Mint Chocolate Cake

​I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.  Summer is here and that means - ice cream season!  I'm not sure why but as soon as the thermometer reaches 80 degrees, I start to crave a cool, sweet treat.  (Unfortunately for my waist, I live in a state where the temperatures are above 80 for 6 months out of the year.)

I have 2 favorite ice cream flavors - coconut and mint chocolate chip.  I translated my coconut obsession into a cake a few weeks ago and so I figured it was time to create my other favorite ice cream flavor into cake form.

Mint Chocolate Chip Cake
3 cups flour                   
1 1/2 Tablespoons baking powder            
3/4 teaspoon salt         
18 Tablespoons butter                   
2 teaspoons vanilla             
2 teaspoon mint extract
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups milk
8 egg whites

Combine dry ingredients.

Beat butter 2 minutes.  Add sugar gradually.

Beat in extracts.

​Add 1/3 of flour, ½ of milk and repeat.

​Beat egg whites until stiff.

​Fold into batter along with some green food coloring.

​Fold in 1 cup of mini chocolate chips. 

​Pour into prepared pans.

Bake 30 minutes at 350.  

Cool 10 minutes on pan and then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.

Chocolate Buttercream
8 egg whites
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
3 cups butter
1 cup dark chocolate, melted

Heat egg whites, cream of tartar and sugar in a double boiler until warm to the touch.  Transfer mixture to standing mixer and whip with whisk until cool.  

Switch to flat beater and beat in butter, 1 Tablespoon at a time.

Add melted chocolate.

​Start with one cake layer on a plate.  Spread a thin layer of buttercream on top.

Repeat with remaining layers.  Spread a thin layer of icing over the entire cake and refrigerate for 30 minutes.  

​Spread remaining buttercream on cake and gently press mini chocolate chips into sides of cake.

Now I've got double the mint chocolate chip temptation.  It's not bad enough that I craved mint chocolate chip ice cream, now I'm going to be craving it in cake form too.  (I'm in trouble.)

Ciao!

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