Mini Vanilla Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream

By Rachel // December 4, 2013 // 50 comments //

Mini vanilla cupcakes topped off with peppermint buttercream frosting and crushed peppermint candy. A perfect holiday dessert!

Mini Vanilla Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream Recipe from bakedbyrachel.com

Today we’re celebrating… babies, sugar, mini things and butter. Okay, just one of those really. But we can pretend we’re celebrating the rest because you know you want to eat a dozen mini cupcakes, right? So that’s totally celebrating. And since we’re celebrating, a little indulging is totally allowed.

Do you know Audra of The Baker Chick? She’s super sweet and quite frankly one of the cutest pregnant women I’ve ever seen. It seemed fitting to share something mini for her virtual baby shower. Babies and mini things just seem to go hand and hand. Mini socks and shoes to cover mini toes. Mini fingers and ahhh babies… they’re tiny and cute but they definitely don’t stay tiny for very long.

Mini Vanilla Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream Recipe from bakedbyrachel.com

I couldn’t resist the urge to add a fun seasonal twist to these mini cupcakes. I totally could’ve eaten the peppermint buttercream with a spoon. So delicious! Don’t worry, the recipe makes plenty so you can sneak a bit. I promise not to tell. A perfect holiday recipe for light and fluffy bite sized vanilla cupcakes, topped off with peppermint buttercream frosting and crushed peppermint candy. An absolute must make for all of your holiday events or just because!

A baby shower for Audra

Print Recipe

Mini Vanilla Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream

Mini vanilla cupcakes topped off with peppermint buttercream frosting and crushed peppermint candy. A perfect holiday dessert!

Prep Time5

Cook Time14

Total Time20

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cupcake

Servings: 18 cupcakes

Ingredients

Cupcake ingredients:

1/4 C unsalted butter softened
1/2 C granulated sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 C milk
3/4 C all purpose flour

Buttercream:

3 Tbsp unsalted butter softened
2 C powdered sugar
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
2-3 Tbsp water

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a mini muffin pan with liners.
Cream together butter and granulated sugar. Add vanilla and egg whites. Once mixture is lump free, add remaining dry ingredients followed by milk. Mix until ingredients are just combined. Divide among 18-20 liners, roughly 3/4 full. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat together butter, powdered sugar and peppermint. Slowly add water until desired icing consistency is reached. Cover well until ready to use.
Frost cupcakes once they have cooled completely.

Notes

An original recipe from Baked by Rachel

50 Responses to “Mini Vanilla Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream”

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Lauren at Keep It Sweet — December 4, 2013 at 7:27 am

These are the cutest little cupcakes! I’ll definitely take you up on sneaking some of that frosting;-)
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  Rachel — December 4, 2013 at 10:31 am
  
  We should have a frosting party sometime! Total sugar overload but worth it. :)
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Ali @ Inspiralized — December 4, 2013 at 8:02 am

I love the toppings on these adorable little cupcakes! Yum :)
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  Rachel — December 4, 2013 at 10:32 am
  
  Thanks Ali!
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3

Julie @ Table for Two — December 4, 2013 at 8:18 am

Oh my gosh!! These are seriously the cutest! I love that the frosting looks like pillowy goodness! I love the peppermint crumbles on top – perfect for the holidays and so perfect for Audra’s shower :)
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  Rachel — December 4, 2013 at 10:32 am
  
  Too bad the cupcake places didn’t have minis lol we probably would have eaten less.
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Julia — December 4, 2013 at 8:39 am

She totally is the cutest pregnant girl… and these cupcakes sound deeeeelicious!
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  Rachel — December 4, 2013 at 10:33 am
  
  Haha! Thanks Julia
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steph@stephsbitebybite — December 4, 2013 at 8:43 am

Peppermint buttercream? I think I could eat a whole bowl of the frosting!
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  Rachel — December 4, 2013 at 10:33 am
  
  So hard to resist! :)
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Audra | The Baker Chick — December 4, 2013 at 9:02 am

Rachel these cupcakes are absolutely adorable and would be just perfect for any holiday party dessert spread.

Thank you so much for your sweet words and for being part of my “shower” I am so lucky to have such sweet blogging friends! xoxo
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  Rachel — December 4, 2013 at 10:33 am
  
  I hope you enjoy your day!! Too bad it couldn’t be in person. That would have been so much fun!
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Michelle — December 4, 2013 at 9:52 am

Those look adorable! I never make minis, but I have a pan, this is very tempting… I have a question though, where is the peppermint listed in the cake mix instructions coming from? (it’s not in the ingredients) Are the cakes peppermint too?
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  Rachel — December 4, 2013 at 10:34 am
  
  The cupcakes are vanilla so they’re more mellow but you’re welcome to substitute the vanilla in the cupcake portion to be peppermint if you prefer the entire cupcake and frosting to have the same flavor.
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Jennifer | Bake or Break — December 4, 2013 at 9:53 am

So festive! That frosting looks gorgeous.
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  Rachel — December 4, 2013 at 10:35 am
  
