• Preheat the oven to 160°C (with fan) and line up 14 ice cream cones on a tray like little soldiers ready for the mission.
• Melt the chocolate in the microwave, stirring every 20 seconds as if you were going to save the world, because burnt chocolate is a drama. When it's smooth and perfect, let it cool on its own.
• Whip the butter with a stand or hand mixer until it’s so pale and creamy it’s practically blushing—no lumps allowed! Toss in the sugar and eggs one at a time (patience is key), then pour in the melted chocolate and mix until everything comes together in smooth, chocolaty harmony.
• Beat the butter for at least two minutes, until smooth, then beat in the powdered sugar. And pour the rest of the sugar into the bowl, you can do it in two parts, continue beating for a minute or so until the buttercream is fluffy and light. Feel free to add a little more milk if necessary. Add a pinch of mint and the green food colouring, beat until the buttercream is a uniform mint green colour. Then add the chocolate chips, beat and you're done.
• Gently fill the ice cream cones about ¾ full—no one likes batter spills; this isn’t a Jackson Pollock painting. A teaspoon should do the job. Pop the cones into the oven for 20–25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean and smug. Let them cool down before glazing. Once cooled, lop off the cupcake tops to level them—because we’re all about smooth frosting, not lumpy chaos.

For the mint choc chip buttercream

• Place the butter in a medium bowl and get out your hand or stand mixer with the balloon whisk, ready for action. Whip the butter for at least three minutes, until it is so fluffy and smooth that it looks like cloud. Add the icing sugar and beat with enthusiasm. Pour in three tablespoons of milk and keep beating like there's no tomorrow. Then add the rest of the icing sugar (or in two batches, if you want to add some excitement) and beat for another minute or so until the cream is light as a feather. If it needs a little more milk, don't hesitate. Now, a dash of mint and a few drops of green food colouring for that perfect minty hue. Whisk until everything is a beautiful uniform green, add the chocolate chips, give it a final shake, and you're done!
• Use an ice cream scoop to top each cone with buttercream, then get out your spatula and give it a few touches, as if you were an artist perfecting your masterpiece.