Mint Chocolate Mini Cakes

• Produce

  • 16 Mint, leaves

• Refrigerated

  • 4 Eggs

• Baking & Spices

  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • 1 tsp Baking soda
  • 2 cup Chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
  • 1 Chocolate shavings
  • 1 cup Cocoa powder
  • 3 cup Flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp Mint extract
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 2 1/4 cup Sugar
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla

• Drinks

  • 1 tsp Espresso, instant powder

• Dairy

  • 1 5/8 cup Butter
  • 1 1/2 cup Heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup Sour cream

• Liquids

  • 1 cup Water, HOT

• Other

  • 4 C. Stiffly Whipped, slightly sweetened Whipped Cream

Found on thekitchenmccabe.com

Description

Ingredients

• FOR THE CAKE:
• 1 C. Hot Water
• 1 t. Instant Espresso Powder
• 1 C. Cocoa Powder
• ½ C. Sour Cream
• ½ C. Heavy Cream
• 3 C. Flour
• ¼ t. Salt
• 1 t. Baking Powder
• 1 t. Baking Soda
• 2¼ C. Sugar
• 1½ C.(3 sticks) Butter, softened
• 4 Eggs
• 1 T. Vanilla
• 1 t. Mint Extract
• FOR THE GANACHE:
• 2 C. Chocolate Chips or Chopped Chocolate(preferably 60% cacao)
• 1 C. Heavy Cream
• 2 T. Butter, softened
• ½ t. Mint Extract
• TOPPINGS:
• 4 C. Stiffly Whipped, slightly sweetened Whipped Cream
• Chocolate Shavings
• 16 Mint Leaves

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour 2½ jumbo muffin tins( I only have 1 pan, so I only do 6 at a time).
• Place the instant espresso powder and the cocoa in a mixing bowl. Whisk in the hot water until smooth. Add the sour cream and ½ C. heavy cream and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
• In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Add the vanilla and mint extracts and mix in.
• Add the flour in three additions, alternating with the liquid cocoa mixture. After the last addition of flour, scrap the bowl down and mix just until combined.
• Add the batter to the prepared pans, filling them about ⅔ full.
• Bake in preheated oven for 14-16 minutes, or until tops spring lightly back when touched but are firm.
• While cakes are still in the muffin tin, cut the domed tops off with a serrated knife to level. Eat immediately.
• Remove cakes from pan and cool on a wire rack.
• FOR THE GANACHE.
• Place the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Pour the whipped cream over the top of the chocolate chips and microwave at 30 second intervals, until the chocolate is melted. Whisk the cream and chocolate together until smooth and silky. Add the butter and mint extract and whisk in until melted and smooth.
• Pour a spoonful of ganache over the top of each cooled cake(bottoms up, cut sides down) and smooth over the tops until the chocolate just drips over the edges. Place in the fridge and chill until ganache is firm.
• Pipe a swirling of whipped cream on top of each cake, sprinkle with chocolate shavings and top with a mint leaf.