Directions

If you're one of those individuals who always opts for the
chocolate-covered Thin Mints when your local Girl Scout representative comes calling, this
dessert is for you. The refreshing peppermint counterpoint takes the edge off the intense
fudge-like cake.

To facilitate cutting the Peppermint Patties, I often freeze them first. Use a hot, dry
long-bladed knife to cut perfectly clean slices of the cake.

Serve with whipped cream, cocoa fudge sauce, and a drizzle of mint
syrup.

Ingredients

Cake:
14 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

16 tablespoons (8 ounces) butter
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cream
6 eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup (6 ounces) small-diced peppermint pattie candies

Ganache Topping:
1 cup cream
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

Whipped cream, for serving

Directions

Cocoa Fudge Sauce, recipe follows,
for serving
Mint Syrup, recipe follows, for serving

To make the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Butter a 9 1/2 to 10-inch springform pan, line the bottom with parchment paper, butter the
paper, and flour the pan, tapping out the excess flour.

Melt the chocolate with the butter and cream in the top of a double boiler. Reserve.

In the bowl of a mixer with a whip, beat the egg yolks with the sugar until very thick and
light (about 5 minutes). Add the melted chocolate mixture to the egg yolks and mix until
just blended. Add the flour, salt, and vanilla and mix until combined, scraping the bowl
once or twice. Transfer the batter to a large mixing bowl and stir in the Peppermint
Pattie pieces. The mixture will be quite thick.

In a clean mixing bowl, with a clean whip, beat the egg whites to medium soft peaks.
Lighten the batter by stirring in about one-third of the egg whites. Fold in the remaining

whites and the place batter in the prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for approximately
45 to 50 minutes. The top of the cake will feel set and very fine hairline cracks will
just start to form around the edges. Remove and cool in the pan on a rack.

To make the ganache topping: Heat the cream in a heavy bottomed saucepan to just under a
boil. Add the chopped chocolate and, over very low heat, constantly stirring, cook the
mixture until it is completely smooth. Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl and cool,
stirring occasionally, until thickened and spreadable. This can take several hours. You
can make the topping up to 3 days ahead, refrigerate it, and allow it to come to room
temperature for several hours before using. You can also hasten the cooling process by
placing the melted ganache over an ice bath and gently stirring it till thickened;
however, the resulting texture may not be quite as smooth and creamy.

Place the cooled cake upside down on a cardboard cake circle or a service plate. Remove
the sides and bottom of the springform pan. Remove the parchment liner. Using an offset
spatula, decoratively spread the ganache over what is now the top of the cake, drawing the

ganache all the way out to the edges of the cake. Using the offset spatula, level the
edges to give the cake a finished look. Serve at room temperature with whipped cream,
Cocoa Fudge Sauce and Mint Syrup.

Ingredients

Cocoa Fudge Sauce:

8 tablespoons (4 ounces) butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cups sifted unsweetened cocoa
1 cup cream
A few grains kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Melt the butter in a medium
sized saucepan. Whisk in the sugar and cocoa. Whisk in the cream and salt. Bring to a
simmer over medium low heat, whisking often. Allow to simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until the
sauce has thickened somewhat. Remove from heat, add the vanilla and strain though a fine
sieve. Cool and serve at room temperature. This can be made up to 1 week ahead of time. It
can also be frozen.

Yield: 2 cups

Ingredients

Mint Syrup:

1 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup water
2 cups packed fresh mint leaves

Directions

Combine the sugar and water
in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Turn the heat down and simmer
several minutes, until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and cool
completely. Reserve.

Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Have a strainer and a bowl of ice water at the
ready. Working quickly, place the mint leaves in the boiling water and blanch until just
wilted (about 10 seconds). Immediately strain the mint and place the leaves directly in
the ice water to set their color. Strain the mint again, pressing to remove excess liquid.
Place the mint leaves and half of the reserved syrup in a blender. Puree the mint,
stopping several times to scrape down the blender bowl. Add the remaining syrup and blend
for 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a clean storage container and allow to sit

overnight, covered, at room temperature.

Strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer and discard the solid mint puree. Store the
syrup, refrigerated, for up to 2 weeks. Shake or stir lightly before using.

Yield: 1 1/4 cups