peppermint white chocolate cupcakes

I reallllly don't like Starbucks. The coffee always tastes burnt + I do not appreciate the high cost for an espresso beverage. However, I do have a soft spot for one Starbucks product.... the peppermint white chocolate mocha complete with a gloriously red holiday cup. This decadent beverage warms my heart + is the perfect holiday treat. Although this drink sets you back about 400+ calories, its nice to indulge once in a while.

Inspired by my favorite holiday beverage I made some chocolate cupcakes with peppermint white chocolate frosting this past weekend for a friend's birthday; mini chocolate cakes swirled with white chocolate-pepperminty buttercream + topped with a candy garnish, they were a delight.

Enjoy.

White Chocolate Peppermint Frosting

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

12 ounce white chocolate, melted and cooled slightly

1-2 cup confectioners' sugar *

1 tsp peppermint extract

In a large bowl beat the butter at medium speed until creamy. Beat in the melted white chocolate. Add confectioners' sugar in stages + peppermint extract. Whip until light and fluffy.

* Add confectioners' sugar until reaches sweetness + consistency desired. May be more or less.

Peppermint Candy Garnish

Evenly space the circular red peppermint candy on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 300 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes. If left in the oven too long candy will turn yellow. After removing from the oven use a pizza cutter to make even (or uneven) cuts through the melted candy. Once hardened, the candy will break apart easily using the cuts as a guide.

Cookie Five: Peppermint Bark

In the spirit of the busy holiday season, my mom suggested that I make a treat that is extremely easy to make and doesn't take much time at all. These also make great gifts, if you bundle them up in a festive candy bag and tie with a cute ribbon. My gift to my coworkers this year is five extra pounds of insulation since it's been so cold in Atlanta (better them than me!), so I brought bags and bags of Peppermint Bark to work. We picked a few of our favorite allstar coworkers from different departments and went forth spreading holiday cheer. Nothing says we appreciate all you do for us like a minty fresh delectable.

Peppermint Bark

1 lb. white chocolate, in bricks/blocks/discs

1/4 lb. green and red peppermint chips

Spread a large sheet of aluminum foil across your counter. Melt 1 lb. white chocolate over a double boiler over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until completely melted. Mix in about 1/4 lb. green and red peppermint chips until chips are covered in chocolate (you can edit this amount to your liking, depending on how pepperminty you want your bark). Remove from heat and pour the mixture over the foil. Use your wooden spoon to spread the mixture out to create a thin layer. Allow the mixture to harden, then break into large pieces to serve.

Clean-up hint: When cleaning the white chocolate out of the pan, use a paper towel to completely wipe out all of the chocolate first. This will take a few paper towels, but it's well worth it! Otherwise, the instant the water hits the chocolate, it will harden and take much longer to clean.