same problem. :-( They puff up really nice and then started falling down after I remove them from the oven. With the new recipe, I’ve had them flatten as far as 3/4” in those cups that you use. I played with the chocolate cherry recipe after the first batch fell. I added a lot more flour. They held up, but they were quite dry.=( Any help? Maybe 1 cup of my flour is too light, how much does yours weight? Anyway they were still delicious! I’ve made a few non-chocolate recipes and they came out very delicious!!! Keep the awesome cupcakes coming!! My whole family can’t stop talking about cupcakes.
To everyone that keeps asking for the cups: Before you buy them online, go to your local restaurant supply store, they may have them!! Mine has about 6 different sizes. I bought 250 – 3.25 ounce SOLO cups for $3.90. There should be at least one in driving distance for everyone. Check your phonebook.
Comment by Kristi =) — March 30, 2006 @ 5:23 am
Kristi, before you start adding flour, and what not… Are you sure they are being baked thoroughly? This could be a reason they are falling. Get a temperature gauge for your oven to make sure the oven temp is correct, then be sure to test cupcakes with a toothpick before taking them out. Test cupcakes in the front and back of the oven as they can cook unevenly.
I have never had any of these recipes fall, but I used to have that happen to me in the past. I am certain it was because they were underbaked.
Give it a try and tell me how it goes.
Comment by chockylit — March 30, 2006 @ 8:04 am
Thank you for such a wonderful blog. I’ve never been a fan of cupcakes really, but your recipes and colorful pictures invite me to try them out.
Comment by verano — March 30, 2006 @ 9:12 am
You’ve done a really fantastic job with your blog! Thanks for sharing all of your knowledge and tips - it’s really been helpful. Can I ask what size the cupcake is? Also, which tip did you use? I’m a beginner, so I’m just now getting comfortable holding the pastry bag and learning what the different tips do. Once again, great job!
Comment by payal — March 30, 2006 @ 2:02 pm
Hey Chockylit!
My oven is fairly new, and I have checked the temperature several times in the past. I also keep a pizza stone in the bottom of my oven to hold the proper temperature. I preheat well in advance to ensure that the stone and oven walls are up to temperature.
I forgot to mention one odd detail. They fall in the oven, as well as out. I baked another batch last night (Mint). I took pictures so you can see what I mean. They puff up really nice, and then about half way… they start to fall. :-( That’s why I was thinking it was the flour. I don’t know what else it could possible be. I’ve never had such a baking problem before.
I did two batches. The first, I baked them 26 minutes. They came out a little dry on the top. The second, I used convection baking for 25 minutes. They came out like a cake brownie. The second was very moist and delicious!! I feel like I’m doomed to chocolate box-mix cake! :-(
http://kristina.gabrieleponti.com/
I wanted to complement you on the Ricotta Raspberry Almond Cupcakes with Citrus Meringue Frosting! Those are soooo delicious!! I’ve been passing those out here and there. People go crazy over those. They’re like a mini master piece, the look and the taste. My sister keeps begging me to make them with strawberries instead of raspberries. Since those were so tasty, I can’t wait to make the cupcakes with raspberry mousse frosting. Yum!!
Thanks for sharing your recipes!
- Kristi =)
Comment by Kristi — April 1, 2006 @ 2:14 pm
I just tried these and they are delicious. I linked to your blog from the chronicle and am so excited to try more of your recipes. They all soung amazing! Thanks so much for posting them.
Comment by Leah — April 3, 2006 @ 1:48 am
Hey, kristi. I am so perplexed and bummed that its not working. I have never had either of those recipes fall, so I am confused as to what could be the problem. The only other thing would be the age of the baking powder/sodae. If its old and inactive, that could cause a problem. But I am grasping at straws here… Sorry!
Comment by chockylit — April 5, 2006 @ 7:01 pm
I just baked “Rich Chocolate Cupcakes Filled with Chocolate-Mint Ganache with Topped with Mint Buttercream” - half the recipe called for and only the choc cupcakes and I think they turned out really good. I was told that chocolate icing should go on top of these cakes. Any suggestions? I’d like to make them again for my lil’ tot’s birthday party.
Comment by aud — April 7, 2006 @ 3:15 pm
Hey, aud. Couple of options on the blog… This one which allows for varying based on taste (this version is pretty sweet) or just a straight up ganache frosting, like the one here.
