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<\/div>\nAdd these candy cane cupcakes to your holiday baking list this year and find out why they were an instant hit at my house! A moist cupcake base gets swirled with red and white peppermint cake batter topped with homemade peppermint buttercream frosting. These are the perfect holiday desserts to add to your Christmas menu!<\/p>\n Enter your email below and we\u2019ll send this idea straight to your inbox (plus you\u2019ll receive tons of fun weekly ideas from us!)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Sometimes you make Christmas desserts for the kids (hello cream cheese sugar cookies) and sometimes you make Christmas desserts for the adults. These peppermint cupcakes are the latter with their delicious peppermint flavor! <\/p>\n They\u2019d also work for kids of course, but I\u2019ve found that peppermint tends to be a flavor more favored by adults than the kids (unless of course it\u2019s the Chick Fil-A peppermint milkshakes\u2026) My boys are always disappointed when they realize that Santa only gives out peppermint candy canes, not the fruity ones! <\/p>\n These candy cane cupcakes are soft, moist, and delightfully indulgent with a double dose of peppermint \u2013 peppermint batter and peppermint buttercream frosting on top! Top them crumbled up peppermints for a beautiful Christmas dessert that\u2019s perfect for a Friendmas, girls night, or even an office Christmas party! <\/p>\n At that point, you get to crown your cupcakes with whatever you like. Crushed peppermint candies, mini candy canes, white chocolate shavings, or peppermint kisses, it\u2019s up to you. Using up leftover candy canes is the perfect excuse to make them after Christmas too!<\/p>\n Pair these wintry desserts with Santa hat cupcakes<\/u> elf cupcakes<\/u> and hot chocolate cupcakes<\/u> to give the kids something to enjoy while the adults get these peppermint cupcakes! <\/p>\n These from scratch candy cane cupcakes might sound intimidating but they\u2019re at about a two on the difficulty scale, one being using a box cake mix like we do for our Christmas bundt cake. <\/p>\n This recipe is literally just combining all of the ingredients to make a peppermint cupcake batter, baking, and then frosting! Frosting the cupcakes is probably the hardest part! <\/p>\n Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a standard sized muffin pan by lining it with two cupcake liners. Set the pan aside for later.<\/p>\n In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. <\/p>\n Combine the oil and sugar in a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer and whisk together until fluffy. It should only take about 90 seconds with an electric mixer. <\/p>\n Once that\u2019s fluffy, add in the milk and mix to combine. <\/p>\n Next whisk in the egg whites one at a time then add the peppermint extract. Add a little peppermint at a time and taste the batter to make sure the peppermint is to your taste. <\/p>\n Then add in the flour mixture and gently fold that into the oil and egg. <\/p>\n If there are still small lumps in the batter that\u2019s fine, just make sure the batter is fully mixed together! The lumps will melt and smooth out while the batter is baking. <\/p>\n To add a peppermint twist look, take 1\/3 of the batter and put it in a separate bowl. Add red food coloring to the bowl and stir the batter until the batter is fully colored. Like I mentioned in my notes, I recommend starting with just a few drops then adding more as desired to get a bold red color (like you would in a red velvet cake). <\/p>\n You\u2019ll have 2\/3 of your batter that\u2019s the normal color and 1\/3 that\u2019s red.<\/p>\n Next, using a large spoon scoop a large amount of batter into each cupcake liner. Then use a teaspoon and put two teaspoons of red batter on top of the white batter. Then add one more teaspoon of the white batter on top of the red batter.<\/p>\n Unlike our swirled Easter cake, you\u2019re not going to swirl it around \u2013 you\u2019re going to leave it just like that so you get more of a color block look than a swirl, similar to have a candy cane is striped. <\/p>\n Put the cupcakes into the preheated oven and bake for 13-15 minutes. Test to see if the cupcakes are done by placing a toothpick into the center of the cupcakes and if the toothpick comes out clean, they are finished. <\/p>\n Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for a few minutes then remove and let them cool on a cooling rack completely before frosting them. <\/p>\n To make the buttercream, cream the butter with an electric mixer until it\u2019s light and fluffy (and it\u2019s gone from bright yellow to a pale yellow). <\/p>\n Add in the peppermint extract, then slowly add in the powdered sugar until the buttercream is a smooth and thick consistency.<\/p>\n Add in two tablespoons of milk to make the buttercream more creamy. Next add a little bit of salt to taste, just about a pinch. The salt helps balance out sweetness.<\/p>\n Mix it all together until the peppermint buttercream is nice and fluffy. <\/p>\n Once the cupcakes are cooled completely, put the frosting into a piping bag with a large star tip and pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes after they\u2019re cooled.