Chocolate Mint Cupcakes

These Chocolate Mint Cupcakes feature chocolate cupcakes with chunks of andes mint and vanilla mint buttercream. They’re perfect for any mint chocolate lover! Use green food coloring in the frosting and this mint chocolate cupcake recipe works great for St. Patrick’s Day!

This recipe for Chocolate Mint Cupcakes is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Bon Appetit. The opinions and text are all mine.

Making these Chocolate Mint Cupcakes

Food has always a big part of how I express love and kindness to my family.

It feels good to make something special for them and enjoy eating it together.

Even better, though, is when I get to spend the time making something delicious in the kitchen with a family member, especially my kids.

Earlier this month we celebrated Logan’s birthday, so Madeline and I took the opportunity to spend some time together baking his birthday cupcakes.

I could have just as easily whipped up a batch of cupcakes by myself, and with a lot less mess.

And probably quicker, too. But why?

It is so much more special to spend the time with her as well as to include her in preparing for Logan’s birthday celebration.

Recommended Tools

You’ll need a few kitchen tools to prepare these dark chocolate cupcakes and the mint buttercream frosting that goes with them. Here’s what I recommend having on hand before getting started:

• Measuring Cups and Spoons – to measure the ingredients.
• Large Mixing Bowl – to combine the dry ingredients in.
• Extra Mixing Bowls – you’ll also need bowls to combine the wet ingredients in and another for preparing the frosting.
• Electric Mixer – to mix the cupcake batter and for making the buttercream frosting.
• ​Rubber Spatula – to scrape the sides of the large bowl while mixing the wet ingredients with the flour mixture.
• Cupcake Liners – lining the cupcake pan with paper liners makes it easier to remove the baked cupcakes, plus it provides a cute decoration for whatever festivity you’re celebrating.
• Cupcake Pan – this recipe uses a standard size pan.
• Wire Rack – to cool the peppermint chocolate cupcakes after baking
• Piping Bag and Tip – to decorate the cupcakes with the mint buttercream.

What’s in these Chocolate Mint Cupcakes?

Here’s a quick overview of the ingredients that are in this cupcake. Make sure to check out the free recipe card for the measurements and specific instructions.

• Semi-Sweet Chocolate
• All-Purpose Flour
• Cake Flour
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• Baking Soda
• Baking Powder
• Salt
• Eggs
• Granulated Sugar
• Butter
• Buttermilk
• Andes Crème de Menthe baking chips

Mint Buttercream Ingredients

These mint chocolate cupcakes have an extra pop of mint flavor from this mint buttercream frosting. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

• Butter
• Peppermint Extract
• Vanilla Extract
• Powdered Sugar
• Milk

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions to make these rich chocolate cupcakes and mint buttercream frosting, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

How to Make Chocolate Mint Cupcakes

1. First, prep for making the recipe by lining your cupcake pan and preheating the oven.
2. Sift the dry ingredients together: flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3. Beat the eggs and sugar together
4. Then add the melted chocolate, butter, and buttermilk to the sugar mixture.
5. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in increments.
6. Stir in the Andes Crème de Menthe baking chips. 
7. Divide batter into the cupcake tins and bake.

The above is simply a quick summary of this mint chocolate cupcake recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

How to Make Mint Buttercream

The below is simply a quick summary of the process for making the mint buttercream for these cupcakes. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

1. Cream butter until fluffy, then add part of the powdered sugar.
2. After beating until smooth, mix in the milk.
3. Then, add remaining powdered sugar.
4. Add vanilla, and peppermint extracts.
5. Color with food coloring if desired.

Decorating Chocolate Mint Cupcakes

For piping bags: I like CIA Masters Collection 12 Inch Disposable Pastry Bags or Wilton Disposable 12 Inch Decorating Bags, Pack Of 24.

For icing tips: this 4 piece cupcake piping tip set has plenty of options for different piping styles!

After you’ve got the right kind of tip, really all you have to do is swirl the frosting around the top of the cupcake, starting on the outside edge and working your way in. Top the cupcakes off with a garnish for extra pretties and you’re all set!

Head over to my cupcake tutorials: Cupcake Piping Tips and How to Pipe Two Tone Frosting for more info!

Chocolate Mint Cupcake Garnish Ideas

Want to make your mint chocolate cupcakes extra cute? Here are some of my favorite ideas for decorating them after you’ve added the mint buttercream:

• Fresh Mint Leaves
• Andes Mints
• Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies
• Mini Chocolate Chips
• St. Patrick’s Day Sprinkles

Mint Chocolate Cupcake FAQs

Got questions about how to make this recipe for chocolate mint cupcakes? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.

