The Crafting Foodie

A simple recipe and crafting journal.

Mint Chocolate Chip Cake

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This Mint Chocolate Chip Cake is made with 3 layers of the moistest, darkest, chocolaty cake and it’s filled and topped with a light and airy mint frosting studded with chopped dark chocolate. And to make it even more decadent, it’s drizzled with a dark chocolate mint ganache and topped with these Mint Macarons. It s a cake truly fit for a mint and chocolate lover!

Chocolate Chip Mint CakeThe Crafting Foodie

Remember when I posted these Mint Macarons? I said that I’d be sharing a showstopping dessert where I used the Mint Macraons. Well, here it is: a Mint Chocolate Chip Cake!

I love cake. And I really love chocolate cake. My kids, well, they don’t like it that much. Actually, they just don’t like chocolate anything. But they do love mint chocolate chip ice cream. We always have a pint of it in the fridge, and it’s their go-to dessert (even in the winter).

Chocolate Chip Mint cake with Mint GanacheThe Crafting Foodie

Since I wanted to bake a rich, dark chocolate cake, I knew my only change they’d eat a slice was if it was slathered in a fluffy, frosting that looks exactly like their favorite mint chip ice cream. Thus, this Mint Chocolate Chip Cake was born!

I’m really into have what I think is the right ratio of cake to frosting. And this Mint Chocolate Chip Cake, with its 3 fluffy, moist layers of cake, is filled and topped with the perfect amount of minty, bright green frosting.

Chocolate Chip Mint Cake with GanacheThe Crafting Foodie

While the chocolate cake layers in this Mint Chocolate Chip Cake rock my world (they’re moist, tender, and super chocolaty), the mint frosting isn’t too far behind. The chunks of dark chocolate that are folded into the frosting give the cake a crunch, and the dark chocolate combats the sweet frosting. My kids couldn’t get over how delicious the frosting is (plus it helped that the frosting looks exactly like their favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream!).

Chocolate Chip Mint Cake with Mint MacaronsThe Crafting Foodie

Of course I couldn’t help myself, and a doused the top of the cake with a luscious dark chocolate mint ganache. And since I’d just made these Mint Macarons, I thought, why not throw a few of those on top, too 🙂

Chocolate Mint Cake with Dark Chocoalte ChipsThe Crafting Foodie

Mint Chocolate Chip Cake
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 1, 3-layer, 8-inch Cake
This Mint Chocolate Chip Cake is made with 3 layers of the moistest, darkest, chocolaty cake and it’s filled and topped with a light and airy mint frosting studded with chopped dark chocolate. And to make it even more decadent, it’s drizzled with a dark chocolate mint ganache and topped with these Mint Macarons.
Ingredients
  • For the Chocolate Cake:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil (I used coconut oil, melted then cooled)
  • 4 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup strong coffee, warm
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tbs buttermilk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • For the Mint Chocolate Chip Frosting
  • 2 cups unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 4 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp peppermint extract
  • 2 tsp whole milk or cream
  • 2 or 3 drops of gel food color in green (I used AmeriColor Forest Green)
  • 3 ounces dark chocolate, chopped (I used 70% cocoa chocolate)
  • For the Ganache:
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tb light corn syrup
  • 5 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate chopped
  • 1/2 tbs unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1/2 tsp pure peppermint extract
  • For the Macarons:
  • Click [url href=”http://thecraftingfoodie.com/2016/03/mint-macarons.html” target=”_blank”]here[/url] for the [url href=”http://thecraftingfoodie.com/2016/03/mint-macarons.html” target=”_blank”]Mint Macaron Recipe[/url]
Instructions
For the Macarons:
  1. Prepare the macarons according to [url href=”http://thecraftingfoodie.com/2016/03/mint-macarons.html” target=”_blank”]these directions[/url].
For the Chocolate Cake:
  1. Grease and line the bottoms of 3, 8-inch round cake pans.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  3. In a medium bowl, sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
  4. In a large bowl, add the oil.
  5. Slowly add the oil in, whisking as you add it.
  6. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking well after each addition.
  7. Add the buttermilk, vanilla extract, and warm coffee. Mix until combined.
  8. Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined.
  9. Divide the batter evenly between the 3 prepared pans.
  10. Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.
  11. Allow the cakes to cool in their pans for 15 minutes.
  12. Turn the cakes out on to a cooling rack. Allow the cakes to cool completely on the cooling rack.
For the Frosting:
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until fluffy (about 3 minutes).
  2. Add the confectioners’ sugar, and beat on low until just combined. Increase the speed to medium high for about 5 minutes or until light and fluffy.
  3. Add the vanilla, peppermint and mix until combined.
  4. Add the cream and food coloring and mix until light and fluffy.
  5. Remove the bowl from the mixer, and using a spatula, fold in the chopped chocolate.
For the Dark Chocolate Mint Ganache:
  1. Place the cream and corn syrup in a heavy bottomed sauce pan. Heat over medium-low until the cream simmers.
  2. Pour the cream mixture over the chopped chocolate.
  3. Cover with an air-tight lid for about 7 to 10 minutes.
  4. Mix until a smooth, glossy mixture forms.
  5. Add the butter and mint extract. Mix until just combined.
  6. Set the ganache aside to cool while assembling the cake.
To Assemble the Cake:
  1. Using a serrated knife, level off the top of each cake layer.
  2. Place the first cake layer on a cake stand. Fill with a scant 1/4 cup of mint frosting.
  3. Place another cake layer on top, and fill with a scant 1/4 cup of mint frosting.
  4. Place the last layer on top.
  5. Place the cake in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
  6. Spread the frosting over the sides and top of the cake. You should have about 1/4 to 1/8 of a cup of frosting left to attach the macarons. Make sure the frosting is even along the sides and top of the cake. (I did not crumb coat this cake because even if the crumbs mix with the frosting, they aren’t visible because of the chocolate chunks in the frosting!)
  7. Place the cake in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to chill.
  8. Pour the warm ganache over the top of the cake, and allow it run down the sides of the cake.
  9. Using a piping bag fitted with a large star tip, place mounds of frosting where you’d like to attache the macarons.
  10. Place the macarons on the mounds of frosting.
  11. Refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Chooclate Chip Mint Cake - The Crafting Foodie

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