Chocolate Cake with Fluffy Mint Chocolate Chip Buttercream

Name: Chocolate Cake with Fluffy Mint Chocolate Chip Buttercream
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 24
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: FOR THE CHOCOLATE CAKE:; unsalted butter, for preparing the pan; 2 c. all-purpose flour, plus more for preparing the pan; 2 c. sugar; 3/4 c. cocoa powder; 2 tsp. baking powder; 1-1/2 tsp. baking soda; 1 tsp. espresso powder; 1 tsp. kosher salt; 1 c. buttermilk; 1/2 c. vegetable oil; 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature; 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract; 1 c. freshly brewed hot coffee; FOR THE FLUFFY MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP BUTTERCREAM:; 1 c. unsalted butter, at room temperature; 3 c. powdered sugar; 1/8 tsp. kosher salt; 3 T. half and half; 2 tsp. mint extract (not peppermint!); 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract; green food coloring, if desired (I used Americolor Leaf Green #111); 3 oz. (about 1/2 cup) finely chopped semi-sweet chocolate

by Brenda Score on March 2, 2015 (updated March 21, 2023)

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This Chocolate Cake with Fluffy Mint Chocolate Chip Buttercream features the best chocolate cake recipe ever, piled high with irresistibly fluffy mint flavored frosting. It’s crazy awesome!

a slice of Chocolate Cake with Mint Buttercream on a white plate with a mug of coffee

Growing up, birthdays were always celebrated with a chocolate wacky cake. Made in one mixing bowl, with minimal and inexpensive ingredients (a cake recipe made famous during the Great Depression), it’s still a quick and easy favorite chocolate cake recipe of mine. But I’ve been playing around with recipes over the past few years, determined to find a go-to chocolate cake recipe of just a bit more indulgence. And I can finally say that I have it. I’m sharing the recipe with you here today, topped with an irresistible frosting. If you like to celebrate with a little bit o’ green for St. Patrick’s Day, this Chocolate Cake with Fluffy Mint Chocolate Chip Buttercream would be a most excellent dessert choice!

Chocolate Cake topped with Mint Chocolate Chip Buttercream on a white plate

I’ve made a number of different chocolate cake recipes over the years, but the one I kept returning to is from Ina Garten’s book Barefoot Contessa at Home, named “Beatty’s Chocolate Cake”. Ina’s cookbooks and Food Network show are among my favorite and most trusted cooking and baking sources. I like Ina’s gentle, positive spirit, plus her kitchen knowledge and approachable recipes.

a slice of Chocolate Cake with a forkful taken out

My cake recipe is just slightly adapted from Ina’s. It’s rich and chocolatey, with a large, super moist crumb. I have deemed it “perfect”. For my birthday, I want this chocolate cake.

This recipe includes espresso powder and hot brewed coffee. And whenever I include these ingredients, there are always people asking if they can eliminate them. I answer back, “Of course you can, but I highly recommend just trying it first, because those ingredients only help to boost the chocolate flavor”. It’s true. And if you’re one of those people, I beg you to just give it a try. I promise that you’ll be rewarded with some of the best chocolate baked goods you’ve ever had.

I topped the cake with a super fluffy mint flavored buttercream frosting. Oh my. Incredibly light in texture, and so killer creamy, it’s totally a lick-the-beater-clean kind of frosting. When the finely chopped chocolate is folded in, it’s like the best frosting version of that awesome mint chocolate chip ice cream.

This chocolate cake with fluffy mint chocolate chip buttercream would be perfect for celebrating so many holidays – think St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Christmas, and New Year’s. And I know several people in my life who would absolutely love to have this sweet chocolate treat to celebrate with on their birthday. I also happen to know a person who would make this cake for no other reason than simply wanting to enjoy the best chocolate cake ever, piled high with irresistibly fluffy mint chocolate chip buttercream. {pick me!}