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    Home » Recipes » Cupcakes

    Peppermint Cupcakes

    By: Jessica · Posted: Oct 25, 2022 · Updated: Jan 27, 2023 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

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    Jump to Recipe 7 comments
    5 from 5 votes
    Peppermint cupcake on baking rack with text on image

    Peppermint Cupcakes: A white cake mix that uses simple ingredients to make the cupcakes better than a boxed mix, with peppermint extract added for the perfect touch of flavor! Then, if desired, a homemade buttercream frosting with peppermint candies on top!

    Peppermint cupcakes on baking sheet
    Peppermint Cupcakes

     

    When one of our favorite chocolate cakes with peppermint went over so well, I knew it was time to add something like this to our easy dessert recipes. But this time, I wanted it to be a batch of cupcakes since so many seem to love our cupcake recipes too!

    Why you’ll love these:

    • They use a cake mix! But… we do a few things to it, to make them better than a cake mix cupcake recipe!
    • The vanilla cupcake has a hint of peppermint flavor (like in our chocolate mint cupcakes) that gives an almost “cooling” feel when you bite in to it. They’re perfect any time of year but especially around the holiday season, or for holiday parties!
    • With the peppermint cupcake topped with this homemade buttercream and crushed peppermint candies, it’s a flavor combination that can’t be beat!
    • They’re perfect when entertaining for Christmas! The peppermint flavor, individual little cakes… it just makes perfect sense! (If you love peppermint, you’ll also want to try this candy cane pie recipe!)

    Ingredients:

    This recipe uses simple ingredients, that you can find at almost any grocery store!

    Cupcake Ingredients

    • 16.25-ounce white cake mix
    • ½ cup melted butter
    • 3 egg whites
    • 1 cup water
    • 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract

    Buttercream Frosting Ingredients

    • ½ Cup Vegetable Shortening½
    •  Cup Unsalted Butter (1 stick softened)
    • 4 Cups Powdered Sugar (sifted)
    • 2 Tablespoons Milk (or heavy cream)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Pinch of salt
    • About 20 peppermint candies
    Ingredients for peppermint cupcakes
    Ingredients

    Substitutions and Variations

    • Peppermint Extract: We do not put peppermint extract in to the buttercream, as we think the peppermint in the cupcakes and the crushed peppermint candies on top of the cupcake, are the perfect amount of flavor. However, feel free to add a small drop (it’s very powerful!) to the buttercream for a strong peppermint flavor to make a peppermint frosting. You may even want to try our mint buttercream recipe for these!
    • Cupcake Flavor: You can use a yellow cake mix, or even chocolate to make chocolate peppermint cupcakes if you prefer. If using something other than a white cake mix, you can use the egg yolks too, instead of just the egg whites.
    • Melted butter vs. Oil for Cupcakes: If you don’t have butter for the cupcakes, you can use vegetable oil.
    • Peppermint Candies: Feel free to use crushed candy canes, or even mini candy canes for a special Christmas idea!

    Instructions

    First, you’ll want to make the cupcakes. Then, while the cupcakes are cooling, it’s a great time to make the buttercream frosting.

    TIP: If you plan to make this buttercream frosting recipe, go ahead and get the stick of butter out, so it can be softening while you’re baking the cupcakes.

    How to make the cupcakes:

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin tin with cupcake liners.
    2. In a large bowl, pour in cake mix, melted butter, egg whites, water, and peppermint extract.
    3. Mix on medium speed for 2 minutes. (If using a Kitchenaid mixer, use the paddle attachment if you have it. (I only had my whisk attachment, so I used that. Using this makes the cupcakes airier too.)
    cake mix and butter in white mixing bowl
    Make cupcakes
    Cupcake batter in mixing bowl
    Cupcake Batter
    1. Pour about 3 tablespoons of cupcake batter in to each cupcake liner, in the muffin cups. (Or ⅔ full.) I use a cookie scoop for this to make it easier.
    cupcake batter in cupcake pan
    Pour batter in liners
    1. Bake the cupcakes for 12 minutes or until the tops of the cupcakes bounce back when your finger gently touches them. If it leaves an indention, the cupcakes need to bake longer.

      Remove from the cupcake pan and place cupcakes on a wire rack to cool to room temperature.
    baked cupcakes on cooling rack with oven mit behind them
    Baked peppermint cupcakes

    How to make the buttercream frosting:

    1. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the stick of softened butter and shortening until light and fluffy. You may need to use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides a couple of times to make sure the ingredients blend evenly. (Make sure to turn the mixer off before scraping.)
    2. Next, start adding the powdered sugar, making sure the mixer is on low speed, for about 1 cup at a time, mixing together completely before adding the next cup of sugar. Do this until all of the powdered sugar has been mixed in.
    butter and crisco in mixing bowl
    Butter & Crisco
    Powdered sugar pouring in to mixing bowl
    Add powdered sugar
    1. Add in vanilla extract, and mix in completely.
    2. Then, pour in the milk and mix on medium-high speed until the buttercream looks fully combined and fluffy.
    vanilla pouring in to mixing bowl
    Add vanilla
    Milk pouring in to mixing bowl
    Add milk
    1. Optional: Although optional, I do recommend adding a pinch of salt and mixing it in to the buttercream.
    hand pinching salt for buttercream
    Add salt
    Buttercream frosting in piping bag
    Buttercream in piping bag
    1. If you have a piping bag, it’s time to place the buttercream in to a large piping bag, and begin piping the frosting on to the cupcakes. You can spread the frosting on to the cupcakes instead, if that’s what you prefer!
    Buttercream piping on to cupcake
    Add buttercream
    Peppermint candies on top of cupcakes
    Add peppermints
    1. Unwrap peppermint candies and place them in to a small plastic, sealable bag, and crush them until fine.
    Peppermint candies in plastic bag
    Crush peppermints
    1. Sprinkle the crushed peppermint candies on top of the buttercream, on the cupcakes.
    Peppermint cupcakes on baking rack
    Finished Peppermint Cupcakes

