Sunday, November 16, 2008

Mint Chocolate Layer Cake

Mint Chocolate Layer CakeI like mint and I like it more in the winter--maybe it's the impeding arrival of candy canes. I particularly like chocolate and mint combinations and this cake is really a winner in that department. You use mint extract to infuse the mint flavor into the chocolate chips overnight because you really can't find mint chocolate chips anymore. If you can find those instead, go right ahead and use them--save yourself a step.

for cake:
2/3 of a 12-ounce package of chocolate chips
¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
1 ¼ cups water, divided
2 ¼ cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 eggs

Put the entire 10-ounce bag of chocolate chips and the mint extract in a large freezer Ziploc bag and leave it overnight. (You'll need 2/3 of the chips for the cake and 1/3 of the chips for the frosting).

In a glass microwaveable dish, melt 2/3 of the chips with ¼ cup water on medium power, stirring regularly until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Set aside.

Combine dry ingredients and set aside. Mix brown sugar, butter and vegetable oil until creamy. Add eggs then blend in chocolate mix gradually. Add the dry ingredients alternately with remaining 1 cup water. Pour into two round 9-inch greased and floured baking pans and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

for mint frosting:
¼ cup butter
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons milk
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 of a 12-ounce package of chocolate chips
2 cups cool whip topping

Melt the remaining 1/3 package of chocolate chips and the butter in a microwave-safe dish on medium power, stirring regularly until both are melted and smoothly combined. Add salt and vanilla. Add powdered sugar alternately with milk and stir well as you go until the desired consistency is reached. Blend in cool whip. Use to frost the two rounds of cake.

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Technorati tags: food, recipes, cakes,

27 comments:

Unknown said...

I don't typically bake a cake from scratch, but I love mint enough to give this one a try. Thanks.

Brooke said...

I'm with jennifer. This looks absolutely delicious.

Amber M. said...

Seriously?

I'll be trying this tomorrow. And only because I have to let the extract and chips sit overnight.

:-)

jubilee said...

I don't generally care for mint, but this recipe sounds good. And maybe I am more of a mint person than I thought b/c I tried the Peppermint Chocolate Chip milkshake from Chic-Fil-A and it was great. Lots of choc. chips. I've never had to chew a milkshake before!

Chrissy Johnson said...

I am speechless. Mint-chocolate is my favorite flavor combination. This seems like it would be like a York Peppermint Patty on steroids.

Candid Carrie said...

A couple of nights ago I met a friend at a trendy coffee shop. I was really thirsty and was looking for something refreshing and I ordered a chocolate mint Italian Ice.

I swore off of anything mint chocolate from that moment forward.

But then I changed my mind when I saw Breyer's mint chocolate chip ice cream and impulsively made that purchase, mostly just to get a "new" mint chocolate flavor in my system.

This cake sounds fabulous and perhaps just the thing to get that combination back on the right track In My Head.

P.S. Thanks for all that you do, I really enjoy it over here. Can I move in here with you?

Jennifer said...

I bet one could use Ande's baking chips instead. I happen to have a bag in my pantry...

luckyzmom said...

I seldom stray far from the box either. Tonight I will be baking an Arkansas Black apple pie for Billy Boy.

PS I have posted twice in as many days:D

Sonja said...

You are right about mint chocolate tasting better in the winter. Have you tried mint m&m's? I gain ten pounds just thinking about them.

I love making cake from scratch. This recipe is going in the books. Thanks so much for sharing!

Munchkins and Music said...

Oh my sweetness!! That looks so good right about now!!

Amy said...

Hmmm ... you think anybody would mind if I made this for Thanksgiving dinner instead of pumpkin pie?

Heather said...

With this post, I now have 26 of your posts saved for later use.

If only you could come and make all these things for me, that would be even better!

Jolanthe said...

yum. this sounds good!! :)

Michele said...

This does look delicious. The frosting looks so light and airy.

Jena Webber said...

Yes, I too, love peppermint in the winter! Do you remember DQ having a chocolate-peppermint blizzard a few years back? I distinctly remember blaming them for my excess weight gain that year. (umph)
Nice recipe.

Heffalump said...

The Lethal Peppermint cake from the cake mix doctor cookbook is one of my favorites. It involves peppermint ganache and peppermint buttercream frosting (which is made with crushed up peppermint candies and peppermint extract).

Mamapumpkin said...

The picture looks so good, I'm going to try this - thank you for sharing. My girl and I, we're big fans of mint and chocolate!!!

Killlashandra said...

I'm so with you, I love mint. But somehow in the winter time it's tastier than in the summertime. Sounds like a wonderful recipe, I'll have to try it. :)

Stacy said...

I've been craving a homemade chocolate cake! Mint + chocolate is a favorite combination of mine. I will try this for sure.

Emily said...

YUM!!!!!!!!!!!

Brandi said...

Gotta try this cake! I've missed reading your blog. Once again I lost your addy when I changed my blog around, and I can never seem to find you on my own. I locate you by stumbling across you on someone elses blog!

Janet said...

I may just skip the cake and go infuse some chocolate chips. That sounds divine.

Jen said...

Love chocolate and mint! Can't wait to try it! Thanks!

Sarah said...

Mmmm... my favorite combination! If it tastes minty and refreshing it sort of "erases" the chocolate fat, right? Well, it's not really been working for me, but I'm still clinging to the theory.

SarahHub said...

Heaven.

Unknown said...

Chocolate and mint together in a cake - yum!! I will have to try this.

illahee said...

ooooh, i can order the andes creme de menthe baking chips from expat express, maybe i can try making this cake....yum!