Grinch Cupcakes with Peppermint Frosting

a hand holding a grinch cupcake with a pretzel tree on top

Grinch Cupcakes with Peppermint Frosting

These fun and festive Grinch Cupcakes are made with a creamy Peppermint Frosting and topped with an adorable "Whoville" tree! They're the perfect treat to enjoy during the holidays.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Total Time 35

Servings

Calories 531

Author Ashlyn Edwards | Belle of the Kitchen

Ingredients

For the cupcakes

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated white sugar
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) softened
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 cup milk

For the Peppermint Frosting

2 cups unsalted butter (4 sticks) softened
9 cups powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon peppermint extract
1/2 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup heavy cream or milk

For the Whoville trees

24 pretzel sticks
12 ounces green candy melts
green sugar sprinkles and heart sprinkles

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line your muffin tins with paper liners and set aside.
To make the cupcakes, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
In a separate large bowl, beat the eggs and white granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add in 2 sticks of softened butter, 3 teaspoons vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon peppermint extract and mix well. Next add in the milk and mix until combined.
Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir by hand until just combined. Fill the muffin tins ½ to ¾ full with the batter.
Bake for 18-20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool the Grinch Cupcakes completely on a wire rack before frosting and decorating.
To make the peppermint frosting, beat the 4 sticks of softened butter over medium speed with an electric mixer until soft and creamy. Continue to beat over medium speed as you gradually add the powdered sugar. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed to fully incorporate all of the sugar.
Once the butter and sugar have come together, add the peppermint extract and vanilla extract. Beat in the heavy cream or milk, a little at a time, until desired consistency is reached. Next add a few drops of the neon green food coloring and mix to combine. Add a little bit at a time until the right amount of Grinch green is achieved.
Add the frosting to a large ziplock bag or piping bag fitted with a round piping tip. If using a ziplock bag, cut off a small corner at the bottom. Pipe the cupcakes in an upwards swirl pattern. Dust with the green sugar sprinkles and heart sprinkles.
To make your Whoville Tree toppers, lay out a piece of parchment paper on a large baking sheet and place 24 pretzel sticks on it, spaced apart. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the green candy melts in 30 second intervals until melted and smooth, stirring after each interval.
Fill a small ziploc bag with the melted green candy melts and snip off a very small corner. Pipe a tree across the pretzels by going in a back and forth motion and curving at the top. Place a heart sprinkle on the tip of each one and allow these to harden. You can also place them in the refrigerator to speed up the setting time.
When completely hardened and ready to serve, stick your Whoville trees in the top of each cupcake. Enjoy!

Notes

To make your cupcakes more festive, add some red and green sprinkles to the cake batter!
Peppermint Mocha coffee creamer is a delicious substitute for the heavy cream or milk in the frosting.
The heart sprinkles can be purchased from Walmart, Micheael's, Jo-Ann's, or Amazon.
Storing: these frosted and decorated Grinch Cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container on the counter for up to two days. They can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days, though I don't recommend this method as the cupcakes can dry out due to the refrigeration. If you won't be serving your Grinch Cupcakes the same day you prepare them, I also recommend waiting to add the Whoville trees on top. You can go ahead and prepare the trees in advance, just don't place them on your cupcakes until right before you're ready to serve them.
Freezing: to freeze unfrosted cupcakes, simply place the completely cooled cupcakes in a flat layer inside of a large ziplock bag. Freeze for up to three months.For frosted cupcakes (minus the Whoville tree toppers), first place the cupcakes in the refrigerator on a baking sheet for 1-2 hours to allow the frosting to set and harden. Remove from the refrigerator and wrap each one securely in plastic wrap before freezing. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw cupcakes at room temperature for 1-2 hours before enjoying. After they have thawed completely, you can also add the Whoville Tree toppers!

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