Mint Chocolate Cake

This one layer mint chocolate cake is reminiscent of a thin mint cookie! The recipe comes from Rebecca Firth’s cookbook The Cake Book and is truly a dessert masterpiece complete with rich chocolate cake, mint cream frosting, and glossy dark chocolate ganache to finish it all off.

Ingredients

Cake

1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, room temperature and cut into 8 pieces
1/4 cup (56g) extra-virgin olive oil
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 Tablespoon (13g) pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste
1 cup (135g) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (43g) unsweetened dutch-process or natural cocoa powder, sifted
1 teaspoon (5g) baking powder
1 teaspoon (5g) baking soda
1 teaspoon (6g) salt or fine sea salt
1/2 cup (120ml) hot water

Chocolate Ganache

2 cups (340g) dark chocolate, finely chopped* (see note)
1 and 1/4 cups (300ml) heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
1/4 teaspoon salt or fine sea salt*
2 teaspoons (8g) pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste

Peppermint Cream

1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup (113g) vegetable shortening, room temperature*
2 Tablespoons (4g) fresh mint, finely chopped (plus more for garnish if desired)
3 and 1/2 cups (420g) confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons (8g) peppermint extract
3 Tablespoons (45ml) whole milk, room temperature

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease a 9×2-inch round cake pan, line with a parchment paper round, then grease the parchment paper. Parchment paper helps the cake seamlessly release from the pan. (If it’s helpful, see this parchment paper rounds for cakes video & post.)
For the cake: In the bowl of an electric handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the sugar and butter together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes. With the mixer on low, slowly stream in the oil. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is well blended. With the mixer on low, add in the eggs, one at a time, making sure that each is incorporated before adding in the next. Add the vanilla and run the mixer for 30 more seconds. Take the bowl out of the mixer.