Chocolate Mint Layer Cake

This Chocolate Mint Layer Cake recipe has tender layers of chocolate cake with fluffy mint buttercream and smooth, melt in your mouth chocolate mint ganache.

If you are a long time reader you already know how much we love chocolate mint brownies. I’ve told you about how we served them at our wedding and that they continue to be a family favorite.

My favorite part of the chocolate mint brownies is the mint buttercream frosting together with the mint chocolate ganache. So that got me to thinking, why not make a cake that includes those two items. This chocolate mint layer cake is what I came up with and it is definitely worth making!

Disclaimer: This post contains links to products for making this recipe. If you use those links, I may earn a commission. Learn more here.

Where is the Chocolate Mint Layer Cake recipe? In this post, I will share step-by-step instructions with photos for how to make this cake, as well as answering FAQs about the recipe and sharing a short video showing the recipe in motion. But you can go directly to the recipe by scrolling down to the bottom of the post.

How To Make Chocolate Mint Layer Cake

Step One: Cakes

Bake three cakes and let them cool completely. I started with chocolate cake mix and added some coffee for more intense flavor.

Use a large serrated knife to level the cakes. Wrap them in plastic wrap and place them in the freezer for 30 minutes to harden before assembly.

Step Two: Buttercream

While waiting, make the mint buttercream frosting. Beat butter and shortening for two minutes until light and fluffy.

Add the powdered sugar, 4 tablespoons of milk and the mint extract. Slowly stir until moistened and then beat until smooth.

Stir in green gel paste until you have the shade of green you want.

Step Three: Ganache

Make the chocolate mint ganache and set it aside to cool.

Step Four: Frost First Layer

Place one of the cakes on a cardboard cake round and frost it with mint buttercream frosting.

Step Five: Barrier

Pipe a wide rim of mint buttercream frosting around the bottom layer of cake. The buttercream barrier will hold in the chocolate mint ganache.

Step Six: Ganache

Pour about 1/3 cup of chocolate mint ganache inside the frosting barrier and spread it out into an even layer.

Step Seven: Second Layer

Repeat the frosting and ganache with the second cake layer.

Step Eight: Third Layer

Add the third layer of cake and frost it but skip the ganache for now.

Step Nine: Frost Cake

Spread the mint buttercream frosting over the sides of the cake.

Step Ten: Ganache Topping

Pour the remaining chocolate mint ganache on top of the cake and us an offset spatula to spread it out allowing the chocolate to drizzle down the sides.

Step Eleven: Chill

Put the cake in the fridge to allow the chocolate mint ganache to harden and the mint buttercream to set.

I ran into some issues while making and decorating this cake. If you watch the video at the beginning of the post you might be able to spot some of my mistakes.

Instead of doing a second video, I decided that my motto would be “Rather than striving for perfection, I strive for delicious!” You don’t have to make your dinners, your desserts or your cakes perfect. Just give it a try and enjoy what you come up with!

Chocolate Mint Layer Cake FAQs

1. Can I use a “from scratch” cake mix instead?

Yes, I used a boxed cake mix but that doesn’t mean YOU have to. Feel free to use whatever chocolate cake recipe you desire.

2. Why is there coffee in this chocolate cake recipe? This recipe was inspired by my Chocolate Mint Brownies and that recipe has coffee in it. The coffee in this chocolate mint layer cake recipe enhances the chocolate flavor of the cake. If you prefer, you can substitute equal amounts of another liquid like water or milk for the brewed coffee that is in this recipe.

3. What is chocolate ganache? Chocolate ganache is typically made with chocolate and cream. This recipe uses chocolate and butter. I decided to call it ganache anyway.

4. How can I minimize cake crumbles when frosting the cake? Decorating the cake is easier if you put the cakes in the freezer for about 30 minutes before assembly.

5. What kind of icing bag should I use? To pipe the rim of frosting around each layer I used a 16-inch disposable icing bag with the tip of the bag cut off (no icing tip).

6. Which frosting tip did you use for the sides of the cake? In the video, you can see that I used an extra large tip to frost the sides of the cake. It is this Wilton No. 789 Cake Icer Tip.

7. What tool did you use to smooth the frosting? To smooth the frosting on the sides of the cake I used this Ateco Icing Smoother. You can see it in the video above.

8. Which food coloring did you use? To get this shade of green frosting I used Wilton Kelly Green Gel Paste from this set.

9. Where did you buy that cake stand? Finally, many readers have asked me about this cake stand (I love it too!). It is from a Hobby Lobby spring collection several years ago so I don’t think it is available any longer.

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