Chocolate Cupcakes with Mint Frosting

Ingredients:

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking

/4 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

3/4 cup warm water

3/4 cup buttermilk

3 tablespoons oil

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners; set aside. Sift together cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Add eggs, warm water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla, and mix until smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of bowl to assure batter is well mixed.

Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake until tops spring back when touched, about 20 minutes, rotating pan once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.

Source: Martha Stewart

For the cupcakes I used the chocolate cupcake recipe above, and for the frosting I just sort of winged it! I have this habit of not measuring things exact....so here is approximately what I did for the frosting :)

Minty Frosting

3 Tbs cream cheese

1/4 whipping cream

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar (more or less depending on the consistency you want)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon mint extract (or more - adjust to your own taste!)

1 stick unsalted butter

Mix ingredients of frosting until smooth. Frost cupcakes after they are cooled. Top with Mint Chip shavings used a hand grater. Enjoy!