St. Patty's Day: Triple Mint Chocolate Cupcakes

It seems like I can't make enough cupcakes these days, and I can't really explain it. But for St. Patty's this year, I wanted something green and minty and decided to browse my old, old 1001 Chocolate Treats cookbook. My friend David gave me this book for my 16th birthday, and I'm ashamed to admit that besides staring at picture after picture (I think every recipe has one), I haven't made ANYTHING in this cookbook! How absurd is that? But it proves that even at Sweet 16, my friends very much knew what I'd like for a birthday gift—even if David never did ask me to the Prom. *sigh* But I'm still that same chocolate girl. :)

So, old pal, I promise to do more than stare at your pictures from now on. Wouldn't you?

Triple Mint Chocolate Cupcakes
based on #129, Chocolate Mint Cake

Cake:
1 c. all-purpose flour
1/3 c. cocoa powder
1 t. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
3/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. vegetable shortening
1 egg
1 t. peppermint extract or peppermint schnapps
2/3 c. milk
Chocolate-covered mint candies

Frosting:
2 c. powdered sugar
2 T. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 t. peppermint extract or peppermint schnapps
2 to 3 T. milk
1 to 2 drops green food coloring (I needed more!)
Chocolate-covered mint candies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 cupcake cups with paper liners.

For the cake:
Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the sugar and shortening until smooth. Beat in the egg and peppermint extract/schnapps. In three additions, mix in the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Divide evenly among prepared cupcake liners. Gently push one chocolate-covered mint candy into each filled cupcake liner, and gently cover with excess batter so that it is completely hidden.

Bake for about 20–22 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean or with moist crumbs attached. Cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting:
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the powdered sugar, butter, and peppermint extract/schnapps until combined. Mix in enough milk to make it spreadable. Beat in the food coloring. (Note: I needed to make a second batch of frosting for 24 cupcakes.) When cupcakes have cooled completely, frost each cupcake and place one chocolate-covered mint candy on top.

Green with envy?