<\/p>\n Wait to frost and decorate the cupcakes until just before you\u2019re ready to serve. If you\u2019re not planning to serve the cupcakes until later, you can make the cupcakes ahead of time and store the unfrosted cupcakes in a large zipper bag or airtight container until you\u2019re ready to serve. Or you can freeze for up to three months and frost just before serving! <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Decorate the cupcakes with crushed peppermint, candy canes, or even peppermint kisses. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container until you\u2019re ready to serve! <\/p>\n In our peppermint cupcakes, we\u2019re using both baking soda and baking powder to give them light textures and a fluffy rise. You also want to make sure your oil and sugars are whipped nicely so they trap enough air. Not over mixing the cupcake batter is also crucial to not release any of the trapped air.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n Once completely cooled, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They\u2019ll stay fresh for up to five days. To extend their freshness a little longer, they can be kept in the fridge for up to 1 week. <\/p>\n<\/details>\n Sure you can. I recommend freezing the candy cane cupcakes without the frosting. Make sure they\u2019re cooled down completely then store them in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container for up to three months. Bring them to room temperature and top with the peppermint buttercream frosting. <\/p>\n<\/details><\/div>\n If you like peppermint, try one of these delicious peppermint flavored Christmas desserts next! <\/p>\n Want more delicious recipes just like this one? Enter your first name and email address in the form below to join the Play Party Plan community! You\u2019ll receive weekly recipes and party ideas directly to your inbox!<\/p>\n <\/div>\n![\"half](\"https:\/\/www.playpartyplan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/peppermint-cupcakes-89.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.playpartyplan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/candy-cane-cupcakes-pin1-400x800.jpg\"\/)
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWant to save this Idea?<\/h2>\n
Peppermint Cupcakes with peppermint frosting<\/h2>\n
Why you\u2019ll love These Cupcakes <\/h2>\n
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![\"ingredients](\"https:\/\/www.playpartyplan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/CANDY-CANE-CUPCAKES-ingredients.jpg\"\/)
![\"ingredients](\"https:\/\/www.playpartyplan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/CANDY-CANE-CUPCAKES-ingredients.jpg\")
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How to make Candy Cane Cupcakes<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
1 \u2013 make the peppermint cupcake batter <\/h3>\n
![\"four](\"https:\/\/www.playpartyplan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/candy-cane-cupcakes-collage.jpg\"\/)
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<\/figure>\n2 \u2013 Color the cupcakes <\/h3>\n
![\"red](\"https:\/\/www.playpartyplan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/peppermint-cupcakes-15.jpg\"\/)
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<\/figure>\n![\"candy](\"https:\/\/www.playpartyplan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/peppermint-cupcakes-19.jpg\"\/)
![\"candy](\"https:\/\/www.playpartyplan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/peppermint-cupcakes-19.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n3 \u2013 Bake the Peppermint Cupcakes<\/h3>\n
![\"unfrosted](\"https:\/\/www.playpartyplan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/peppermint-cupcakes-22.jpg\"\/)
![\"unfrosted](\"https:\/\/www.playpartyplan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/peppermint-cupcakes-22.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n4 \u2013 Make the Peppermint Buttercream<\/h3>\n
![\"collage](\"https:\/\/www.playpartyplan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/peppermint-buttercream-frosting-collage.jpg\"\/)
![\"collage](\"https:\/\/www.playpartyplan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/peppermint-buttercream-frosting-collage.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n5 \u2013 Decorate the Candy Cane Cupcakes<\/h3>\n
Tip! <\/h2>\n
![\"piping](\"https:\/\/www.playpartyplan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/peppermint-cupcakes-27.jpg\"\/)
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<\/figure>\nTips & tricks<\/h2>\n
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![\"an](\"https:\/\/www.playpartyplan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/peppermint-cupcakes-87.jpg\"\/)
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<\/figure>\nRecipe FAQs<\/h2>\n
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What is the secret to fluffy cupcakes?<\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n
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How to store candy cane cupcakes?<\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n
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Can I freeze them?<\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n
![\"candy](\"https:\/\/www.playpartyplan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/peppermint-cupcakes-55.jpg\"\/)
![\"candy](\"https:\/\/www.playpartyplan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/peppermint-cupcakes-55.jpg\")
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