Iron Cupcake Challenge_Herbs

This month's iron cupcake challenge was to use a fresh herb/herbs in a cupcake. I have an immense weakness for anything minty (especially paired with chocolate) so it was obvious right away what I should do. I thought of lots of different ideas using mint but ultimately decided on a cupcake version of my favorite coffee drink - the peppermint mocha. The cupcake is mocha flavored, filled with dark chocolate/mint ganache and topped with fresh mint whipped cream. I played around with the decorative toppings - using fresh mint leaves, red sugar sprinkles (like they put on top at starbucks), and chocolate chips.

The mocha cupcake recipe came from Julie Hasson's book "125 Best Cupcake Recipes". The coffee flavor of the cake was just strong enough to be prominent without getting bitter or overwhelming and the cake was moist and dense.

The chocolate ganache filling recipe is from my go-to cupcake blog: cupcake bakeshop by chockylit. It was sweet and minty - although I think it could have been a little mintier.

And the fresh mint whipped cream I just kind of made up but it turned out pretty tasty. I made alot so that I would have extra to eat with all the fresh blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries I have in the fridge. Here's the approximate recipe:

Fresh Mint Whipped Cream

1/2 c. fresh mint leaves (chopped)
1/4 c. + 1 TBSP sugar
4 TBSP water
2 c. whipping cream

In small saucepan over medium-low heat, stir together water, sugar, and mint leaves. Heat until they begin to boil, stirring periodically. Cover and remove from heat and let sit for about 1 hour. Strain the syrup into a glass bowl and let cool. Add whipping cream and beat with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form.

yummy.gooey.coffee.minty.goodness

Voting begins Tuesday July 28, so if you get a chance stop by Nobody Puts Cupcake in A Corner and vote. And if you'd like to get in on the challenge visit Iron Cupcake's cuphub.

Our June ETSY PRIZE-PACK is from artists:

• A sweet cupcake ID bracelet by INSANEJELLYFISH, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5021935
• A delicious treat from CIRCLEMONKEY http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5335273
  
• a sweet surprise from Sweet Cuppin' Cakes Cupcakery, http://www.acupcakery.com/
  
• PLUS, IronCupcake:Earth can not forget our good friend, CAKESPY, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243382, who is now going to be doing a piece for our winner each month until further notice - sweet!

Last and certainly not least, don’t forget our corporate prize providers: HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS, http://www.fiestaproducts.com, HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com, JESSIE STEELE APRONS http://www.jessiesteele.com; TASTE OF HOME books, http://www.tasteofhome.com; a t-shirt from UPWITHCUPCAKES.COM http://www.upwithcupcakes.com/. Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers, http://www.1800flowers.com.