As much as I know Valentine’s Day is just a Hallmark holiday, I must admit that I enjoy the cheesy holiday. It gives everybody a reason to be happy and show love, even though we should be doing that year round. I will admit, my husband and I don’t do much for the holiday. We use to go out to eat but quickly realized how over priced and unnecessary it was, so we usually do something simple like a delicious home cooked meal.
Even though we usually end up with a home cooked meal, I like to spend extra time making delicious desserts. I’ll take any reason to eat some sweets! Just like any other holiday, the desserts have to be extra festive. One of my favorite treats to make for Valentine’s Day is cupcakes! They’re easy to make, fun to decorate and good all week long.
These cupcakes are extra chocolately and very delicious. They are made from scratch which will allow you to tweak the recipe as needed. Now let’s get baking!
Delicious Valentine’s Day Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 C all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp peppermint extract
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 C hot water
- 1/2 C cocoa powder
- 6 TBSP butter, room temp
- 3/4 C sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 C vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Cupcake Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake tin with cupcake paper liners.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- Whisk hot water and cocoa powder in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Using a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix the egg, vegetable oil, peppermint and vanilla until well combined.
- Add in the flour mixture, alternate with hot cocoa mix until there are no lumps.
- Using a large ice cream scoop the batter into the lined cupcake tins until they are 3/4’s filled.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove from oven allowing cupcakes to cool in cupcake pan for 10 minutes.
- Take out of cupcake pan and place individual cupcakes on a wire rack to cool completely.
Peppermint Frosting Recipe
Frosting Ingredients:
- 1 C butter, softened
- 2 C powdered sugar
- 1 – 2 TBSP heavy cream
- 2 tsp peppermint extract
- 1-2 drops of pink gel coloring
- crushed candy canes, split into two bowls
- Holiday oreo’s crushed and put into a bowl with crushed candy canes.
Frosting Directions:
- Beat butter and sugar till combined
- Mix in heavy cream, gel color, candy canes and mix until blended.
- Spoon into a pastry bag with a large tip.
- Frost cupcakes from the outside working the tip toward the center of the cupcake
- Rim the edge of the cupcake in the oreo and candy cane mixture.
- Top with a oreo.
These are a fun recipe to make with your little ones. It can be very hands on or you can allow them to just decorate the cupcake which is always fun! What type of desserts do you make for Valentine’s Day or do you leave it to the professionals?
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