Sweet little chocolate mini cupcakes with a touch of mocha.
Each tiny cake has a generous dollop of homemade peppermint buttercream for a fun and festive mini treat!
You know the story where the shoemaker has little elves make his shoes for him while he sleeps? Well, I sort of wish I had those elves.
Each year for the holidays, I set out to make gifts for my husband to deliver to his customers. While I certainly enjoy baking, it’s a bit daunting knowing that I have to make 1200 mini cupcakes. See, this is where the 24 pounds of butter currently stored in my freezer comes in handy!!
Mini Cupcakes Everywhere!
Last weekend, I finished 400. Only a mere 800 to go! I’m not a neat baker, there was powdered sugar EVERYWHERE!! I smelled like a cupcake and I had buttercream caked in my hair and all over my clothes. But it was worth it. Happy customers make a happy husband!
This mini cupcake is what will be delivered this year.
I love these coffee-infused devils food cupcakes. they are very moist and flavorful! The mocha flavor is not overwhelming and is a great compliment to the very minty frosting. I used quite a bit of peppermint extract in the buttercream! These peppermint mocha mini cupcakes are very festive cupcakes! I like making mini cupcakes. I find people enjoy bite-sized treats they can nibble on as opposed to a full-size cupcake. Less commitment, less guilt! Peppermint mocha mini cupcakes would make an excellent addition to your holiday cookie tray!
If you are looking for more peppermint treats for the holidays (or anytime of year) try these peppermint swirl chocolate thumbprint cookies or the fudgy chocolate peppermint cookies.
Peppermint Mocha Mini Cupcakes
A rich chocolate cupcake infused with coffee and topped with a peppermint buttercream.
Ingredients
- 1 18.25lb box Devils food cake
- 1 5.9 oz box instant chocolate pudding
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup oil
- 4 eggs slightly beaten
- 1 t vanilla
- 1/2 cup brewed coffee
- 1 t instant espresso granules
- For the buttercream
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup shortening
- 8 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 t salt
- 1 t vanilla
- 3 t mint extract
- 1/2 cup water (or milk)
- red gel food coloring
Instructions
- For the cupcakes, preheat oven to 350. LIne mini muffin tins with paper liners, set aside. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, oil, eggs, water, vanilla. Mix until blended. Slowly pour in coffee and instant coffee. Using a small cookie scoop, fill each cup about 3/4 full. Bake in oven for 15 minutes. Let stand one minute before removing to a cooling rack.
- For buttercream:
- Cream butter and shortening until creamy. Slowly add in powdered sugar one cup at a time until blended. Add salt and extracts. Add water in intervals. I add water as frosting gets stiff. Continue to mix until frosting is piping consistency. Add gel food coloring until you get the desired shade of red.
Nutrition Information
Yield
36Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 1180Total Fat 60gSaturated Fat 14gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 43gCholesterol 215mgSodium 682mgCarbohydrates 156gFiber 1gSugar 121gProtein 8g
Debbie says
Hi… these cupcakes sound wonderful – but I think there’s a typo in the buttercream recipe. As written, it calls for 8 cups of shortening, but nowhere is conf. sugar listed. How many cups of conf. sugar for the recipe? 8 cups seems like a huge amount for the # of cupcakes. Thanks!
Lemonsforlulu says
Thanks Debbie. Makes a lot of buttercream.
Charlotte Moore says
You must be really tired. Who wouldn’t be. I think it should be 8 cups sugar not shortening. Bless you!!! I though I did alot a few weeks ago when I cooked goodies for 175 people. No where near 1100 cupcakes. OUCH!!!!
Lemonsforlulu says
Thanks for pointing that, I made the correction! And yes, I’m a bit tired!
Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen says
Your baking expedition reminds me of when I was younger. My dad owns his own business and we would always bake a bunch of Christmas treats for his customers this time of year. I loved it so much and was bummed when he stopped doing it.
These cupcakes look so adorable and I love the flavor!
