Chocolate Mint Layer Cake With Mint Cream Cheese Frosting Recipes

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch round pans with shortening and dust with flour; set aside.
• In medium bowl, beat flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt with wire whisk; set aside.
• In another medium bowl, beat cocoa and hot coffee with wire whisk, making sure no lumps remain; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat 1 cup butter and the oil with electric mixer on medium speed 5 minutes or until fluffy (7 minutes if using handheld mixer). Add 2 teaspoons vanilla and 1 teaspoon peppermint extract and beat 1 minute. Add brown sugar and beat 3 minutes longer, stopping halfway to scrape side of bowl. Add 2 of the eggs and beat 1 minute. Scrape side of bowl. Add remaining egg and the egg yolks and beat 2 minutes longer.
• Add about 1 cup of the dry ingredients and 1/2 cup of the coffee mixture to butter mixture. Beat on low speed just until combined. Continue alternately adding dry ingredients and coffee mixture, beating after each addition to combine. When all ingredients have been added, scrape side of bowl. Divide batter evenly between pans.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until cake tester or toothpick inserted in center comes out clean or cake springs back when touched lightly in center. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes. Run knife or metal spatula between cake and edge of pan to loosen. Invert cakes onto wire rack and cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In large bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter and the cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until soft. Mix in chocolate, milk, 1 teaspoon peppermint extract and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. On low speed, add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating until smooth. When all of the powdered sugar has been added, beat 1 minute longer or until smooth.
• Place 1 layer on serving plate or stemmed cake plate. Spread 2/3 cup frosting over layer to about 1/4 inch from edge. Top with second layer. Frost side and top with remaining frosting.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease and flour two 8 inch layer pans (or the equivalent).
• Mix the sugar, sifted flour, sifted cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
• Slowly add the hot milk and butter while stirring.
• Add the eggs and 3/4 tsp of peppermint extract.
• Distribute evenly in the pans and bake for 25 minutes, or longer, until toothpick comes out clean.
• For the icing, beat one stick of soft butter and the three room temperature packages of cream cheese until smooth.
• Add 3/4 tsp of peppermint extract and 5 cups of powdered sugar.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper.
• Sift first 5 ingredients into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla. Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk in 3 additions each, beating until well blended. Divide batter equally among prepared pans (generous 2 cups for each); smooth top of batter.
• Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out with some moist crumbs still attached, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 15 minutes. Turn cakes out onto racks; peel off paper. Cool completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; store at room temperature.)
• Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread 1 1/4 cups Mint Whipped Cream over. Top with second cake layer. Spread 1 1/4 cups Mint Whipped Cream over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining Mint Whipped Cream over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 6 hours. Pile chocolate curls atop center of cake.
• Garnish with mint sprigs.

Steps:

• Line two greased 9-in. round baking pans with waxed paper. Grease and flour the paper; set aside. , In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in chocolate and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk and water, beating well after each addition. , Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 24-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks., For filling, in a small bowl, beat the cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and extract; beat until stiff peaks form. Beat in food coloring if desired. Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with filling. Top with second layer., For icing, in a microwave, melt chips and butter; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. Beat in evaporated milk and vanilla. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Frost and decorate cake. Chill 2 hours before slicing.

Steps:

• Make the cake: Set a rack in the center of the oven and heat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease an 8-by-8-inch square or 9-inch round light-colored metal baking pan with oil.
• In a large bowl, combine the granulated sugar and eggs. Use a whisk or an electric mixer to beat the mixture until foamy and slightly lighter in texture and color, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the sour cream, 1/2 cup oil, vanilla and salt, and whisk until combined and smooth, about 1 minute.
• Whisk in the cocoa powder until combined. Add the flour, baking powder and baking soda, and whisk until combined and no streaks of flour remain. Stir the espresso powder into the hot water, then add the mixture to the bowl. Whisk until incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and tap on the counter a few times to release any large air bubbles. Bake until puffed and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan set on a rack for about 45 minutes.
• While the cake bakes, clean the mixing bowl and make the frosting: Add the butter to the bowl and mix on medium-high with an electric mixer until smooth, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl. Turn the speed to low, and slowly add the confectioners' sugar. Mix until the sugar is moistened, then add 2 teaspoons of the cream, the vanilla extract, 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract and salt. Turn the speed up to medium-high, and whip until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes, adding a bit more cream a teaspoon at a time, if necessary, to make a smooth and light frosting. Taste the frosting, and add a few more drops of peppermint extract if desired. The frosting can be kept at room temperature while the cake finishes baking and cooling.
• Top the cooled cake with an even layer of frosting, then use the tip of a toothpick to dot the frosting with a few small dots of gel food coloring, if using. Use a spoon or offset spatula to swirl the food coloring into the frosting to create candy cane-like stripes - just a few swipes will do the trick. If you mix it in too much, the frosting will turn pink. Top the cake with sprinkles and shaved chocolate, if desired. Store leftover cake loosely covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1-inch baking sheet with waxed paper. Mix first 5 ingredients in large bowl. Whisk in milk and melted butter, then eggs and 3/4 teaspoon extract. Spread batter in pan.
• Bake until tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack.
• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, 1/2 cup butter and 3/4 teaspoon extract in large bowl to blend.
• Run knife around sides of pan to loosen cake. Turn cake out onto work surface. Peel off paper. Cut cake crosswise in half. Using spatula, place 1 cake half on platter; spread with 2 cups frosting. Top with remaining cake half. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake.