Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This ensures that the oven reaches the right temperature for baking before you place your cupcakes inside.
Line your muffin tins with paper liners. This will help with easy removal and add a nice presentation.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This dry mixture provides the structure for your cupcakes, so make sure it's well combined and free of lumps.
In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar using a hand mixer or stand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process incorporates air, helping your cupcakes rise beautifully.
Add in your softened butter, vanilla bean paste, and peppermint extract, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; you want a smooth batter without lumps.
Next, mix in the milk until fully incorporated. This will add moisture to your cupcakes, ensuring they’re not dry.
Pour the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients and stir by hand until just combined. The batter should be mixed well but still slightly lumpy to maintain a fluffy texture.
Add your Christmas sprinkles into the batter and mix gently until combined.
Fill your muffin tins ½ to ¾ full with the batter. A cookie scoop makes this step quick and easy, ensuring uniform cupcakes.
In a preheated oven, bake for 18 to 20 minutes. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick in the center; it should come out clean when they're done.
Let the cupcakes cool completely on a cooling rack before frosting. This step is crucial; frosting warm cupcakes can lead to melted frosting.
While the cupcakes cool, prepare your peppermint buttercream. In a large mixing bowl, whip 6 sticks of butter using a stand mixer or electric mixer on low-medium speed.
Gradually add in the powdered sugar, mixing well as you go. Continue until the frosting is smooth and fully mixed.
Add the peppermint extract and vanilla extract to the buttercream and mix until just combined.
Add milk to the buttercream in increments until you reach a smooth, piping consistency. Avoid making it too thin; you can always adjust it later.
Once your frosting has reached the desired consistency, add the neon green food coloring a little at a time until you achieve the perfect Grinch green.
To frost the cupcakes, fill a large ziploc bag with your frosting and cut off the tip. Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes in an upwards swirl.
Finally, sprinkle on the green sugar sprinkles and heart sprinkles for that festive touch!
