ANDES MINT CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F Line the bottom of three eight inch cake pans with wax paper and spray the sides of the pan with cooking spray. Bring some water to a boil and keep it simmering while you mix the other ingredients.
• In a large bowl combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Beat with mixer until combined.
• Add 1 cup of the boiling water and carefully stir until it is mixed inches Beat for 1 1/2 minutes with mixer. Shake the chopped Andes Mints in a ziploc bag with a tablespoon of flour, until they are lightly coated. Fold the mints into the batter and pour into prepared pans. Bake for 20-23 minutes (until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean).
• MINT BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:.
• Mix butter, sugar, vanilla, peppermint and food coloring on low speed in large mixing bowl. Gradually add milk until you reach the desired consistency. Keep covered.
• GANACHE:.
• Place chocolate chops in a metal bowl. Heat cream over medium heat. Watch it closely and immediately remove from heat when it starts to boil. Pour over chocolate chips. Let stand for 1 or 2 minutes. Then slowly stir the mixture until all the chocolate chips have completely melted. Stir in the vanilla.
• Allow the ganache to cool and slightly thicken before you use it. Let it sit at room temperature for a couple hours, or put in the refrigerator if you want to speed things up. Start pouring the ganache over the center of your cake, and slowly move outward in circles.
• You can actually cut this recipe and still have enough to cover the cake. But you will love having leftovers to pour over ice cream, drizzle over cupcakes -- so many possibilities! Cover and store refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.