White Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

It's a winter wonderland at my house. We've gotten between 10-11 inches of snow. I've been snowed in the past couple of days so I decided to use my time to come up with this recipe. A lovely vanilla cupcake topped with white chocolate butter cream frosting and peppermint candy. The frosting on these is worth trying the recipe alone. It's that good! These are the perfect snow day treat. I hope you guys enjoy them!

Ingredients:

for the cupcakes- I used Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes from Glorious Treats

• 1 1/4 cup cake flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
• 1/2 cup buttermilk (or 1/2 cup milk plus 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar and let set for 5 minutes)

for the frosting- I used Two Ingredient White Chocolate Butter cream from Cookies and Cups

• 1 lb butter (4 sticks)
• 2 cups white chocolate chips

Garnish: Peppermint Baking chips

Directions:

for the cupcakes:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line a cupcake/muffin pan with paper liners and set aside.
• In a medium bowl combine the first four ingredients, whisk together and set aside
• In a separate mixing bowl, add eggs and mix with electric mixer for 10-20 seconds.
• Add sugar and mix for 30 seconds. 
• Next add oil and vanilla, blend until all ingredients are completely mixed together.
• Add half of the flour mixture, mix well; then half of the milk, mix well. Repeat. 
• Pour batter into the lined cupcake pan, approximately 2/3 full. Bake for 12-14 minutes.
• Cool completely on wire racks, then frost with white chocolate butter cream.

for the frosting:

• In a medium sauce pan combine butter and white chocolate chips
• Melt together over low heat, stirring. The butter and white chocolate will separate.
• When everything is melted remove from heat and allow to sit for 15 minutes or so. Place saucepan in fridge and refrigerate until the mixture becomes solid, approx 3 hours.
• When you're ready to prepare the frosting, remove from fridge and let it sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes or so, to take the chill off.
• Place entire mass into bowl of stand mixer and beat for 2-3 minutes until frosting becomes light and fluffy.
• Pipe or frost cupcakes or cake.
• Sprinkle peppermint baking chips on top of frosted cupcakes

ENJOY!