Make the Peppermint Cupcakes:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
2. Combine milk and peppermint extract, and set aside.
3. Combine dry ingredients: cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in bowl of stand mixer and mix on low for 2-3 minutes.
4. Add butter a few cubes at a time and mix on low until mixture resembles coarse sand.
5. Add egg whites and beat on medium speed until combined.
6. Gradually add milk mixture and beat for 1-2 minutes until batter is smooth.
7. Fold in crushed candy canes.
8. Fill cupcake liners ¾ full.
9. Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out with a few crumbs.
10. Allow cupcakes to cool in pans for 5 minutes, then remove to wire racks to finish cooling.

Make the White Chocolate Buttercream:

1. Cream butter, vegetable shortening and vanilla in bowl of stand mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, until smooth.
2. Reduce mixer speed to low, and slowly add in confectioners’ sugar 1 cup at a time while mixer is running.
3. Once all the confectioners’ sugar is incorporated, add the milk and mix for 30 seconds.
4. Melt white chocolate in microwave for 30-second intervals, stirring after each until melted. Incorporate melted chocolate into buttercream and mix until fluffy.
5. Reserve ¼ cup buttercream and add a small amount of red color gel to tint.
6. Prepare a small piping bag with the red buttercream and snip the tip off.
7. Prepare a larger piping bag fitted with a large round tip.
8. Streak the inside of the large piping bag with six stripes of red buttercream.
9. Fill the rest of the bag with the White Chocolate Buttercream.
10. Squeeze a swirled dollop of buttercream on top of each cupcake.
11. Place cupcakes in the fridge to chill while preparing the ganache.

Make the White Chocolate Ganache and Assemble:

1. Combine cream and white chocolate in microwave safe bowl and heat on 30- second intervals, stirring in between for about 1 minute.
2. Stir until chocolate melts, allow to cool & thicken slightly for about 5 minutes.
3. Transfer to a squeeze bottle and drizzle ganache over top of buttercream.
4. Garnish each cupcake with a peppermint candy.