    Storage

    If you have leftover cupcakes, leaving them out will result in the cupcakes and buttercream getting hard. It’s best to place them in a single layer in an airtight container, and place in the refrigerator (since it has milk in the buttercream).

    Peppermint cupcake sliced in half
    Airy peppermint cupcakes

    Related Recipes

    If you’re a fan of peppermint recipes, you’re going to love this peppermint latte recipe and these chocolate-dipped waffle bowls that are rimmed in peppermints, which are perfect to serve desserts in!

    Or, for an easy Christmas no-bake dessert recipe, you’re going to love this Christmas Tree Cake Dip!

    Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!

    Recipe

    Peppermint cupcakes on baking rack

    Peppermint Cupcakes

    Jessica Burgess
    Peppermint Cupcakes: A vanilla cake mix that uses simple ingredients to make the cupcakes better than a boxed mix, with peppermint extract added for the perfect touch of flavor! Then, if desired, a homemade buttercream frosting with peppermint candies on top!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 12 minutes mins
    Total Time 32 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24 cupcakes
    Calories 275 kcal

    Ingredients

    Peppermint Cupcake Ingredients

    • 16.25 ounce box white cake mix
    • ½ cup melted butter
    • 3 egg whites
    • 1 cup water
    • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract

    Buttercream Ingredients

    • ½ cup vegetable shortening
    • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
    • 4 cups powdered sugar sifted
    • 2 Tablespoons milk or heavy cream
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • pinch of salt optional
    • 20 peppermint candies

    Instructions
     

    How to Make the Peppermint Cupcakes

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line the cupcake pan (or muffin tin) with cupcake liners.
    • In a large mixing bowl, pour in the cake mix, melted butter, egg whites, water, and peppermint extract, and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.
    • Pour about 3 tablespoons of cupcake batter in to each cupcake liner. (Or ⅔ full.)
    • Bake the cupcakes for 12 minutes or until the tops of the cupcakes bounce back when your finger gently touches them. If it leaves an indention, the cupcakes need to bake longer.
      Remove from the cupcake pan and place cupcakes on a wire rack to cool.

    How to Make the Buttercream Frosting

    • In a large mixing bowl, mix together the stick of softened butter and shortening until light and fluffy. You may need to use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides a couple of times to make sure the ingredients blend evenly.
    • Next, start adding the powdered sugar, about 1 cup at a time, mixing together completely before adding the next cup of sugar. Do this until all of the powdered sugar has been mixed in.
    • Add in vanilla extract, and mix in completely. Then, pour in the milk and mix in until buttercream looks fully combined and fluffy.
    • Optional: Although optional, I do recommend adding a pinch of salt and mixing it in to the buttercream.
    • If you have a piping bag, it's time to place the buttercream in to the piping bag, and begin piping the frosting on to the cupcakes. You can spread the frosting on to the cupcakes instead, if that's what you prefer!
    • Unwrap peppermint candies and place them in to a small plastic, sealable bag, and crush them until fine.
    • Sprinkle the crushed peppermint candies on top of the buttercream, on the cupcakes. Serve!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 172mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 238IU | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 0.4mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

    Keywords candy cane cupcakes, Christmas cupcake recipe, Christmas dessert, vanilla cupcakes
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Comments

      5 from 5 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    1. Katie says

      October 26, 2022 at 11:20 am

      5 stars
      So tasty and has all the perfect Christmas flavors! Love these ones.

      Reply
    2. Rebecca Hubbell says

      October 26, 2022 at 11:04 am

      5 stars
      Loved these! Peppermint is almost always paired with chocolate in recipes (which isn’t my favorite combo) but these were so light and delicious with the white cake!

      Reply
    3. jess says

      October 26, 2022 at 10:45 am

      5 stars
      this cupcake is amazing and makes me so happy because Christmas is right around the corner! thank you so much for sharing this recipe

      Reply
    4. Emily says

      December 04, 2017 at 10:07 am

      Be right over!! This looks amazing! #client

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        December 04, 2017 at 3:51 pm

        Haha!!! Thank you Emily!

        Reply
    5. Laura says

      December 02, 2017 at 1:11 pm

      This looks so delicious Jessica! What a great idea to add a flavored creamer!
      YUM!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        December 02, 2017 at 4:33 pm

        Thank you Laura! I’m a sucker for seasonal creamer! 🙂

        Reply

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    Jessica Burgess of Fantabulosity, slicing an avocado.

    Hi, I'm Jessica! - Owner and Creator of the blog and brand, Fantabulosity.

    I’m here to teach you how to make quick and easy recipes, using simple ingredients, that your family will love.

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