Comment by chockylit — April 7, 2006 @ 6:06 pm
Ganache topping sounds great! I plan to make the cupcakes the night before the party: a couple of questions:
-how do I keep the cupcakes moist till the next day?
-would using self-raising flour or cake flour make the cupcakes fluffier?
btw. everything is awesome here, including ppprompt reply! Really appreciate it! Thanks.
Comment by aud — April 8, 2006 @ 11:14 pm
Hi, aud.
As far as storing cupcakes overnight, there are many options depending on what you have on hand. Before you wrap them they should be completely cool. Its also best to wrap unfilled and unfrosted (easier to store a lot more and you won’t ruin the frosting), if you can put off finishing to the day of the party.
1. If you have these handy plastic containers, you can put the frosted cupcakes in them and then wrap with plastic wrap.
2. If you have tupperware, you can stack unfrosted cupcakes in the tupperware with a layer of parchment paper or wax paper in between each layer of cupcakes.
3. Otherwise, you can place the cupcakes on a sheet or cookie pan and wrap the entire thing with plastic wrap.
I purchased industrial sized plastic wrap from Costco and it is very handy for any of these options.
As for adding self-rising or cake flour. Self-rising flour has leavener already in it (baking powder), so adding that in addition to existing baking powder could ruin the cupcakes as oppose to making them fluffier (there will be too much gas and the cupcakes will run out of the papers). Although, I haven’t tried it, but this is my guess based on what I have read.
Cake flour gives baked goods a more delicate texture, but I am not sure if they would be fluffier. You shoudl experiment next time you make some. Make a batch of cupcakes, but divide it in three before adding the flour, then add all-purpose in one batch, self-rising in one, and cake in the last. Maybe I will try that some time.
Thanks for the great questions!
Comment by chockylit — April 9, 2006 @ 12:30 pm
Thanks Chockylit! Once again, awesome info and suggestions!
Comment by aud — April 10, 2006 @ 10:53 pm
I too am having problems with falling cupcakes. It happened with this recipe as well as the “Melt in Your Mouth Chocolate Cupcakes” which incidentally wasn’t your recipe. My baking soda is a little old. I’ll throw it out and see if that makes a difference. Thanks for your blog. Your presentation techniques are inspirational!
Comment by e — April 12, 2006 @ 7:28 pm
I made these cupcakes last night for my husband, who is an accountant and is in the midst of his busiest time. He took most of them into the office, but I was able to snag one before he left. They are truly the very best cupcakes I’ve ever had. They took a bit of time to make, but this recipe is a keeper. I’m moving onto the lemon curd cupcakes next…
Comment by emily — April 14, 2006 @ 8:20 am
Thank you chockylit! These cupcakes have made me a hero at work, at home and with my friends. I am riding a borrowed wave of baking glory…
Comment by amanda — April 14, 2006 @ 4:05 pm
Hi Chockylit! It just dawned on me that overnighting the fudge frosting may not work. I had initially planned to chill the frosting till the next day. Think it will work? The recipe says chill for 20 minutes or so and frost when thick enough. Help!!!! Hope to hear back soon. Thanks again. Audrey
Comment by aud — April 21, 2006 @ 10:57 pm
You sure can chill it over night. It may be super thick and un-pipable, but leave it out at room temp for an hour or so and it should be fine. I will sometimes, if I am in a rush, warm it up slightly over a water bath. That is a little trickier, so letting the frosting come to room temp naturally is the best way to go.
Comment by chockylit — April 22, 2006 @ 12:07 am
Hi chockylit, I’m having cupcake sinkage issues too.
They look like Kristy’s… I will persist though.
Comment by a girl like me — May 17, 2006 @ 4:46 am
sorry to hear that. you want to make sure you beat enough at step 4, use fresh baking powder, have oven at the right temperature, and don’t open the oven door to soon in the baking process.
Comment by chockylit — May 17, 2006 @ 9:23 pm
I’m sure it MUST have something to do with one of the above. Muchos thanks, and I’m trying them again tonight!
Despite sinkage though - they were all gone by the time I got home the next day - I think I ended up with some really ugly brownies…:D I had actually intended to turn them into mini Nigella cloud cakes, but no luck - all gone!
