Mint Kiss Cupcakes

While I'm going back on recipes that I've already made, this is one I made around Christmas for my sister-in-law to take to an event she was attending.

The cake itself is a simple sponge, and everyone seems to like it (I got it from my friend Jackie, so credit is given where credit is due) and it's nearly as fast to make as a mix. Plus it tastes 100 times better. She calls it shortcake, I call it sponge, take your pick.

Cake

-8 egg yolks
-4 egg whites
-1 1/2 c. sugar
-4 tbsp. milk
-1 tsp vanilla
-1 c. flour
-1/2 tsp salt

Mix all the ingredients except egg whites. For this particular recipe, save 2 of the extra 4 egg whites, you will need them.

Beat egg whites to soft peaks, fold in.

Spoon into a paper lined cupcake tray, fill each up about 2/3 full. This recipe will make 12-14 cupcakes.

Bake at 350*F for 14-16 minutes, let cool in the pan about 5 minutes and then transfer to cooling racks.

Prepare butter-cream (find the recipe here), substitute mint extract for vanilla.

Meanwhile with the remaining egg whites, you can make these:

Candy Cane Kisses

For red-and-green-striped kisses, add 2 stripes of green food colouring beside red stripes.

2 egg whites
Pinch cream of tartar
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Red paste food colouring

In bowl, beat egg whites with cream of tartar until soft peaks form; beat in peppermint extract. Gradually beat in sugar until stiff, glossy peaks form.

Fit pastry bag with 1/4-inch (5 mm) plain tip. Using small, clean paintbrush or cotton swab, brush inside of bag with 2 stripes of red food colouring opposite each other.

Spoon meringue into bag. Pipe 1-inch (2.5 cm) kisses, about 1 inch apart, onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake in 200 F oven until dry, about 1.5 hours. Turn off oven; let stand in oven for 30 minutes. Transfer to racks, cool.

Finally -

When the cupcakes have cooled, frost them with prepared mint butter-cream. Place one of the candy cane kisses on each one in the center. Garnish with shaved chocolate or chocolate chips if you want, I used chocolate chips on these...

And this is how they turned out:

Yes my table is always a mess when I'm done. They did turn out very well, they were a bit of work (and my piping leaves something to be desired, or my kisses would've been prettier), but I think worth the work and overall a good dessert.