Sometimes, I make recipes with a certain someone in mind. Today's mini chocolate peppermint patty cupcakes recipe was brought to you by the inspiration of Lucian, my three-year-old. He loves peppermint patties to pieces and even nags for them every single time we go to a checkout counter. I know, it's all part of being a parent.
These mini cupcakes topped with itty bitty peppermint patties are so darn adorable. Love. Them. Guess what? I stuffed these tiny cakes with some peppermint patties too. It was the perfect surprise!
These cupcakes are incredibly moist and chocolatey! Of course, my frosting had to go with the theme so I made some peppermint frosting by using a little peppermint extract. It's so sweet, but refreshing.
These dark chocolate cupcakes aren't more than a couple of bites, so I would definitely say diet friendly too. Just kidding! Don't send me hate mail for saying that. They are also the perfect size to sneak. You know, when you have little ones and tell them that they can't have a cookie or cupcakes before dinner, but that rule doesn't apply to you. Yeah, that kind of sneaking.

Mini Chocolate Peppermint Patty Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- ½ cup special dark cocoa powder
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon alt
- 34 minis peppermint patties
Frosting
- ¼ cup butter room temperature
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- ¾ teaspoon peppermint extract
- Sprinkles to garnish
- 34 mini peppermint patties to garnish
Instructions
Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a mini cupcake pan with papers.
- In a large mixing bowl, add in the olive oil and sugar. Mix on medium until combined.
- Add in the vanilla and eggs one at a time. Once the first egg is completely incorporated, add in the next egg. Mix until incorporated. Scrape down the sides.
- Add in the sour cream and mix on medium until combined.
- Add in the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix on low until the flour is just incorporated. Scrape down the sides and stir in any remaining flour.
- Scoop the batter into the cups. Fill about ⅔ full with batter.
- Add a mini peppermint patty to the center of each cupcake. I stood them on their side and not flat.
- Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until done. Place a toothpick off to the side of the candy. If it comes out with moist crumbs or clean, it's done. If there's still batter, let it bake an additional minute or two.
- Let the cupcakes cool completely.
Frosting
- In a large mixing bowl, add in the butter. Mix on medium until it's creamed.
- Add in the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and peppermint extract. Beat on low until the powdered sugar is incorporated.
- Once the powdered sugar is incorporated, beat on high for 2 to 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Place the frosting in a piping bag with a 1M tip. Pipe a swirl on each cooled cupcake.
- Add some white sprinkles and a mini peppermint patty to the top of frosted cupcakes.
Nutrition
(Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.)
My hubby's co-worker had a birthday last week. He took a couple of these to work for her. She messaged me the next morning to let me know she had them for breakfast. I say these are the perfect breakfast item or pretty much any time at all.
What other candy bars would you like to see stuffed inside of a baked good? I say Reese's for sure!
Liz says
Just now realized you changed your theme! I read all my posts on my phone in BlogLovin'! I love it! Looks great!
Miranda says
haha! Well, thank you for reading along and for taking notice of the new design!
Judy@ImBoredLetsGo says
Yum! Peppermint and chocolate is one of my favorite combinations. These are beautiful, wish I could dig into one right now!
Miranda says
Thank you, Judy!
GiGi Eats says
The chocolate doo-dah on top... Mmmm that seals the deal right there!
Miranda says
Yay! I'm glad! 🙂
cristina says
A tasty surprise and treat hidden in the middle of each of these pretty cupcakes! These would be dangerous and addicting in my house. I could eat them all without sharing. Nicely done...pinning for future baking. 🙂
Miranda says
Thank you! They were dangerous and highly addictive. They didn't stand a chance! lol
Brandon @ Kitchen Konfidence says
Such a fun surprise inside 🙂 And chocolate-peppermint is such a tasty combination. One of my favs!
Miranda says
Thank you! The surprise inside peppermint patty was a hit!
Lily Lau says
Chocolate and peppermint, sounds heavenly! 🙂
Miranda says
Thank you! It's a pretty popular combination around here!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
You made those with ME in mind!
Miranda says
Of course I did, Dorothy! 😀
Nibbles By Nic says
These cupcakes are so much fun and I LOVE anything stuffed!!!
Miranda says
Me tooo! lol
Krystle (Baking Beauty) says
So intrigued that these use olive oil. Can't wait to try them!
Miranda says
I'm in love with how the olive oil made this cake so moist. I want to use it more in my cakes!
Laura says
I LOVE peppermint patties in brownies but was never certain how they would behave in cake. Although, in retrospect, I have put recce's cups into cupcakes so I don't know why I was worried about it. Any reason you chose to put the patties in vertically? Would they sink if horizontal? Anyway, these are amazing--I am quizzing you of course because I am SO making these!
Miranda says
Ohhh. Peppermint patties in brownies sound good! There wasn't a reason for the vertical patties other than I wasn't positive whether the peppermint patties would sink to the bottom or stay suspended if I placed them horizontal. I know that the cake itself wasn't bothered by the candy being in there though. They still had a very nice dome on them. If you try it, let me know! I would love to hear your experience.
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet says
I have a 3 year old as well and I know she would devour these!
Miranda says
That's awesome! Honestly my 3 year old would eat any kind of cupcake, but these are his favorite. lol
Dini @ Giramuk's Kitchen says
I love Peppermint Patties!! These cupcakes would be perfect for me 😀 I love that there are peppermint patty surprises inside!
Miranda says
I'm glad you like them! The surprise was the best part! I couldn't keep Lucian out of them. lol 😀
K Lewis says
These were great! Just a note, if you're a get everything lined up beforehand baker, the salt that belongs in the cupcakes is instead listed in the frosting ingredients. I didn't catch that until I was making the frosting, and wondered why salt? The cupcakes still rose without the salt, but if I make again obviously I will try to include it!
Miranda says
Thanks for letting me know! It's all fixed now.