Comment by a girl like me — May 20, 2006 @ 2:15 am
You have to stop featuring all of these buttercream frosted cupcakes, you are making my stomach growl far too often when I am supposed to be being busy and important! Thanks for yet another great recipe.
Comment by Bill Belew — May 22, 2006 @ 9:00 am
Hi, reporting back - worked out great this past time. :)
Loved them…
Comment by a girl like me — May 28, 2006 @ 7:49 am
Yay! I am glad they worked. I used this chocolate recipe again this past week for the chai chocolate cupcakes and I just love it. Its a great base. A bit brownie like, but not too much so and always moist and chocolatey.
Comment by chockylit — May 28, 2006 @ 10:55 am
I love love love love your blog and your cupcakes! i’m m’sia n want to know 3 stick butter or 1 stick butter is equal to what cup.. i’m not very good in measuring n this is my first time i try to bake cupcake.
Comment by Anonymous — May 30, 2006 @ 2:28 am
A stick of butter is 1/2 cup or 100 grams.
Comment by chockylit — May 31, 2006 @ 10:37 pm
Hi, I just found your wonderful site! I’m planning to try this recipe for a weekend get-together and was wondering if you have ever made these in a mini-size, and if so, do you forego the ganache filling?
Thanks! Sara
Comment by Anonymous — June 2, 2006 @ 7:54 am
Hi, Sara. I have made the cake part mini-sized many times and it works great (baking time is closer to 16-20 minutes). I normally don’t fill mini’s with thick fillings like ganache, its a lot of trouble and results in a big mess. To be honest, I liked these just as much unfilled. I made them a second time unfilled for a party and everyone loved them.
Comment by chockylit — June 2, 2006 @ 8:15 am
Great! I’m going to try these tonight without the ganache - wish me luck :)
Sara
Comment by Anonymous — June 2, 2006 @ 8:28 am
Hi chockylit! Love your blog. I’ve been a quiet observer for quite some time now. Cupcakes are my favorite. I have to chime in on the sinking issue. It happens to me sometimes, but I’m pretty sure it has to do with the high altitude here. I’m at about 6500 feet. I tried baking some lovely white chocolate raspberry cupcakes from Bon Appetite. The batter was delish, and they started baking wonderfully but fell in the oven 3/4 through baking time. I tried again increasing oven temp 25 degrees but same result. I gave up on that recipe but would like to find a way to make it work.
Anyway, thanks for a great space full of recipes and pics. Love it!
Comment by Nickel_Wishes — June 11, 2006 @ 11:31 am
please, tell me, what is bar of Valrhona 61% cocao? Im writing to you from mexico city. thank you… fabiola
Comment by Anonymous — July 5, 2006 @ 4:41 pm
hi chockylit!!..i love ur blog…n thx for sharing ur recipes here…i was wondering…are you frosting too sweet??…i’m searching for a less sweet kinda frosting…please share with us if you have it….:)…thx in advance…
Comment by Nana — July 7, 2006 @ 7:18 am
Hi Chockylit: Where do you get the baking cups? I’ve looked everywhere for them.
Comment by Kai — July 7, 2006 @ 9:36 am
I made these last weekend and they turned out so well! I have to admit that I was intimidated at first by all the steps, but I couldn’t resist giving them a try. They solved my problem b/c I wanted to make something chocolatey but not too rich/heavy during a NYC heatwave. I decorated them with green sugar crystals and no one at my party could believe I’d made them myself. Thanks for the great recipe!
Comment by Alli — August 10, 2006 @ 1:47 pm
Hi Chockylit, I stumbled upon ur blog 2wks ago & hv since tried this recipe twice.My 2 young boys can’t thank u enuf!I grow mint in my balcony & am glad to hv found another way to use them :).Now, while waiting for my mint to grow,I’m going to try other cupcakes. btw, I read somewhere abt the cause of dome cupcake (I have that problem) but I can’t seem to find it. Wld appreciate your enlightenment.
Many thks all the way from Singapore.
Comment by Jo — August 31, 2006 @ 1:10 am
Another query re the cupcake base sinking (I have left a message on the Chai spice page about this, too) -
I am wondering if it has anything to do with the cocoa? The recipe calls for unsweetened, but do you use natural or Dutch-processed? I am guessing it is Dutch-processed as the recipe uses baking powder. I read about the different types of cocoa on http://www.joyofbaking.com/cocoa.html
Also, my baking powder is not very old, so I do not understand why this is happening!
