The Story:
It’s officially Christmas time! I try to put off all the music and lights and treats and movies until after Thanksgiving. I’ll admit I gave into some eggnog and a few truffles, but yesterday I strapped on my Christmas apron and blasted the jolly tunes of the season.
Love Peppermint Bark? These are for you! The frosting is dipped in melted white chocolate, so it creates a real “bark” treat, so you may want to eat these babies with a fork.

Peppermint Bark Cupcakes
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake:
- 1 box Devil's Food Cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 C. oil
- 3/4 C. buttermilk or milk
- 1/2 C. sour cream or plain yogurt
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
Peppermint White Chocolate Chunk Buttercream:
- 1/2 C. butter softened
- 8 oz. cream cheese or an extra 1/2 C. butter
- 1 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
- 3-4 C. powdered sugar
- 1 C. white chocolate melts finely chopped
1 1/2 C. White Chocolate Melts
Candy Canes, crushed
Instructions
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1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line pans with cupcake liners
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2. Sift cake mix into a small bowl and set aside.
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3. In a large bowl combine eggs, oil, buttermilk, sour cream, and vanilla extract.
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4. Mix in cake mix until smooth.
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5. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until an inserted knife comes out clean.
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6. Buttercream: Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. add peppermint extract and slowly add powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency. Add white chocolate that has been chopped (or put thought a food processor).
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7. Pipe buttercream onto cooled cupcakes.
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8. Melt white chocolate melts (regular chocolate chips won't work) in the microwave and put in a cup, mug or small bowl that is deep enough to dip your cupcakes.
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9. Dip the frosting of each cupcake into the melted chocolate, and turn right side up to set.
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10. After you dip a cupcake, sprinkle it with crushed candy canes. Do this quickly because the chocolate will harden.
Lizzy are these mini cupcakes? They look small.
They are standard sized! But minis would be awesome and provide a really easy way to each the white chocolate shell frosting
These look amazing, can’t wait to try them. How do you know that the icing will not fall off while you are dipping them?
It sticks pretty well to the cake. I’ve never had a problem with it, though gravity would seem to win
Hi – thanks for what looks/sounds like a great recipe! I’m assuming one could use the white Wilton candy melts for this? Thanks!
Yes! I got my melts out of the bargain bins at WinCo, but any white melts work great!
They look divine! You’re such a wiz at combining the right flavors and colors! Chocolate and peppermint is a favorite combo of mine 🙂 Can’t wait to try them! Another bravo to you, lady!
Hi Lizzy! you can’t go wrong with peppermint and chocolate – especially this time of year. another perfect cupcake recipe. you are my one stop cupcake recipe shop 🙂
Oh my word these look amazing! I just discovered your site and seriously love it! Gorgeous photos!
Could you use a white cake mix instead of the Devil’s Food Cake? I have a family member who is allergic to chocolate.
Yes! You can!
I LOVED this recipe and was so excited to try – but when I tried to dip my frosted cupcakes in the white chocolate… all the frosting fell off and into the bowl of chocolate ehhh – I then tried using a spoon to kind of “scoop” it back onto the cupcake with the chocolate – needless to say – they didn’t come out very attractive looking. Any suggestions for the next time are very welcomed. Love your site and your ideas.
try chilling the frosted cupcakes first, pop them in the freezer for about 15 minutes. when they are chilled the melted chocolate will adhere better.
are candy melts the same as the white candy bark that comes in the cubes?
and are wilton’s white candy melts the same as the white chocolate melts? There’s no white chocolate in the candy melts I’ve found Thanks!
Is there anyway to make the cupcakes mocha flavored?!
Yes, in place of the liquid, brew up some strong coffee!
Just made these. They were wonderful! Put 6 in a Christmas cupcake view box. What a presentation that made not to mention how delicious!!! I did have two cupcakes where the frosting came off when dipping but I think it was just because the white chocolate was getting thicker from standing. Otherwise, no problem. They are perhaps the most beautiful cupcakes I’ve ever made. Thank you so much for that recipe!
BTW, forgot to mention in my post that I had no candy melts and ended up using CandiQuik which worked fine.
Hi! I was wondering if you could use the white melting chocolate as a ganache, and dip the cupcakes in that before frosting, then place buttercream, and possibly drizzle extra white choc on top? Thanks!
Yes of course! White chocolate ganache (It becomes “ganache” when you add cream to it to make it softer than regular chocolate) can be a tad tricky. It all depends on what sort of chips/melts you use and your cream. But even just a drizzle of melted chocolate on top would be great!
Would you have any recommendations for the melts and cream for white chocolate? What makes it tricky? any suggestions? Thanks again!
Not going to lie, I still am figuring it out myself! Whenever I move I buy a new cream and then I can get into trouble! Maybe Google can help you out! When I’m done with this crazy holiday season I’ll spend a day and try to figure out the kinks 🙂
Ok, thank you..ill just use this as drizzle…maybe dip top of cupcakes, then place buttercream on top? do you have your own business? think you are amazing!
Yes, this blog is a business! I write and post here, write cookbooks and do freelance work!
Lizzie… I have finally made up my mind which cc to do for the holiday buffet! Thanks for all your great recipes, tidbits and advice! Just picked up your book, SERIOUSLY love the photos and easy to follow recipes. I am sure its going to be a huge success! I have been making your delicious treats for over a year and it is so hard to pick a favourite one.
Oh good! So happy to help you out, Merry Christmas!
I love this cupcake it’s so intresting the flavors go very well together.
And i was wondering i followed u on pintrest, can u follow me bck! That would be very cool thx ^•^
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