White Chocolate Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting Recipes

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add melted chocolate and vanilla; mix well.
• Add sugar gradually, beating until light and fluffy after each addition.
• Use to frost your favorite cake or cupcake recipe.

Steps:

• Bring cream and milk to a simmer in a large, heavy saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add white chocolate and stir until melted and smooth.
• Remove from heat and stir in peppermint extract.
• Ladle hot chocolate into individual mugs and top with whipped cream and crushed candies. Garnish each mug with a small candy cane.

Steps:

• Place the white chocolate in a small glass bowl in the microwave on high power for 1 minute.
• Remove bowl from the oven and stir until chocolate is melted and smooth; set aside to cool.
• Using an electric mixer on low speed, blend the cream cheese and butter for 30 seconds.
• Add the melted white chocolate and blend another 30 seconds on low speed.
• Add the mint extract and 2 cups of the powdered sugar; blend on low speed until the sugar is incorporated, 30 seconds more.
• Increase mixer speed to medium and beat until frosting is fluffy, 1 minute more, adding up to 1/2 cup more sugar if needed, to make a good spreading consistency.
• Use as desired.

Steps:

• Make the cake: Set a rack in the center of the oven and heat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease an 8-by-8-inch square or 9-inch round light-colored metal baking pan with oil.
• In a large bowl, combine the granulated sugar and eggs. Use a whisk or an electric mixer to beat the mixture until foamy and slightly lighter in texture and color, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the sour cream, 1/2 cup oil, vanilla and salt, and whisk until combined and smooth, about 1 minute.
• Whisk in the cocoa powder until combined. Add the flour, baking powder and baking soda, and whisk until combined and no streaks of flour remain. Stir the espresso powder into the hot water, then add the mixture to the bowl. Whisk until incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and tap on the counter a few times to release any large air bubbles. Bake until puffed and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan set on a rack for about 45 minutes.
• While the cake bakes, clean the mixing bowl and make the frosting: Add the butter to the bowl and mix on medium-high with an electric mixer until smooth, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl. Turn the speed to low, and slowly add the confectioners' sugar. Mix until the sugar is moistened, then add 2 teaspoons of the cream, the vanilla extract, 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract and salt. Turn the speed up to medium-high, and whip until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes, adding a bit more cream a teaspoon at a time, if necessary, to make a smooth and light frosting. Taste the frosting, and add a few more drops of peppermint extract if desired. The frosting can be kept at room temperature while the cake finishes baking and cooling.
• Top the cooled cake with an even layer of frosting, then use the tip of a toothpick to dot the frosting with a few small dots of gel food coloring, if using. Use a spoon or offset spatula to swirl the food coloring into the frosting to create candy cane-like stripes - just a few swipes will do the trick. If you mix it in too much, the frosting will turn pink. Top the cake with sprinkles and shaved chocolate, if desired. Store leftover cake loosely covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.