Nevertheless, I am going to attempt again and experiment with different cocoas.
Comment by Jess — September 22, 2006 @ 9:30 pm
Jess - Please read the reply at the chai spice recipe.
Comment by chockylit — September 23, 2006 @ 8:36 am
I want to make a peppermint frosting (not chocolate) using fresh mint leaves instead of peppermint extract. I have never steeped leaves, so am a little unsure as to how to do this. As there is no cream in the buttercream recipe, what would you suggest? Could I possibly steep the leaves in the 1/4 cup milk and then let the milk cool? Or would this affect the buttercream?
Comment by Jess — October 8, 2006 @ 7:01 pm
I love this recipe. :)
This week I adapted it a little bit to suit the differences in ingredients here in the UK…it’s on my website here: http://shimelle.com/cupcakes/122/i-know-that-we-should
Hope you don’t mind! :)
Thanks so much for your always inspiring work.
Comment by shimelle — December 7, 2006 @ 12:29 pm
I just tried this recipe tonight, it turned out so good, I love love love the frosting. Mine didn’t fall but they didn’t end up as high as yours did. My baking powder is brand new so I don’t think that is it. If I don’t want the outside to be kinda hard should I decrease the # of eggs and maybe add something else to compensate.
Comment by Michelle — December 14, 2006 @ 8:40 pm
I made these for everyone for Xmas eve here at our place. It was total chaos here for hours, but when I handed these out - there was utter and blissful silent for 15 minutes. I am now a total follower. Thank you so much for this awesome recipe!
Jen
P.S. Here is a picture of the cupcakes:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrry550/332798145/in/set-72157594437614365/
Comment by Jen Krieger — December 25, 2006 @ 8:57 am
I made these for my co-workers. These cupcakes are great! My ganache did not come out right. I think I used too little chocolate. I was left with this chocolate soup with chocolate bits. I just whipped it until it became Chocolate Mint Cream. That worked just as well.
Comment by JaySpice — February 16, 2007 @ 7:47 am
I made these yesterday without the ganache (due to time). The problem I had was that I ended up with way too much batter. It made 36 cupcakes, and that was from overfilling them! They all had completely flat tops that were basically a light flaky crust, kind of like a meringue. I concluded that I must have beat the eggs too long, so the batter expanded more than it should have, resulting in more batter and the strangely flaky tops. They still tasted good, but I’d like to know how to correct this for next time. I followed the directions exactly. The only thing is that I have a crappy five-speed hand mixer, not a stand mixer. I beat the eggs on the second lowest speed. Was this correct, or should I have left it on the lowest?
The frosting was very delicious. It reminded me of the creme in a grasshopper cookie, but of course way more decadent and yummy.
Comment by Zoe — March 13, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
Can I replace the peppermint extract in the frosting with vanilla to make vanilla frosting?
Comment by Margaret — April 12, 2007 @ 10:08 am
yes, of course.
Comment by chockylit — April 12, 2007 @ 10:20 am
Hi, just stumble upon ur awesome blog. I’ve made a few types of choc cupcake before and these are the best. But the batter overflow, can u specify how much batter to put in the cup so that it baked just till the tip of the cup. Thank you so much.
ps– valrhona choc is very very expensive here, can i use other type?
Comment by Soraya — August 24, 2007 @ 12:41 am
I’ve made it three times now using 60% Ghirardelli chocolate and they’ve come out delicious! I have no doubts that Valrhona is superior, but it’s three times as much money. >.
Comment by Chad — October 9, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
Hi, i had try to beat the frosting recipe, but somehow its alway turn into yellow and not white. Do you know why???? And how can i make the frosting to white.
Comment by Linh — January 2, 2008 @ 2:17 pm
Hi chockylit, love your website. I tried your old fashioned chocolate recipe, the first time it turned out good and very delicious. My daughter called it heavenly chocolate cupcakes. but the second time, I was distracted and accidently put double the butter and it dropped but the taste still there. Will make it again.
Comment by aznor — May 16, 2008 @ 7:42 pm