Grasshopper Chocolate Torte Layer Cake Recipes

GRASSHOPPER CAKE

Steps:

• Make the filling: Bring the milk to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk the granulated sugar, cornstarch, peppermint extract, egg and egg yolk in a medium heatproof bowl until smooth. Gradually whisk half of the hot milk into the sugar mixture, then return to the pan with the remaining milk. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture boils and thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl (strain through a fine-mesh sieve if it looks lumpy), then stir in the white chocolate and green food coloring until the chocolate melts. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface and refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour. Stir in the chocolate chips.
• Make the topping: Beat the heavy cream, confectioners' sugar and peppermint extract in a bowl with a mixer on medium speed until medium peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Assemble the cake: Put 1 cake layer on a platter; spread the filling on top, stopping 1/2 inch from the edge. Top with the second cake layer and press down gently. Top with the whipped cream and chocolate chips.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two 9-inch-round cake pans with cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Whisk the cocoa powder and 1 1/2 cups boiling water in a medium bowl until smooth; set aside. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl until combined. Add the eggs, vegetable oil, sour cream and vanilla and beat with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the cocoa mixture in a steady stream until just combined, then finish mixing with a rubber spatula. (The batter will be thin.)
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans and tap the pans against the counter to help the batter settle. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer to racks and let cool 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the pans and turn the cakes out onto the racks to cool completely. Remove the parchment. Trim the tops of the cakes with a long serrated knife to make them level, if desired.

GRASSHOPPER PIE

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Process the cookies and granulated sugar in a food processor until finely ground. Add the melted butter and creme de menthe, and pulse until moist. Press the crumbs into a 9-inch pie plate, and bake until firm, 12 to 15 minutes. Let the crust cool completely on a wire rack.
• For the filling: Microwave the marshmallows and butter in a microwave-proof bowl on high until the butter is melted and the marshmallows have broken down, about 1 minute 30 seconds. Stir with a wooden spoon to combine, and let cool for 5 minutes.
• Beat the creme de menthe and heavy cream in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy peaks form, about 1 minute. Stop the mixer, add 1/3 of the cooled marshmallow mixture and beat on medium-high until combined, about 15 seconds; repeat with the remaining marshmallow mixture in 2 batches. (The whipped cream won't hold its peaks, and the cream-marshmallow mixture will appear quite loose, but it firms quickly as it cools in the pie crust.) Pour the filling into the prepared pie crust. Cover the pie with plastic, and refrigerate until firm, about 4 hours or overnight.
• For the chocolate mint whipped cream: Beat the confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder and peppermint extract in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium high speed until combined. Add the heavy cream, and beat on medium-high until fluffy peaks form.
• To assemble: Arrange the wafer cookies on top of the pie. Top each cookie with 1/2 teaspoon creme de menthe (it will soak in almost immediately). Transfer the whipped cream to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip, and pipe it onto the soaked cookies. Garnish with mint leaves. The pie can be refrigerated, loosely covered, up to overnight or served immediately. Serve with any extra leftover whipped cream on the side.

CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans. Cut 3 circles of waxed paper or parchment paper to fit the bottoms of the pans, then press them in.
• In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer), cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar and eggs and mix until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the vanilla, cocoa, baking soda and salt and mix. Add 1/2 of the flour, then 1/2 of the sour cream and mix. Repeat with the remaining flour and sour cream. Drizzle in the hot coffee and mix until smooth. The batter will be thin. Pour into the prepared pans and bake until the tops are firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (a few crumbs are okay), about 35 minutes. Halfway through the baking, quickly rotate the pans in the oven to ensure even baking, but otherwise try not to open the oven. Let cool in the pan 10 minutes. Turn out onto wire racks and let cool completely before frosting.
• Frosting: In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Drizzle in the melted chocolate and mix. Add the coffee and vanilla and mix. Add the sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Mix until well blended and fluffy. To frost the cake, use a spatula to cover 2 of the cake layers with frosting. Stack them together. Flip the third cake layer over and rest it on the top to create a very flat top for the cake. Frost on the sides and top. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

GRASSHOPPER CHOCOLATE TORTE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare, bake and cool the torte according to the package directions. Once completely cooled, freeze for 30 minutes.
• Using a sharp knife, split the torte in half horizontally and return to the freezer while you make the filling.
• Beat the cream cheese, creme de menthe and creme de cacao in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until well combined and smooth. Beat in the marshmallow creme. Beat the cream in a separate medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture with a spatula until completely combined.
• Spread the filling evenly on the cut side of one of the torte halves and top with the remaining torte half, cut-side down. Refrigerate to chill completely, about 4 hours.
• To serve, remove from the refrigerator 15 minutes before serving and top with the prepared ganache. Cut with a sharp knife and serve immediately.