Flourless Chocolate Mint Layer Cake is a three layer, gluten free chocolate cake with mint buttercream frosting, chocolate ganache and Andes mint candies on top.
I love chocolate mint! Do you love chocolate mint? I think I've mentioned before how much I love all things mint flavored. And when you pair it with chocolate, oh my. It's the best!
Even better, this cake is gluten free. I didn't even have to tell you that because you would never even know when you cut into this luscious show stopper. The fact that it's gluten free is surprising. It's just a completely delicious dessert!
It's almost St. Patrick's Day and this would be a perfect cake for the all things green holiday!
Three layers of moist, flourless chocolate cake with a creamy mint buttercream frosting, topped with chocolate ganache, more frosting and Andes mints. This Flourless Chocolate Mint Layer Cake is sure to please!
Start by beating 6 eggs and 1 cup of sugar with an electric mixer at high speed for about 5 minutes. It should be pale in color like this when you're done. Then you add vanilla, cocoa powder and a mixture of melted chocolate and butter. Mix until combined.
Here's the Kitchenaid mixer I use (affiliate):
This was the first time I used silicone cake pans and I love them! The cakes baked evenly and came out of the pan so easily. You will need 3 (8") cake pans for this recipe. Spray the pans with non-stick cooking spray, then divide the batter evenly into the 3 prepared pans. Bake the cakes at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. Let cool.
You can find the silicone cake pans here (affiliate):
Make your mint buttercream (recipe follows) and spread a healthy amount between each layer. (I just said the word healthy and buttercream in the same sentence. Ha! Everything in moderation, people.)
Reserve about 1 ½ cups of frosting for decoration, then continue frosting cake on top and sides. It's helpful to use a rotating cake turntable. I couldn't find mine, so I cleared off one of my spice turntables and put the cake on that. It's not very pretty but it did the job!
Once it's frosted, stick it in the fridge to chill while you make the ganache.
To make the ganache, melt your chocolate chips and butter in the microwave at 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds, until chips are completely melted. Stir until thoroughly combined.
Take cake out of the refrigerator and pour ganache over the top. Push it to the edge until it starts to drip down the sides. Use a pastry bag fitted with a 1M pastry tip to pipe swirls of buttercream on the top of cake. Place an Andes mint on top of each swirl.
You can find the pastry bags here (affiliate):
You can find the 1M pastry tip here (affiliate):
I think it's best to refrigerate the cake for a couple hours. But if you're like me and you can't wait, this is what the cake will look like if you cut into it without refrigerating it first. Not bad and it is so good! But if you want a perfect looking slice of cake, stick it in the fridge first.
Here's your nice and perfect slice after refrigeration. Pretty! And so minty good!
Enjoy!
Flourless Chocolate Mint Layer Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 cup unsalted butter 226g
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (good quality) 255g
- 6 eggs room temperature
- 1 cup sugar 210g
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- ¾ cup cocoa powder 75g
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Mint Buttercream
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, softened 339g
- 6 cups powdered sugar 678g
- 6-8 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 ½ teaspoons mint extract
- 6-7 drops green food coloring
For the Ganache
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 255g
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter 255g
Garnish
- 6-7 Andes mints
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 3 (8") cake pans with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium, microwave safe bowl, melt the butter and chocolate chips on High for 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Set aside.
- Place the eggs and sugar in a large bowl. With an electric mixer, beat at high speed for 5 minutes. Mixture should be pale yellow and doubled in volume. Add vanilla and salt. Sift in the cocoa. Beat on medium speed until just combined. Stir in the melted chocolate and butter. Pour into the prepared pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with some crumbs but no longer wet.
For the Buttercream
- Beat softened butter on medium speed with an electric or stand mixer for 3 minutes. Add powdered sugar, cream, and mint extract with the mixer running on low. Increase to medium high speed and beat for 3 minutes. Add more powdered sugar if frosting is too thin or more cream if mixture is too thick. Once it's the desired consistency, add the food coloring and mix until completely combined.
For the Ganache
- Note: make ganache after you take the cake out of the refrigerator. Melt butter and chocolate chips in the microwave at 50% power, stirring ever thirty seconds until it's completely melted.
To assemble the Cake
- Frost each layer of cake with mint buttercream. Reserve about 1 ½ cups of buttercream for the top decoration. Then frost the cake with the rest of the buttercream. Place in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours. After the cake is chilled, pour ganache over the top, letting it fall over the edges and drip down the sides. To decorate the top, place remaining buttercream in a large pastry bag fitted with a 1M pastry tip. Pipe 6-7 swirls on top of cake. Add Andes mints.
Notes
Nutrition
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Diane S. says
Just made the cake. I used smaller cake pans so I was able to make four layers but one of the layers didn’t come out very well and fell apart when I took it out of the pan. So I was able to try how it tasted. It tasted great. The only thing I would probably change is the frosting. If I ever make the cake again, I may use Creme De Menthe instead of mint extract. I didn’t think the frosting tasted very minty. It cake looks really delicious. I’m excited to serve it.
Lise Ode says
I like your idea of using Creme De Menthe in the icing. That sounds delicious!
Diane S. says
Just made the cake. I used smaller cake pans so I was able to make four layers but one of the layers didn’t come out very well and fell apart when I took it out of the pan. So I was able to try how it tasted. It tasted great. The only thing I would probably change is the frosting. If I ever make the cake again, I may use Creme De Menthe instead of mint extract. I didn’t think the frosting tasted very minty. It cake looks really delicious. I’m excited to serve it.
Kathryn says
Any idea on why they fell flat? I made this as cupcakes and the triple layer. 🤔
Lise Ode says
When I tested this recipe, it made 3 thin cake layers (as seen in the photo). I don't think this is a good recipe for cupcakes since it is flourless. Sorry about that.
Jennifer says
So sad! They didnt rise very much and then fell while cooking. They fell completely apart coming out of the pans. I think maybe just making two layers would have been better.
susan | the wimpy vegetarian says
This looks wonderful! I love flourless chocolate cakes, and always fall for the chocolate-mint combo winner!
Amanda says
Love this!!