Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Peppermint Chocolate Cupcakes

I went to the gym today.

Partly because I lack restraint around food, partly because I have a gym membership till July next year, and mostly because all of my friends are doing it. So I came up with a brilliant plan to get up early on Monday and go to the gym..

I devour cupcakes

 ..Which didn't really eventuate. So I tried again today and managed to drag my sleepy self out of bed at 5:30am at the sound of Jason's encouraging words -"Come on, babe, you've been talking about this for days. You need to try it at least once!"

I also devour mint bubbly chocolate
And now I have "jelly legs" which makes it incredibly difficult to climb up (or down) stairs but boy, does it feel like I've accomplished something. All to eat these delicious peppermint cupcakes..
 

..They are very yummy though
So the plan for the next year (or until my membership runs out, at least) is to make time for the gym so I can continue to munch on goodies and not feel too guilty about it -if all those other working folk can do it, I can too!
To get the red stripes
In the mean time, you should try these beautiful, fluffy cupcakes. They are ridiculously moreish and the peppermintiness makes them perfect for the holidays!


Also, does anyone appreciate my attempt at food photography (refer to picture below)? Any tips for a wannabe hobby food photographer/stylist?


Peppermint Chocolate Cupcakes




Cupcake Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 Tablespoon cocoa powder
3/4 cups caster sugar
half a block of Cadbury's Mint Bubbly for the mixture, roughly chopped
6 squares of Cadbury's Mint Bubbly for topping, roughly chopped
1 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla paste


Peppermint Icing
1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
2 Tablespoon margarine
2 cups icing sugar
1 teaspoon peppermint essence 
1/2 teaspoon vanilla paste




Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C
2. Place all your dry ingredients and the first batch of chocolate into a bowl and combine
3. Pour the liquid ingredients into a measuring jug and mix together
4. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together and spoon into a lined cupcake pan. Fill these about half way up
5. Divide the second batch of chocolate among the cupcakes and sprinkle on top.
6. Bake for about 20 minutes.


Icing:
7. Place margarine and cream cheese in a bowl and combine thoroughly
8. Add icing sugar and continue mixing
9. Add peppermint essence and vanilla paste
10. Continue to mix until a nice piping consistency. You may need to add some more icing sugar


Note: 
1. To get the red stripes, paint the sides of your piping bag/gun with some vertical stripes (with red food colouring) before filling it up with icing.
2. I also used some crushed candy canes as a cute topping

4 comments:

  1. The cupcakes look very nice :-), going to the gym... I am one of those people who can never find the time, not disciplined enough!!!

    And then I prefer massages and spas... in fact did you see my fish spa post from Singapore? have a look here http://alessandrazecchini.blogspot.com/2011/12/fish-spa-in-singapore.html

    :-)

    Ciao
    Alessandra

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  2. Good for you! my attempts at being sporty at inevitably foiled by innate laziness. Also I always feel that if I have done any sort of exercise, that I can eat a whole entire cake as I am starving whereas in reality I have just gone for a little walk :P

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  3. They look great! I tried the gym for a year but HATED it. So I just walk my dogs every day now, and it seems to be working :)

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  4. MAN do these sound and look out of this world!! I've been wanting to make some kind of pepperminty cupcake lately!! But this one just looks like a great recipe. Hah! And I was gonna say that your photography is getting cuter, better, and awesomer :D Not that I'm a pro or anything. But I appreciate good photography.

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