Rich chocolate cupcakes filled with peppermint cream and topped with a chocolate frosting made with hot chocolate mix ~ a perfect winter treat!
(the hot cocoa frosting is to DIE for…just thought you should know that right up front….!)
I love hot chocolate…. it is one of my favorite parts of winter. My friend Dawn recently suggested we participate in a Hot Chocolate Run. If you’ve never heard of this (I hadn’t!) let me show you a little of the amazingness that makes up a Hot Chocolate Run.
Nothing motivates better than chocolate, I always say! Who needs a medal when you can have a big cup of cocoa and warm chocolate fondue after a race?
In any case, I’ve been moderately addicted to hot cocoa ever since that weekend. We all know what happens when I get a flavor stuck in my mind right? Cupcakes happen. Hot Chocolate Cupcakes in this case– with some peppermint as a bonus. If you don’t like peppermint you can easily leave it out of this recipe, but I love the combination! Are you ready to make these? Here we go.
INGREDIENTS:
- One boxed dark chocolate cake mix (plus oil, water and eggs needed to make mix according to box)
- One packet of Dream Whip (what is Dream Whip? Click HERE)
- 1/2c. cold milk
- 3 t. vanilla (divided)
- 3 tablespoons of finely crushed peppermint candies (I used Peppermint Sprinkles
)
- 1 stick (4 oz.) of salted butter at room temp.
- 1 stick (4 oz.) of unsalted butter at room temp.
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup of hot cocoa mix (I used Nestle)
- Kraft Mallow Bits
and peppermint candies to decorate as desired.
DIRECTIONS:
- Make cake mix according to box, and bake in 24 cupcake liners in muffin tins.
- Cool cupcakes completely.
- Make cream filling by placing Dream whip, milk and 1 t. vanilla in a mixing bowl and beating on high until light and fluffy.
- Add finely crushed peppermint candy and gently fold in until well combined.
- Hollow a core out of each cupcake (I used a Chicago Metallic Cupcake Plunger
that was recommended to me by a friend– LOVED it!)
(If you have baking friends this is SUCH an inexpensive and fun stocking stuffer idea– it only took me about 5 minutes to core all 24 cupcakes– and I stopped to take pictures!)
- Pipe filling into each cupcake core.
- Make frosting by combining butters, powdered sugar, cocoa mix and 2 t. vanilla in a large bowl and beating on high until fluffy.
- Pipe frosting over cupcakes and decorate as desired. (The mallow bits were really yummy with this frosting!
My thoughts: Fun and yummy winter treat!! Not a fan of peppermint? Just leave the crushed peppermint out of the filling and you have a yummy whipped cream taste with your hot chocolate frosting instead!
One note: Put the peppermints on just before serving as the frosting eventually makes them a little sticky. I hope you and your family love these little treats! Enjoy!!! ~r
EASYBAKED 
These would be welcome at any holiday party. Really nicely done and beautifully photographed.
Thank you so much!!!
dangerously good! and so cute!!! 🙂
These look so good! I bet you could do the same with the little personal mini fill cakes. Will definitely be trying this soon 🙂
That is a GREAT idea. I love those mini filled cakes…!! Thanks for the suggestion!! 🙂
You’re so welcome 🙂 I’m making this as a 9″ 2 layer cake tonight. I made a little modification to the frosting. I added an extra cup of powdered sugar and 2 tsp of milk. I’m going to use the dream whip filling for the layer between the layers.
Mmm.
Oh my..! These look so good! =) I love chocolate! great photos!
They look amazing! I am a big fan of hot chocolate…my favourite part of winter also. Your hot chocolate run sounds like fun!
Those looks delicious! And so glad to find another local blogger. In fact, my husband did that run too! Can’t wait to try the cupcakes.
Thank you! Nice to meet you- love your blog- great photography!
Gorgeously delicious!! Beautiful photography 🙂
Thank you!!!!!
These are very pretty.. they would make a Christmas dessert display look so pretty! xx
That cupcake plunger is such a good idea!! These look amazing, love chocolate and mint together 🙂
Thank you— and I think a genius invented that cupcake plunger…I just love it!
That hot chocolate frosting sounds AMAZING!!
Thanks– it is really yummy–even more yummy than I thought it would be! *Love* hot chocolate….
These look so pretty and festive! Love them 🙂
Thank you!!!
These look wonderful! And the hot chocolate photos are so fun!
Thanks– it was such a fun race– I can’t wait to do it again!
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These look delicious! Going to make these for Christmas, will the frosting melt or drip at all?
Because it is made with butter, if it gets warm it will soften and even melt. It’s SO cold here that it won’t be a problem- but if you live someplace warm, try to keep them room temp or cooler.
Alright, thanks a bunch! 🙂