  Thanks Jennifer!
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9

Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough — December 4, 2013 at 10:08 am

Love these! Ugh this makes me wish we were having this shower in real life so I could scarf one (or 10) of these down. ;)
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  Rachel — December 4, 2013 at 10:35 am
  
  Right?! Virtual showers are torture lol I want to eat it all!
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10

Mackey Stanley — December 4, 2013 at 11:10 am

These are adorable and sound delicious too!
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  Rachel — December 4, 2013 at 11:40 am
  
  Thanks so much! :)
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11

Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie — December 4, 2013 at 11:38 am

So cute and festive! Looking at all these treats for the shower today makes me wish it were happening in real life.
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  Rachel — December 4, 2013 at 11:41 am
  
  I know! We really need to plan better lol :)
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12

Laura @ Laura's Baking Talent — December 4, 2013 at 11:45 am

Wow! I bet that buttercream tastes amazing :) Yum!
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  Rachel — December 4, 2013 at 3:28 pm
  
  It absolutely does! And thank you :)
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13

Jacqueline Raposo — December 4, 2013 at 12:29 pm

These are BEYOND precious! Yes, mini EVERYTHING for baby showers! LOVE these!
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  Rachel — December 4, 2013 at 3:28 pm
  
  Thanks so much! :)
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14

Tracey — December 4, 2013 at 8:14 pm

Mini cupcakes and peppermint? I would probably eat all 18 myself, I cannot be trusted around such things :)
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  Rachel — December 5, 2013 at 7:17 am
  
  Totally understand lol And thanks! :)
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15

Zainab @ Blahnik Baker — December 4, 2013 at 9:05 pm

These cupcakes are very beautiful!! Love peppermint anything. The shower is so sweet and it’s making me go “aww” and “ahh” as I go through the posts. Blogging community is the best! I hope Audra had a great day.
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  Rachel — December 5, 2013 at 7:15 am
  
  Thanks so much! I hope she enjoyed it too :)
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Monet — December 4, 2013 at 11:26 pm

Adorable. Can I have one or two or three? This buttercream sounds too good for words! What a wonderful way to celebrate a sweet mama and her babe to be!
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  Rachel — December 5, 2013 at 7:15 am
  
  Thanks so much! And yes… two or three easily :)
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17

Rachel @ Bakerita — December 5, 2013 at 2:39 am

Mini cupcakes! Peppermint! Vanilla! All of my favorite things :) love these, and they look so darned cute as well. Pinned!
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  Rachel — December 5, 2013 at 7:14 am
  
  Thanks Rachel!
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18

Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen — December 5, 2013 at 12:05 pm

Ohhh I could totally eat that frosting with a spoon too! Yummmm!
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19

Joanne — December 5, 2013 at 4:52 pm

It never ceases to amaze me how all food tastes better in mini form…maybe because I can eat more of it without any guilt? These are adorable! I am so ready for the peppermint sweet treat infusion to begin!
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  Rachel — December 5, 2013 at 6:53 pm
  
  Less guilt, definitely. Plus you can sample more ;)
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20

Dina — December 5, 2013 at 5:04 pm

they look like perfect cupcakes!
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  Rachel — December 5, 2013 at 6:53 pm
  
  Thanks Dina!
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21

Jocelyn @BruCrew Life — December 5, 2013 at 5:41 pm

With the peppermint craze that I have going on right now, I really just want a bowl of that frosting and a spoon! Love these fun cupcakes!!!
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  Rachel — December 5, 2013 at 6:53 pm
  
  I wish I had that in front of me right now too ;)
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22

Ashley - Baker by Nature — December 5, 2013 at 10:06 pm

Rachel!!! I am dying over how cute these mini cupcakes are!!!
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  Rachel — December 6, 2013 at 7:26 am
  
  Aww thanks so much Ashley!
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23

Nutmeg Nanny — December 8, 2013 at 10:38 am

Oh yum, these look so perfect! I can’t wait to taste this peppermint buttercream :)
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24

Jen — December 9, 2013 at 8:57 am

I’m confused. The ingredient list doesn’t show peppermint for the cupcakes but the directions say add the peppermint.
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  Rachel — December 9, 2013 at 9:01 am
  
  Whoops! Sorry about that. Peppermint on the brain. There is no peppermint in the cupcake, only vanilla. But you’re welcome to substitute peppermint for the vanilla in the cupcake if you wish.
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25

Jen — December 9, 2013 at 11:42 am

Nah. I want to make then just like the recipe. :) Just wanted to make sure I was reading it right. Thanks for your reply! Can’t wait to make them!
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  Rachel — December 9, 2013 at 2:36 pm
  
  No problem. Enjoy! :)
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26

Gabriela — December 18, 2015 at 12:13 pm

I made these last night for my son’s class. They were delicious and the kids gobbled them up. Great recipe. Thank you.
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  Rachel — December 19, 2015 at 6:52 am
  
  So glad everyone enjoyed them, Gabriela! Thanks so much for sharing.

Mini Vanilla Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream