SHAMROCK CUPCAKES RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, egg whites and peppermint extract with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide batter in half. To 1 portion, add food color; stir until uniform in color. In each muffin cup, place 2 tablespoons red batter; top with 2 tablespoons white batter. Swirl white batter through red batter with knife for marbled design.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Frost cupcakes with frosting. Top each with crushed peppermint candies.

Steps:

• Grease an 8x8 pan with shortening. Line with two pieces of parchment, one in each direction, greasing in between. Place peanuts in a food processor and pulse until ground into fine pieces. Heat peanut butter in the microwave for 20 seconds on 50% power to warm. Stir.In another bowl, melt candy corn in 30- to 40-second increments on 50% power. Stir between each heating. Once melted, stir in peanut butter. Immediately turn out onto a sheet of parchment paper. Form into a rectangle a little larger than the pan. No need to be exact. Press the peanuts into the mixture. Fold into thirds, like a letter. Use a rolling pin to roll into a rectangle of about the same size as before. Press cornflakes on top, crushing them as you do. Fold into thirds in the same manner. Roll flat. Fold into thirds again. Once more, roll flat into a square about the size of the pan. Press into the pan, smoothing with your hands. Let the mixture set up about 15 minutes. Lift out of the pan and cut into pieces. Place on a wire rack and let cool completely. Once cool, melt chocolate wafers as directed on the package. Dip and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Let chocolate set up before storing or packaging. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.