Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that your cupcakes bake evenly.
Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners to prevent sticking and make for easy serving.
In a medium saucepan, melt the 10 tablespoons of unsalted butter over low heat. Once melted, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
Add the melted butter and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Stir until well combined. Then, add the 2 large eggs, mixing until the batter is smooth and glossy.
Gently fold in the 1 cup of all-purpose flour until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are perfectly fine.
Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared muffin tin, filling each liner about two-thirds full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Allow the cupcakes to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the whipped cream. In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of heavy whipping cream, 1 teaspoon of powdered sugar, and 1 drop of peppermint extract. Whip until soft peaks form. For an extra touch, you can add a drop of green gel food color to achieve a festive mint hue.
Once the cupcakes are fully cooled, dollop the mint whipped cream on top of each cupcake. Serve immediately and enjoy the delightful combination of fudgy chocolate and refreshing mint.