Cosmic Chocolate Mint Cupcakes

Not a lot to say. Definitely made this to procrastinate (procrastibake) putting my laundry away. Calling them cosmic because someone at work today told me I looked like an alien. While baking these, I ended up losing a piping tip down the garbage disposal that took 30 minutes of work to get out, but it's good as new now. These chocolate mint cupcakes smell very minty but the taste is more subtle than the smell. Enjoy!

Cosmic Chocolate Mint Cupcakes

Cake Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 cup hot water

Frosting Ingredients
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 stick salted butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4-5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
3-4 tablespoons milk
Food Coloring (Optional)
Sprinkles (Optional)

Cake Directions
Preheat oven to 350º F.
Place cupcake liners in muffin tin.
Sift together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and espresso powder to a large bowl. Whisk to thoroughly combine.
Whisk milk, vegetable oil, egg, and peppermint extract into flour mixture until well combined.
Pour in hot water and slowly stir until well combined. Batter will be thin.
Evenly distribute cake batter. Each cupcake liner should be about 3/4 full.
Place in the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 17 minutes
Remove from the oven and allow the cupcakes to cool completely.

Frosting Directions
In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip butters together until light in color.
Mix in the peppermint and vanilla.
Slowly add in the powdered sugar a cup at a time, adding milk as needed to smooth the frosting out.
Stir in food coloring until desired color is reached.
Pipe onto cooled cupcakes, top with sprinkles.