Chocolate Grasshopper Cake Recipes

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.

GRASSHOPPER FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with baking spray with flour.
• Make cake batter as directed on box, adding 1 1/2 teaspoons of the mint extract with the water. Reserve 1 cup batter. Stir 3 drops of the green food color into reserved batter; set aside. Pour remaining batter into pan.
• Drop green batter by generous tablespoonfuls randomly in 12 to 14 mounds onto batter in pan. Cut through batters with metal spatula or knife in S-shaped curves in one continuous motion. Turn pan one-fourth turn; repeat cutting for swirled design.
• Bake as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen cake. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Carefully spread fudge topping evenly over cake. In medium bowl, stir whipped topping, remaining 1/2 teaspoon mint extract, remaining 9 drops green food color and the yellow food color until blended. Spread whipped topping mixture evenly over fudge. Garnish with candy pieces. Store covered in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE GRASSHOPPER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300°F. Wrap foil around bottom and side of ungreased 9-inch springform pan. In large bowl, mix crust ingredients with fork until crumbly. Press in bottom and 1 inch up side of pan. Bake 12 minutes. Cool 30 minutes.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate on High 45 to 60 seconds, stirring once halfway through microwaving, until melted. If necessary, continue to microwave on High in 15-second increments, stirring until smooth. Set aside.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl frequently, until smooth and creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth after each addition. Stir in liqueur. Pour filling evenly over crust.
• Drop 8 to 10 tablespoonfuls melted chocolate randomly onto filling, allowing chocolate to sink into filling. With table knife or small spatula, cut through chocolate and filling to swirl for marbled design.
• Bake 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes or until set 2 inches from edge of pan. Remove from oven; run knife around side of cheesecake to loosen. Return to oven; turn oven off and open door slightly. Cool cheesecake in oven 1 hour. Remove from oven to cooling rack; cool at room temperature 1 hour. Refrigerate 3 hours.
• To serve, remove side of pan. Spoon whipped cream into decorating bag with large star tip; squeeze bag to pipe cream around top edge of cheesecake. Garnish with candies.

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 DOME ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Cake:Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush bottom and sides of a large (approximately 10 inches in diameter and 5 inches deep) ovenproof glass, ceramic, or metal bowl with oil. Dust with cocoa, tapping out excess.
• In a large bowl, whisk together cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until thoroughly combined, 30 seconds. Add oil, eggs, buttermilk, warm water, and vanilla; whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Transfer to prepared bowl.
• Bake until set and a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 1 hour, 25 minutes to1 hour, 45 minutes. Transfer bowl to a wire rack; let cool 15 minutes. Turn cake out onto rack; let cool completely.
• Cut a 1-inch-thick slice from bottom of cake with a serrated knife. Invert "bowl" of cake; using a metal spoon or your fingers, hollow out all but a 1-inch border of cake (reserve scraps for snacking). Brush hollowed-out cake bowl and cut side of cake bottom with melted chocolate. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm, about 20 minutes.
• Spoon ice cream into cake bowl, pressing to pack it all in and smoothing top. Return bottom of cake to bowl (it will be on top at this point). Cover with plastic; freeze until ice cream is firm,at least 4 hours and up to 3 days.
• Glaze:Unwrap cake and place, dome-side up, on a rimmed baking sheet lined with a wire rack. Place chocolate, butter, and corn syrup in a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and immediately pour over top center of cake, all at once. Shake baking sheet back and forth and tap it on a work surface a few times, if necessary, to ensure that glaze fully and evenly covers cake. Using two large, wide spatulas slipped underneath, transfer to a serving plate. Serve immediately, or freeze, uncovered, up to 1 day. Remove from freezer 10 to 15 minutes before serving. To serve, use a knife dipped in hot water, then wiped dry, to cut into wedges.

GRASSHOPPER CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-by-12-inch cake pan. Line bottom with parchment, then butter parchment, and dust with cocoa powder. Tap out excess.
• Whisk cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in eggs, warm water, milk, sour cream, butter, and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cake cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Invert cake onto rack, and let cool. Cake will keep, unfrosted and covered, overnight.
• Make the frosting: Mix whites and sugar in a mixer bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Heat, whisking constantly, until sugar dissolves and mixture is warm, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Whisk on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Add butter, several tablespoons at a time, whisking after each addition. Add creme de menthe and vanilla, and beat for 2 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
• Using a paring knife, cut corners off mint candies to shape each into a football. Press 3 sprinkles onto each, using frosting as glue. Frost cooled cake. Arrange footballs on cake in 4 rows of 3. Cake will keep, covered, for up to 4 days. Slice just before serving.

GRASSHOPPER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan with 4 layers of aluminum foil.
• Pulse mint sandwich cookies in a food processor until finely chopped. Add butter and 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pulse until incorporated, about 5 times. Press cookie mixture evenly over bottom and halfway up sides of springform pan.
• Bake in preheated oven until fragrant and starting to turn crispy, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool while you prepare the cheesecake filling. Decrease oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Combine cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high, scraping down sides as necessary, until completely smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add sour cream and beat until combined, about 30 seconds. Add chocolate liqueur, creme de menthe liqueur, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt; beat on medium until combined, about 1 minute. Add eggs, 1 at a time, and beat on low until just incorporated. Pour cheesecake mixture into the cooled crust. Place the springform pan into a large roasting pan.
• Place roasting pan on center rack in the oven. Carefully pour boiling water into the roasting pan to come 1 inch up the sides of the springform pan, making sure you do not get any water into the cheesecake.
• Bake until filling is set but still slightly jiggly in center, 60 to 65 minutes. Turn oven off, and prop open door. Let cheesecake cool in oven for 1 hour. Remove roasting pan with cheesecake from oven. Remove cheesecake from roasting pan, and set aside to cool completely, about 45 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours, up to overnight.
• Run a sharp paring knife around edges of crust to loosen from pan. Remove sides of springform pan. Run knife around bottom of cheesecake to loosen. Gently shimmy, or use large spatulas, to transfer onto a cake stand or serving plate. Chop creme de menthe thins. Top cake with chopped thins and sprig of mint. Slice and serve cold or at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE GRASSHOPPER ICE CREAM TART

Steps:

• Pulse cocoa, 1 Tbsp. malted milk powder (if using), and two-thirds of Oreos in a food processor until coarsely ground with no large pieces remaining. With motor running, gradually add butter; process, scraping sides once, until mixture resembles wet sand (do not overprocess). Press mixture very firmly into bottom and 1 1/2" up sides of springform pan. Freeze until firm, 20-25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel away sides of containers from ice cream. Cut ice cream into 2" pieces and place in a medium bowl. Let sit until slightly softened, about 5 minutes, then stir with a wooden spoon or large rubber spatula until the consistency of thick cake batter. Break remaining Oreos into large pieces; fold into ice cream along with mints.
• Scrape ice cream into crust; smooth top. Freeze until hard, at least 1 day.
• Just before serving, place chocolate, corn syrup, salt, and remaining 1 Tbsp. malted milk powder (if using) in a medium bowl. Bring cream to a simmer in a small saucepan; pour over chocolate. Let sit until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes; whisk until smooth. Pour over tart and spread to edges. Freeze until ganache is firm to the touch, 10-15 minutes. Cut tart into wedges with a hot dry knife to serve (run knife under hot water and wipe dry between slices).
• Do Ahead
• Tart (without ganache) can be made 1 week ahead. Once solid, wrap in plastic; keep frozen.