Lethal Peppermint Chocolate Cake

Submitted by Dragonfly AZ

"If you are a peppermint fan-atic, this cake will quickly become a favorite! Perfect cake for Christmas get togethers, or anytime you have a hankering for chocolate and peppermint. Recipe from "The Cake Mix Doctor..." I think this cake tastes best if allowed to sit for about 24 hours to let the flavors meld. Passive work time includes cooling time for cake and ganache"

 

• Ready In: 4hrs 50mins
• Ingredients: 16
• Serves: 16

ingredients

• Cake

• 510.29 g box chocolate cake mix
• 44.37 ml cocoa powder
• 315.37 ml buttermilk
• 118.29 ml cooking oil
• 3 eggs
• 4.92 ml vanilla
• 14.79 ml peppermint schnapps or 4.92 ml peppermint extract

• Filling

• 85.04 g cream cheese, softened
• 118.29 ml butter, softened (no subs, please)
• 118.29 ml crushed peppermint stick candy (about 7-8)
• 709.77 ml powdered sugar
• 29.58-44.37 ml milk
• 14.79-29.58 ml peppermint schnapps or 4.92 ml peppermint extract

• Ganache

• 177.44 ml heavy cream
• 236.59 ml chocolate chips
• 2.46-4.92 ml peppermint extract

directions

1. Grease and flour 2 round cake pans.
2. Preheat oven to 350.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat together cake ingredients on low for 1 minute, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.
4. Increase mixing speed to medium high and beat for 2 minutes more.
5. Pour batter into cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until they test done.
6. Remove from oven and cool completely.
7. While cooling, prepare Ganache:.
8. Put all ganache ingredients in 2 cup glass measuring cup.
9. Cook on 50% power in microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring well after each minute until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is smooth.
10. Cover tightly and let sit for 3-4 hours or until it reaches spreading consistency. If it gets too thick, place in a pan of hot water over medium heat and stir until softens.
11. To make filling:.
12. Place butter and cream cheese in mixing bowl.
13. Cream together until smooth and fluffy.
14. Add candy, sugar, flavoring (or schnapps) and about 2 Tbs milk.
15. Beat, adding additional milk until mixture is fluffy.
16. When cakes are cool, layer them with the filling between layers, reserving about 1/2 cup of the filling for garnish, if you wish.
17. Frost layers with cooled ganache.
18. Pipe remaining filling on top of cake, or just sprinkle with crushed candy canes.
19. Refrigerate to set ganache.

Reviews

[gwynn]

We really did enjoy this cake. It was something a little different from the standard. It would be a great Christmas cake. Thanks for posting.

 

[appleydapply]

This is a fabulous recipe which I have been making for Christmas and other special occasions ever since the book came out. It lookes like a lot of steps but is SO easy! Dragonfly made a couple of changes, so I just wanted to mention the original recipe doesn't call for any peppermint in the cake mix - it's unnecessary since there's mint in both the filling & frosting. Also, the Cake Mix Doctor recipe says prepare one-HALF of the peppermint filling. (you only need to cover one layer with it - although I noticed Dragonfly suggest using the extra as a garnish). And in the ganache, you can use 1/2 tsp of the extract, or 1 Tbsp of the schnapps. Also, instead of letting the ganache sit for 4 hours, I stick it in the fridge for about 20 minutes. But however you choose to make the cake - enjoy!