Can these cupcakes be made in advance?

Yes! You can make the cupcakes a day in advance if they’re stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

If you want to make them earlier than a day in advance, then I recommend freezing them.

Can you freeze cupcakes?

Yes! You can freeze with and without the frosting. I prefer to freeze without the frosting and then store the frosting in the freezer separately in a freezer-safe container or bag.

I recommend checking out my how to freeze muffins tutorial because the concept is very similar!

If freezing them separately, you’ll need to thaw both components before decorating and the frosting will need to come to room temperature so it is soft enough to pipe.

How should I store leftover cupcakes?

Leftover cupcakes are best stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator so the frosting stays fresh (there is dairy in it!).

For long term storage, you can store them in the freezer. Flash freeze on a baking sheet first before transferring them to an airtight container. This allows the frosting to harden so it doesn’t get smashed in the storage container.

When to Serve Chocolate Mint Cupcakes

We created this recipe for our son’s birthday celebration at home, but you can serve them any time the craving for mint and chocolate strikes!

They also go really well with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations when you dye the mint buttercream green.

Try these Mint Chocolate Cupcakes!

Next time you’re looking for a recipe to make for the chocolate mint lover in your life, give these chocolate mint cupcakes a try!

Did you love the combination of mint frosting with chocolate cupcakes? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this great recipe.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me @goodlifeeats #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of this chocolate cupcake recipe!

More Cupcake Recipes

These Valentine Cupcakes are a hit at parties – a simple and moist chocolate cupcake recipe with a fail-proof cream cheese frosting colored pink for a super cute Valentine’s Day dessert.

These Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes feature a sour cream chocolate cupcake base and a bright raspberry buttercream frosting.

Celebrate warm weather with these easy Lemon Blackberry Cupcakes! Tangy lemon cupcakes are topped with a fluffy blackberry buttercream frosting. 

These Pumpkin Cupcakes are out of this world delicious! They’re frosted in cream cheese frosting and then topped with a delicious caramel pecan topping.

Get in the holiday spirit with these easy Gingerbread Cupcakes! Tangy cream cheese icing is the perfect compliment to these fluffy gingerbread spiced cupcakes.

Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.

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More About Making these Chocolate Mint Cupcakes

That is something that through my years of being a mom that I’ve had to learn on my own.

Despite the mess, time in the kitchen face-to-face with someone I love, especially my kids, is more rewarding than making a recipe quickly while keeping the kitchen slightly more tidy.

On a whim last I grabbed some Andes Crème de Menth Baking Chips that we on sale. After a quick inventory of the pantry, Madeline and I decided to take our favorite chocolate cupcakes and change things up a bit and make chocolate mint cupcakes.

Chocolate cupcakes became Chocolate Mint Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream.

One of Logan’s favorite ice cream flavors (and mine too) is Mint Chocolate Chip, and these cupcakes tasted a little bit like that.

Baking Chocolate Mint Cupcakes with Mady

Of my two kids, Madeline has probably consistently been the one most interested in helping me cook, which has made the progression of her confidence that much more noticeable.

It has been amazing to see her growth in the kitchen.

I’ve watched her go from a toddler who could help stir things with a spoon and dump pre-measured ingredients into a bowl to this month when she measured most of the ingredients by herself for this Chocolate Mint Cupcake Recipe.

She even managed to control a hand mixer with my encouragement.

I think the hand mixer still scares her a little. As the batter got thicker and the bowl heavier she told me “I’m having a hard time “trolling” (controlling) this thing, mom!”

The mess, and oh there was a mess!, was the last thing on my mind as we worked through the recipe together.

We spent time laughing over funny things (like how eggs tend to explode when Madeline cracks them), me encouraging her through more challenging steps and reassuring her over the literal spilled milk.

And of course sampling the batter to make sure the cupcakes would be good enough to share with Logan.

And before we knew it we were done.

Cupcakes went into the oven, Madeline ran off with Logan to concoct some new game involving both Twister and Pokémon.

And, despite the disaster zone the kitchen had become, the mess was cleaned up before the timer for the baking cupcakes went off.

The memories created in the kitchen as Madeline and focused on a common goal are invaluable.

I couldn’t have asked for a better afternoon or a better helper.