AFTER DINNER MINT CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the cupcakes
• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Line a mini cupcake pan with cupcakes pan thingys.
• Melt the butter and chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering hot water stirring until the chocolate has melted and it is smooth and glossy (or save time and melt the butter and chocolate in the microwave mixing between short 20-30second bursts until melted). Remove from heat and add sugar. Stir well. Let the mixture cool for 10 minutes.
• Once cool beat the chocolate mix for 3 minutes in a mixer. Add the eggs one at a time beating well between each addition. Next beat in the peppermint essence. Sift the flour, cocoa and salt in the bowl and beat until blended.
• Dived the mixture into the cupcake pans. Bake for 12-15minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• For the Optional Mint filling:
• Sift the icing sugar into a small bowl and add the peppermint extract and 1/2 tbsp of water. Mix with a balloon whisk. Add another 1/2 tbsp of water and mix again. (you may need an additional 1/2tbsp if needed).
• For the buttercream:
• Beat the butter until creamy in an electric mixer. Slowly add the icing sugar in small amounts. Next beat the essences into the mixture. Beat well. Slowly add the milk. Beat for another 3minutes on high. Add a few drops of green food colouring and mix well.
• How to put it Together
• If you are taking the mint filling option, cut a small hole out of each othe cupcakes with a teaspoon. Fill the whole with the mint filling and place the cut out cupcake on top to fill the hole.
• Spread icing on with a spatula or fill a piping bag and pipe icing onto each cupcake. Place an after dinner mint on each.