Mint Frosting Food

MINT CUPCAKES WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cavity cupcake pan with liners.
• Add the mint and milk to the carafe of a high-powered blender and blend until the mixture is very smooth and the milk is bright green.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, almond meal, salt, baking powder, baking soda and lemon zest. In a large bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar and oil until combined. Add the eggs one at a time to the sugar-oil mixture, whisking very well after each, and then add the vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and mint mixture in three alternating additions, whisking after each until just combined.
• Pour into the cupcake liners so the batter comes up about halfway. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes and then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
• For the frosting: Meanwhile, add the butter and cream cheese to a large bowl. Beat with a hand mixer or the paddle attachment of a stand mixer until smooth and combined. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar and beat to combine. Beat in the extracts and salt. Transfer to a pastry bag or large ziptop bag and snip the tip.
• Pipe frosting onto the tops of the cooled cupcakes. Roll the top of each cupcake in the crushed pistachios.

MINT FROSTING

Steps:

• Beat powdered sugar and butter in small bowl on low speed of electric mixer until smooth. Beat in milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until spreadable. Beat in extract and food color.

MINT BUTTERCREAM FROSTING WITH DARK CHOCOLATE GLAZE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream 1 1/3 cups sugar with 1/2 cup butter or margarine, and salt. Blend extract, 2 tablespoons milk, and remaining sugar into mixture. Gradually stir remaining milk into frosting until desired spreading consistency is reached.
• Melt and stir unsweetened chocolate and 2 tablespoons butter or margarine together in a microwave, or in a double boiler. Double this glaze if desired.
• Frost cake. Pipe a frosting scallop at the top edge of the cake to keep glaze from dripping down the sides of the cake. Pour the glaze over the top of the cake. Chill until glaze has set.

MINT-CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom of 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray. Make brownie batter as directed on box. Stir in 2/3 cup chocolate chips. Spread in pan.
• Bake 28 to 31 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1 1/2 hours.
• In small bowl, stir all Frosting ingredients using spoon until well blended. Spread frosting over brownies.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat Glaze ingredients over low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon hot water at a time, until mixture is thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle over frosted brownies. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until glaze is firm. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.

MINT BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Whisk together yolks and 1/4 cup sugar with a mixer on high speed until pale and thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Prepare an ice-water bath. Bring milk, vanilla, and mint leaves just to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Whisk about 1/3 of milk mixture into yolk mixture. Pour yolk mixture back into pan with remaining milk mixture, and whisk to combine. Place over medium heat, and cook, stirring constantly, until custard registers 185 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. Remove from heat; strain through a fine sieve into a bowl. Set bowl in ice-water bath, and stir until cool.
• Beat butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Add chilled custard to butter, and beat until incorporated.
• Heat whites and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a heatproof mixer bowl set over a pan of simmering water, whisking constantly by hand until mixture is warm to the touch and sugar has dissolved (the mixture should feel completely smooth when rubbed between your fingertips). Attach bowl to mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Starting on low, and gradually increasing to medium-high speed, whisk until stiff peaks form.
• Add egg-white mixture to butter mixture, switch to paddle attachment, and beat on medium-high speed until smooth. Beat in peppermint extract. Use immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months. (Before using, bring to room temperature, and beat on low speed until smooth.)

MINT-CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Combine sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract; mix using an electric mixer until smooth. Whisk in boiling water. Pour batter into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cake cool 10 to 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
• While cake is cooling, combine milk and peppermint extract in a small bowl and set aside. Cream butter in a separate bowl using an electric mixer until smooth. Pour in confectioners' sugar and peppermint-milk mixture alternately while continuing to beat. Add green food coloring until frosting reaches desired color. Whip frosting on high until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Divide between two bowls. Stir chocolate chips into 1/2 the frosting using a spoon. Set mint-chocolate chip frosting aside.
• Frost cooled cake with pure mint frosting without chocolate chips. Place cake in the refrigerator to set.
• Meanwhile, combine chocolate squares and butter in a double boiler; stir until thoroughly melted. Remove from heat. Stir ganache vigorously to a smooth consistency.
• Remove cake from the refrigerator. Cover entire cake with ganache; return to the refrigerator and allow to completely set, about 30 minutes.
• Remove set cake from the refrigerator. Frost sides of cake with mint chocolate chip frosting.

MINT BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10x15-inch baking pan.
• Stir together both brownie mixes, vegetable oil, eggs, and water in a large bowl until well blended. Pour batter into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool, about 20 minutes.
• While brownies are cooling, combine powdered sugar, butter, water, peppermint extract, and food coloring in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Spread mint frosting on top of cooled brownies.
• Place chocolate chips and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute, stir, and microwave again in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted. Add peppermint extract to taste and spread on top of mint frosting. Refrigerate until frosting and topping layers are set.