Mint Chocolate Ganache Food

MINT-CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the cream to a simmer.
• Place chocolate in a medium bowl; set aside. Pour cream over chocolate and let melt for 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk together until chocolate is fully melted. Add butter, extract, and salt, whisking after each addition to incorporate.
• Once butter is fully incorporated, allow ganache to stand until slightly thickened and glossy.

CHOCOLATE-MINT LOVE CAKE WITH MINT GANACHE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with canola spray.
• Prepare the boxed cake batter according to the package directions, adding the peppermint extract. Spread evenly in the prepared pan and set aside.
• Combine the ricotta, mascarpone, sugar, eggs and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat until smooth. Gently scoop the filling onto the cake batter and spread so the top is completely white.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 50 to 65 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool 20 minutes.
• For the ganache: Combine the chocolate chips, cream, corn syrup and peppermint extract in the top of a double boiler. Gently stir the mixture until the chocolate melts and the ganache becomes very smooth.
• Spread the ganache evenly over the cooled cake and let stand 10 minutes to set. Cut the cake into 18 squares.

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH MINT CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-by-2-inch round cake pans; line bottoms with parchment paper. Butter parchment; dust with cocoa powder, tapping out excess. In a medium bowl, whisk cocoa with hot water until smooth. Whisk in sour cream; let cool. Into a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine after each; scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture in two parts, alternating with the cocoa mixture and beginning and ending with the flour; beat until combined.
• Divide batter between prepared pans; smooth with an offset spatula. Bake until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool 15 minutes. Invert cakes onto rack; peel off parchment. Reinvert cakes; let cool completely, top sides up. Transfer half of Mint-Chocolate Ganache (3 1/2 cups) to clean bowl of an electric mixer; set aside remaining. Let cool completely, stirring frequently, about 40 minutes. Attach bowl to mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until ganache holds soft peaks, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cake layers to make level. Transfer one of the layers to a cake turntable or platter, and spread top with 1 1/2 cups whipped ganache. Top with remaining layer, cut side down, and spread remaining whipped ganache in a thin layer over entire cake, covering completely. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer cake to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Pour the reserved ganache over the top, letting it run down the sides. If necessary, use a large offset spatula to spread from the center toward the edges, so that the cake is evenly and completely covered. Refrigerate until the ganache has just begun to set, about 30 minutes. Transfer cake to a serving plate, and garnish with Chocolate Mint Leaves. Serve immediately, or refrigerate, covered with a cake dome, for up to 2 days.
• Chocolate Mint Leaves
• Using a small pastry brush, coat underside of each leaf with a thick layer of chocolate. (If chocolate drips onto the top of the leaf, gently wipe it away with your finger.)
• Drape the leaves, chocolate sides up, over the handle of a wooden spoon set on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until set, about 10 minutes.
• Gently grasp the chocolate layer of each leaf with kitchen tweezers. Holding the stem, peel off mint leaf. Chocolate leaves can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
• Devil's Food Cake how-To
• When pans are prepared for baking chocolate cakes, they are dusted with cocoa powder rather than flour, which may leave white streaks on the finished dark cake.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil, watching very carefully because if it boils for a few seconds, it will boil out of the pot. When the cream has come to a boil, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Stir in the rum if desired.
• Allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring over a cake. Start at the center of the cake and work outward. For a fluffy frosting or chocolate filling, allow it to cool until thick, then whip with a whisk until light and fluffy.

DEVIL'S FOOD BUNDT CAKE WITH MINT-CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Spray a 15-cup nonstick Bundt pan with cooking spray; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk cocoa with hot water until smooth. Whisk in sour cream; let cool. Into a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine after each; scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture in two parts, alternating with the cocoa mixture and beginning and ending with the flour; beat until combined.
• Pour batter into prepared pan; smooth with an offset spatula. Bake until a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool 15 minutes. Invert cakes onto rack; Re-invert cake; let cool completely, topside up.
• Using a serrated knife, trim bottom of cake layer to make level. Transfer to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Pour over ganache to cover. Let stand until set.