Paula Dean's Chocolate Creme de Menthe Cake

CAKE
1 c. butter, softened
2 1/2 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 t. vanilla
3 c. cake flour
3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 1/4 c. milk
1 c. sour cream

Preheat over to 350. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans.

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.

In a medium bowl combine cake flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; sift twice. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in sour cream. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans, and bake for 25-28 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and let cool completely on wire racks.

Spread half of Creme de Menthe Filling between each layer. Frost top and sides of cake with Creamy Chocolate Frosting. (I suggest freezing the cake for to make it easier to frost). Garnish with chopped chocolate-covered mint squares.

CREME DE MENTHE FILLING
(makes about 1 1/4 cups)

1/2 c. butter, softened
2 T. creme de menthe (I used 1 t. of peppermint extract)
2 1/4 c. confectioners' sugar
3 drops green food coloring
(because I used the peppermint extract instead of the liquor there wasn't enough liquid. I added about 1 T. of milk. Do not add too much or your cake layers will slip n' slide)

In a medium bowl, beat butter and creme de menthe at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Add food coloring, beating until incorporated.

CREAMY CHOCOLATE FROSTING
(makes about 2 1/2 cups)

1 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
3 T. heavy whipping cream
4 c. confectioners' sugar
1 t. vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in cocoa and cream until smooth. Gradually beat in sugar until smooth. Beat in vanilla.

This cake is absolutely DELICIOUS! I recommend it whole heartedly. Just be sure to follow the directions intricately. Enjoy!