Andes Mint Cupcakes

I've been really into mint lately. Not just the flavor, either. I've been into the color mint, and I've recently purchased some mint pants which I'm kind of obsessed with wearing. It's such a happy color!

With St. Patty's day coming up tomorrow, I decided to make something with a little minty green. I wanted it to use Andes Mints because those things are obviously the best thing that has ever happened to after-dinner mints.

Andes Mints are the perfect marriage of silky smooth chocolate and cool mint.

I'm obsessed.

I had been craving them lately so I decided to make some Andes Mint cupcakes. I wanted a really light and fluffy chocolate cupcake, a minty chocolate mousse filling, and cool buttercream on top. I found the fluffiest chocolate cupcake recipe ever at My Baking Addiction (tweaked to my taste).

Perfect Chocolate Cupcakes

Yields: 18 cupcakes (I made 12 regular + 18 minis)

1 cup flour (I used 1 1/4 cups because I'm at high altitude)
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup oil (I used veggie oil)
1 cup hot water
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1. Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl and the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet while mixing. That's it! You could even probably do it all in one bowl at once (that's what the original recipe did). I mixed it by hand and it was super easy!

2. Fill baking cups 2/3 of the way for sea level or 1/2 way for high altitude. Bake at 350 for about 12-15 minutes for full-sized or 9-11 for mini cupcakes.

Andes Mint Mousse Filling

2/3 cup whipping cream
1/3 cup Andes mints, melted (I used the Andes Creme de Menthe baking chips they came out with-- they're pre-broken up for you)

Whip up the cream until it holds stiff peaks. Add the melted chocolate mints and whip until it's just incorporated.

Cut the center of the cupcakes out with a knife or a handy-dandy cupcake cutter. I found this at Walmart (2 for $1!) and had to see if it worked. Much to my surprise, it worked like a charm! You just stick it in, twist, and pull up! Voilà! C'est magnifique!

Fill each cupcake and put the top back on, if desired. I always do just because I like how it looks better.

Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

4 oz cream cheese
1 stick (8 tbsp) butter
3-4 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla
about 15 drops of green food coloring

Beat the cream cheese and butter together. Add the food coloring and beat. Add the vanilla and then the powdered sugar, slowly. Beat it until it's stiff and lovely! Frost cupcakes with a star tip. Top with Andes Mints or drizzle a little bit of melted Andes Mints in a decorative pattern. Enjoy!

I drizzled the minis because I had some leftover melted mints. 

I enjoyed mine with Martinelli's, because what isn't improved by sparkling cider?

Happy St. Patty's everyone!