Peppermint Chocolate Cake... Mother's Day Special

It's Mother's Day today and what better gift for my beloved mother who have taken care of me for the past 29 years then to bake for her on this special day to show how much she means to me. Took the whole day to make this although it could have taken much lesser time if I have a better organized kitchen!! Haha..

After a great holiday at Club Med Cherating last weekend, was inspired to create a peppermint chocolate cake. Couldn't find anything online hence decided to come up with my very own recipe.

The recipe consist of a 3 parts, there is the cake, the peppermint cream, the Chocolate Glaze. Decoration are optional, it will taste great even without the fancy stuff that I made...

Recipe. . . . .

Chocolate Cake

170g      Cake Flour
13g        Coco Powder
3/4 tsp   Baking Powder
1/4 tsp   Baking Soda
1/2 tsp   Salt
170g      Dark Chocolate (At least 60%)
170g      Unsalted Butter
1 tsp      Vanilla Extract
                                           100g      Castor sugar
                                           100g      Light brown sugar
                                           3            Eggs
                                           105ml    Buttermilk / Wholemilk

To make the cake

1. Pre-heat oven to 160 degree C
2. Prepare / grease a 7 in by 3 in round baking tin.
3. Melt the chocolate in a microwave and set aside to cool. (30 sec on high, mix, 10 sec on high)
4. Sift all the dry ingredients together and have it ready 
5. Beat butter together with sugar in a stand mixer until light and fluffy (Pale Ivory in colour) 
6. Add vanilla extract then add egg one at a time. 
7. When eggs is well in cooperated, pour in melted chocolate 
8. Mix in 1/3 of the dry ingredient follow by 1/3 of the milk until everything is in cooperated. 
9. Pour batter into the prepared tin and bake for 45 to 55 mins or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 
10. Remove from mold and cool to room temperature before cutting into 3 equal layer. 

Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cream

650g        Whipping Cream
120g        Fine sugar
2 tsp        Peppermint extact or to taste
1/2 tsp     Green colouring
3/4 tsp     Powder Gelatin
40ml        Cold Water
50g         Shaved chocolate

To make the peppermint cream

1. In a stand mixer bowl, combine the cream, sugar, colouring and mint extract
2. Combine the gelatin with the cold water to allow it to bloom (Abt 1 min)
3. Whisk the cream till just before soft peaks form
4. Pour in the gelatin mixture and whisk till firm
5. Mix in the shaved chocolate
6. Set cream aside in fridge to chill. 

Chocolate Glaze (Adapted from Pierre Hermé)

This chocolate glaze consist of 2 parts, you will first have to make the chocolate sauce which will have left over after making the glaze.. you get use the same chocolate sauce for your desert like ice cream etc.. totally awesome chocolately goodness...

Chocolate sauce 

 50g      70% Dark chocolate chopped
 95g       Plain water
 35g       Castor Sugar
 50g       Heavy Cream

To make the chocolate sauce

1.  Combine all ingredients into a heavy bottom sauce pan.
2.  Bring to a boil while stirring constantly.
3.  Lower heat and continue heating till mixture is able to coat the back of your spoon.

Chocolate Glaze

100g      70% dark chocolate, chopped
80g        Heavy cream
20g        French butter (room temperture)
100g      Chocolate Sauce

1. Heat the cream in the microwave for 30 sec on high
2. Pour cream into chocolate and stir to melt the chocolate
3. Add in butter in 4 equal parts
4. Add in the chocolate sauce

Finishing the Cake 

1. Sandwich the layers of cake with the peppermint cream 
2. Completely frost the outside of the cake with the peppermint cream
3. Pull into freeze for about 1 hours to chill the cream, this will make the subsequently chocolate glaze much easier to apply
4. Pour chocolate glaze on the top and work your way to coat the entire cake. 
5. Chill in fridge and enjoy!!! Bon Appetit!!