Junior Mint Cupcakes
I have a confession to make. I really don’t like mint. I respect mint as a flavor and agree with the idea of it…but I don’t love it. There was on ordeal a few years ago when I was in Middle Atlas, Morocco that will always be refereed to as the Moroccan Mint Experience. Overall, I would classify this episode in the "good experience" category, but either way, I have a hard time eating mint ever since. Mr. Fits, however, is a huge fan. And although I don’t prefer mint, I still really loved these cupcakes.
How cute are those cupcake papers? I got them at Bake it Pretty. I love baking cupcakes in something other than standard cupcake papers, makes them feel special.
Junior Mint Cupcakes
Chocolate cake:
2 2/3 cup flour
1 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/4 cup of brewed coffee, cooled
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 sticks of unsalted butter
2 1/2 cups of sugar
1 tsp vanila extract
2 eggs
Mint Buttercream:
2 sticks of unsalted butter, softened
5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/3 cup milk
1/4 tsp natural mint extract
Chocolate Sauce:
1 cup dark chocolate chunks
2/3 cup heavy cream
Garnish with Junior Mints if desired.
Preheat the oven to 350. in a large bowl, add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Sift to combined. in another bowl, add the buttermilk, coffee and oil. In a stand mixer, add the butter and cream until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and while the mixer is on high, slowly add the sugar and cream until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time. With the mixer on medium speed, alternating between the wet and dry ingredients, add each a bit at a time until all three are well combined in the stand mixer. If you are using the cute brown floret baking cups, just place them on a baking sheet, they don’t need to go in a muffin tin. If you are using standard cupcake papers, just line them in the muffin tin as normal. Fill standard cupcake papers 2/3 of the way full and cute floret papers only 1/2 full. Bake until tops spring back when touched, about 20-25 minutes.
Mint Buttercream
In a stand mixer, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Your butter needs to be softened, cold butter won’t work. With the mixer on a low speed, slowly add the powdered sugar until all combined (you can add less if you prefer a less sweet frosting). Then add the milk and the extract and beat until well combined.
Chocolate sauce
Place the chocolate in a heat safe bowl. Heat the cream until hot and steam, but not boiling (microwave is fine but you can also heat on the stove) and pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Stir for about 3 minutes or until well combined. If you have never made ganache or chocolate sauce you may get a bit concerned about half way through. It is completely normal for your sauce to look like chunky chocolate milk for the first few minutes, just keep stirring and it’ll all work out.
Once your cupcakes are cool, pipe the buttercream on, top with a spoon full of the chocolate sauce then a Junior Mint, if you’d like.
Comments
Tina@flourtrader June 28, 2011 um 10:13 am
I am a mint/chocolate lover and as soon as I saw the name-I had to pop in and see this recipe. Yum-I have added to my ever expanding pack of mint chocolate recipes. Thanks for sharing such great recipe.
Jaida June 28, 2011 um 10:31 am
I love junior mints, and anything minty for that matter – especially when it involves chocolate!! And yes, the wrappers are absolutely adorable. Thanks for sharing this!
briarrose June 28, 2011 um 1:44 pm
Mmmm….mint and chocolate….I adore this combination. The cupcakes look gorgeous.
Kim Beaulieu June 28, 2011 um 5:11 pm
I was disappointed to hear you were already married, after seeing these cupcakes I was ready to propose. Great job on these. They look so amazing. Bookmarking to make them on a cool day.
Jaxie June 29, 2011 um 11:16 am
You’re hillarious! Glad you think the cupcakes were "Marriage Material"!
Lindsey@Lindselicious June 28, 2011 um 5:51 pm
Um how cute are your photos with that polka dot back drop! I am a huge fan of mint, so this cupcake is just my thing. Looks delish- I am bookmarking and adding to my list to make. =)
Jaxie June 28, 2011 um 9:07 pm
If you make them, PUH-Lease let me know how they turn out!
Tasha @ ToLexiWithLove June 28, 2011 um 8:21 pm
My husband LOVES Junior Mints. But we are not big coffee fans. Could we sub that out for something else?
Jaxie June 29, 2011 um 5:57 pm
You could sub in another liquid, but the coffee flavor doesn’t come through. Coffee intensifies the taste of chocolate so you end up tasting a richer chocolate. If you are scared, you can half the coffee amount (even using instant coffee powder to make it since you probably don’t have a coffee maker) and then sub water for the rest. If you do, let me know how it comes out!
chinmayie @ love food eat June 29, 2011 um 12:49 am
I am not a huge mint fan either! I like mint leaves and the flavor but don’t really like it with chocolate! But i could be wrong 😉 Your cupcakes look gorgeous! Chocolate sauce dripping… ummmmm
anne June 29, 2011 um 5:50 am
It looks cute & really delicioso gahhhhhhh ^o^ & luv that polka dot tablecloth (?) back drop 😉
Carolyn June 29, 2011 um 8:24 am
I haven’t had junior mints in a zillion years. This is such a great idea!
Tori @ The Shiksa in the Kitchen June 29, 2011 um 3:54 pm
These are so adorable and yummy looking! When I was a kid we got Junior Mints every time we went to the movies. Good times! 🙂
Jaxie June 29, 2011 um 6:00 pm
Me too! Either Junior Mints or Whoppers…hmmm, Whopper Cupcakes??
Tiffany June 29, 2011 um 4:49 pm
Chocolate and mint is such a magical combo! These cupcakes look fantastic! 😀
Bakingmehungry July 3, 2011 um 12:49 pm
This is so creative! Great photos.
Nazneen July 6, 2011 um 5:51 pm
Ok…first off I had to laugh when I read the recipe name…I was watching an old episode of "Seinfeld" just yesterday about the junior mint. Anyway, after the giggling died down, I enjoyed drooling at the cupcakes. I do love the cupcake wrappers, I too love something other than the boring pastel ones.
Jaxie July 6, 2011 um 7:41 pm
I love that episode! Once I started using fun cupcake papers I almost never use standard ones anymore. These ones are so cute! I think they are intended for brioche. I also like to use those white portion cups that you always see at fast food places to use for your pump ketchup. Those make the cupcakes look like mini souffles! Super cute.
claire gallam July 11, 2011 um 10:39 am
What an incredible recipe!!!
Brooke August 3, 2011 um 5:06 pm
My best friend LOOOOVES jr mints. I have to make these for her!
Jaxie August 3, 2011 um 6:23 pm
If you do, let me know how it goes =)
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts August 16, 2011 um 9:01 am
I love junior mints! A cupcake that tastes like them sounds wonderful! They look so pretty too!
carly {carlyklock} August 16, 2011 um 9:07 am
chocolate and mint beats out chocolate and peanut butter! (but just barely)
Alida @ Alida’s Kitchen August 16, 2011 um 9:55 am
These are so cute! I love junior mints too…these sounds delicious!
cupcake ideas December 31, 2011 um 1:22 pm
yummy! that sounds delicious!
Laura April 3, 2014 um 11:08 pm
I made these as a farewell treat for a coworker who was moving away, and they were a hit! I’m not a big fan of chocolate or mint, but even I liked them! Thanks for sharing the recipe!