The Monday Treat – Peppermint Bark Cupcakes and Stripping Elves

Here’s how Wendy described it as she uploaded the video to Facebook: “OMG. This Happened.”

It was Jess’s tree trimming party – a highlight of the Christmas calendar, where Jess makes everyone thoroughly lethal apple punch and in return, we do her chores for her, i.e. decorate her Christmas tree. This year I intend to have a tree un-trimming party in January, and invite people over to put away the ornaments, untangle the lights and hoover up the pine needles. But I digress.

It was Jess’s tree trimming punch party, and it was also her birthday, so her lovely Mom and Dad were in attendance, handing out drinks and being as charming as can be. The tone is really what I’m trying to impart here. Dip and chips and punch and Dean Martin and heirloom baubles. Happy, charming, all American fun.

And then the stripping Elf arrived.

A surprise birthday present from Jess’s Uncle and partner designed to spice things up a little. Actually a lot, as it happens.

The Elf gyrated. He danced. He ripped off his tunic. And then he popped his hat on Jess’s head and turned around to waggle his bottom at her.

At this point, he was facing out into the room of party goers, including, let’s not forget, Jess’s parents.

So her Mom did the most natural seeming thing in the world: “Would you like a mini quiche?” she asked him.

Peppermint Bark Cup Cakes (makes 12 muffin sized cakes, 24 mini cakes)

These Christmas Cupcakes are just the thing to restore festive spirits following an encounter with any kind of stripping mythical creature.

They’re a simple all in one chocolate sponge, topped with a white chocolate peppermint frosting, and decorated with crushed candy canes or with any kind of robin / deer figurines that take your fancy. I make them in mini cupcake cases, but you can scale up to whatever size you want.

For The Cake:

• Preheat the oven to 350 and line a cupcake tin with liners
• Mix everything in a bowl until combined and smooth (I use the mixer and it takes about 3 minutes), then scoop into the liners
• Bake for about 12 minutes for regular fairy cake cakes, 20 for muffin sized cakes, and 8 for mini cakes. Keep an eye on them. They’re done when the tops are risen and springy to the touch. Cool on a rack

For The Frosting:

• Melt the chocolate gently over a pan of steaming water (or in the microwave). Let it cool slightly
• Meanwhile, sift the icing sugar to get rid of any lumps and mix with the milk, butter and peppermint extract
• Add the chocolate to the icing mixture and chill in the fridge for 15 – 20 mins until it is thick enough to spread on the cupcakes
• Ice, then decorate with crushed candy canes

If You Can Make That You Can Make This