If you’re lucky enough to host family and friends this Christmas, surely you’ve given a lot of thought to what the centrepiece dessert is going to be. Right? Right?? Fret not, if you haven’t, but also if you have but can be easily swayed or you’re a mint chocolate fiend, my friend, this After Eight mint cake is for you.
The chocolate sponge layers are a great, versatile recipe to master with or without the icing. The icing however, forgive my pun, is the cherry on top of the cake, because it elevates this mint chocolate cake to superstar levels. All in all, a fast recipe for a great mint chocolate cake that will definitely make you swoon, Christmas or no Christmas.
My inspiration for the recipe was a mint chocolate loaf on BBC Good Food website, for which I adjusted the hydration of the sponge and skipped the royal icing, because ewww royal icing. Please trust me, you’re much better off.
For the chocolate cake, you’ll need:
2 x 85g unsalted butter
2 x 50g dark chocolate
2 x 120g plain flour
2 x 140g granulated sugar
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
6 tablespoons cocoa
2 large eggs
280ml buttermilk
Preheat oven to 180C.
Grease and line the base and sides of a 22cm square tin (or two if you have them and bake in one round).
Melt 85g butter and 50g chocolate over the hob or in the microwave. Combine 120g flour, 140g sugar, 3 tbsp cocoa and half a teaspoon bicarbonate in the bowl of a stand mixer.
In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 egg with 140ml of buttermilk. Mix the melted chocolate and the egg mixture into the dry ingredients.
Blitz with an electric whisk or with your stand mixer until all ingredients are well combined.
Pour into prepared tin.
Bake for 20 mins – test with a skewer to make sure it’s done.
Allow the cake to cool in the tin for 15 mins, then transfer to a wire rack.
Repeat process to make a second cake.
Allow both to cool completely before assembling.
To make the icing, you’ll need:
300g After Eight mints
50ml double cream
In a small pan over a low temperature, melt mints and double cream together.
Mix a couple of times to combine.
Remove from heat and allow to cool at room temperature.
I’d recommend not placing it in the fridge for longer than a few minutes, as you risk getting it too hard for icing.
To assemble the finished cake, slice the two square cakes in half.
I used 3 of the resulting pieces, however you can use just 2 and have more icing sandwiched in between. If you want to use the 4 pieces, you may need some extra icing.
Alternate cake rectangles with thin layers of icing.
Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes before icing top and sides of the cake.
Decorate with more After Eight mints. I added a sprinkle of golden stardust, but go wild to your own taste.
Enjoy,
Alexis xxx
Berry Much Blog 
Mint chocolate is the best combination (other than chocolate and orange). This looks like an amazing centrepiece of a desert. x
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I’m so with you on the mint chocolate! And the wonderful thing is the melted mints get slightly tempered by double cream so you get the cool minty-ness but no bite from the mint at all. Thanks!
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This looks amazing! I’m not a huge lover of mint chocolate, but I think I could make an exception for something which looks this good 😀
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Thanks Jess – I don’t see why you couldn’t substitute chocolate orange for the icing! Go with a flavour you like! Thanks for commenting!
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WOW! I’m bookmarking this cake. It looks like a lovely treat and I have After Eights in the house at the moment too so I may well make this!
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Thanks! I’d love to see a pic of you get around to make it. Merry Christmas!
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This cake looks delicious! I love After Eights, they just remind me of Christmas and my family, so I’d imagine this cake would too! I might give baking it a go for Christmas.
Lottie xx
http://lottielamour.co.uk
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Thanks for commenting, Lottie! Sounds like baking should definitely be on the agenda this holiday season! Merry Christmas!
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Oh my gosh! This not only looks gorgeous but hello After Eights! I’m totally going to have to try this out soon.
Becca
http://www.QueenBeeBecca.com
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Hi Becca – thanks for commenting, my After Eight loving friend. If you make it, please do let me know how it turns out! Merry Christmas!
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Ooh this looks yummy, I’m not a huge fan of mint chocolate, but I think I would have to try a piece or two just to be sure my tastes hadn’t changed 😉
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I like your style, smooth! Thanks for commenting, Georgia, and Merry Christmas!
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OMG! this chocolate cake looks so yummy and so inviting… it looks so moist too! I just love chocolate cake with mint on it, it’s even better! Thanks for sharing the recipe! #sharewithme
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Thank you! It’s definitely moist and holds well for days plus the minty icing gives it a very cool effect on the tongue. If you’re an After Eight lover, it’s brilliant! Thanks for commenting & Merry Christmas! 😘
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goodness that looks good, I adore dark chocolate and mint #Sharewithme
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Thank you! Definitely one of my favourite combinations!
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Oh this looks absolutely divine and I love anything chocolate and mint I am going to have to try this out. Thank you so much for linking up to Share WIth Me. I hope to see you again soon. #sharewithme
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