Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

Evening trips to the ice cream shop is what summer is all about.  My kids love to go out for ice cream and most nights, I can resist the temptation to indulge in a big scoop of creamy goodness UNLESS it's mint chocolate chip ice cream.  For some reason, I just can't seem to resist that wonderfully delicious flavor combination.  As if mint chocolate chip ice cream weren't tempting enough, I decided to turn my favorite ice cream flavor into a cupcake.  I think these may be even more delicious than mint chocolate chip ice cream. 

Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcake
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs + 2 egg yolks
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 cup mini chocolate chips

Mix sour cream and baking soda together.  Sift together flour and cocoa.  Beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add in salt and beat until combined.  Add in eggs.  Add in egg yolks and vanilla.  Add in sour cream, alternating with flour with a spoon.  Divide batter among cupcake liners.  bake 20-25 minutes at 350.

Mint Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
6 egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
pinch salt
2 cups butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup crushed Andes mints

Combine egg whites, sugar and salt in bowl of mixer.  Put over double boiler and whisk over simmering water until sugar melts and mixture is warm.   (130 degrees)  Attach bowl to mixer and whisk meringue 5-7 minutes until thick and fluffy.  Meringue should be cool.  Remove whisk and attach paddle attachment to mixer.  With mixer on medium speed, add butter 1 Tablespoon at a time.  Add vanilla and continue beating until buttercream is thick and smooth.  Stir in Andes mints.

I tried several times to pipe this frosting onto the cupcakes and the tips kept getting clogged with mint pieces.  I thought I had them small enough to go through the tips but it turned out to be a frustrating experience so I ended up getting out my ice cream scoop and scooping a dollop of buttercream on top of each cupcake.  I kind of like the way it looks like a tribute to it's icy counterpart - the mint chocolate chip ice cream cone. 

These are really yummy.  The mint in the buttercream melts in your mouth just like an ice cream cone.  If you're a mint chocolate chip ice cream fan - you will be a mint chocolate chip cupcake fan too.

Ciao!