Lemonsforlulu says
You know exactly what I’m talking about then! I do enjoy it, but by the time it’s done, I don’t feel like baking for my family!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
That is a lot of cupcakes! My whole kitchen would be a huge mess! 🙂
These cupcakes will definitely make his customers happy. . .they sound wonderful!
Lemonsforlulu says
My kitchen was an enormous mess! Thanks Jessica.
ChgoJohn says
These must be really good. There’s no way a person can make 1200 of anything unless they are exceptionally tasty. 🙂
Heather says
those are the cutest little cupcakes ever – and what a great idea making them for his customers:)
Natasha says
these look so sweet!
Lemonsforlulu says
Thanks Natasha!
michelle from sugarswings says
they look so yummy! love peppermint 🙂
Lemonsforlulu says
I love peppermint too!
mscarletti says
Well how cute are they? Love it!
Lemonsforlulu says
Thank you so much!
Whimsically Homemade says
Wow! 1200! That’s crazy, but I bet that’s super fun though. And this recipe like great too! Gonna have to try it out. I would love for you to share it at my Mixer Monday Link Party!
https://whimsicallyhomemade.blogspot.com/2012/11/mixer-monday-10.html
Hope to see you there!
Megan@whimsicallyhomemade
Lemonsforlulu says
Yeah, I’d say it was fun! But happy to be finished! Thanks for stopping over!
Nancy Pfeifer says
These looks so yummy!!!! love anything chocolate 🙂 New follower. I host a linky if you’d like to share: https://atozebracelebrations.com/2012/11/tuesday-linky-party-2.html
Lemonsforlulu says
Thanks you, I’d love to come link up!
Angela at A Typical English Home says
Very cute! Pinned 🙂
Lemonsforlulu says
Thanks Angela!
Michele says
Don’t know which I LOVE more, the recipe, the vintage dish, or the photography:) Pinned!!! Following you now. Follow me too at http://www.sewsweetvintage.com I posted “dolled up” to whimsy wed.
Lemonsforlulu says
Thank you! The dishes were from my daughter’s tea party set!
HungryLittleGirl says
Oh my, such a lovely presentation!
I would love to have you share this and/or any other recipe of yours at Wednesday Extravaganza – my Link Party with a special something. There is a pretty nice Giveaway going on this week too. Here is the link:
https://www.hungrylittlegirl.com/1/post/2012/11/wednesday-extravaganza-5-giveaway.html
Can’t wait to see you there!
Lemonsforlulu says
I will have to come link up! Thank you!
Winnie says
1200 mini cupcakes ??!! WOWWWWW
I think these cupcakes are cute and I just loooooooove the combination of flavors that you used.
btw – I made the cinnamon brownies (I changed the topping a bit) and baked it in round pan. It was DELICIOUS !!!
Lemonsforlulu says
Oh good!! I’m so happy the brownies turned out for you! Thanks Winnie, you are so kind!
cheeriosandlattes1 says
These look amazing! You are a Featured Favorite this week at Saturday Show & Tell on Cheerios and Lattes! Thank so much for sharing this and others last week; we love having you! Can’t wait to see what you’ve got for us this week!
Have a great weekend!
Mackenzie 🙂
Lemonsforlulu says
Thanks so much Mackenzie!
Jelli says
Can I tell you how impressed I am that you bake a whopping 1200 cuppies?! Wow. Glad to hear you use a mix, because I’m pretty sure Betty Crocker wouldn’t even go the scratch route with this many to bake.
Lemonsforlulu says
Thank you! It’s not so bad, once you get going! Thanks for checking these out today!
Nichi - The Mandatory Mooch says
Wow, these look delicious. Love them in the teacup. Thanks for sharing at Tasty Thursdays. The party is live again. https://mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/2012/11/tasty-thursdays-19.html
Thanks, Nichi
Lemonsforlulu says
Thanks for the party Nichi!
Jaquielyn says
This may be a silly question but is this recipe/cooking time for normal cupcakes or mini cupcakes? Thanks for sharing such a great recipe!