Chocolate Mint Grasshopper Cupcakes

Ingredients for cupcakes ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa 1½ cups all purpose flour 1½ cups granulated sugar 1½ tsp baking soda ¾ tsp baking powder ¾ tsp salt 2 large eggs ¾ cup warm water ¾ cup milk ¾ tbs white vinegar 3 tbs vegetable oil 2 tsp of vanilla extract

24 chocolate mint cookies ½ cup of mini chocolate chips Instructions 1. preheat oven to 350. line cupcake tin with paper liners. 2. mix the milk and vinegar in a small bowl. let it stand 3. sift the cocoa, all purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl

3. add the eggs, warm water, milk and vinegar mixture, oil and vanilla extract. mix until smooth. 4. Place one mint chocolate cookie on the bottom of each cupcake liner. fill cupcake tins 2/3 full of batter 5. bake for 20 minutes rotating the pans half way through the baking time.

Ingredients for the peppermint ganache 12 ounces of bittersweet chocolate chopped into small pieces 1 cup heavy cream 1 tsp peppermint extract Instructions for peppermint ganache 1. place chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. heat the cream until just simmering.

1. pour the warm cream over the chopped chocolate. allow the mixture to sit for a minute. add the peppermint flavor then mix until a smooth glossy mixture forms 2. set aside. allow to cool before using it in cupcakes

Ingredients for peppermint frosting 1½ cups of unsalted butter at room temp 3 cups of powdered sugar a pinch of salt 1 to 2 tbs heavy cream 1 tsp vanilla extract ½ tsp peppermint extract green food color

Instructions for peppermint frosting 1. in a small measuring cup add the vanilla, peppermint and cream. add salt. mix until salt is dissolved. 2. beat the sugar and butter until smooth. add the liquid ingredients and beat until light and fluffy

Instructions for assembling cupcakes 1. one cupcakes have cooled completely core out 1½ inch diameter circle in each cupcake saving the top. fill the hole with a heaping teaspoon of cooled chocolate ganache. replace the top 2. spread a thin layer of the ganache over the edges of the cupcake.

2. immediately press mini chocolate chips into wet ganache. 3. pipe the frosting on each cupcake. drizzle left over ganache over cupcakes. top with a chocolate mint cookie.