Creme de Menthe Cake
This retro Creme de Menthe Cake recipe came from my mom. Mint-infused cake, a layer of fudge and minty cream create a dreamy combo!
Based on my mom’s super easy recipe from the 1970s, I nixed the Cool Whip for real whipped cream. Plus this Grasshopper Cake can be made with a cake mix or a white cake from scratch, depending on how much time you want to spend in the kitchen.
Why You Must Make
Those midweek calls from our oldest are usually paired with a request. He was invited to a Thursday night BBQ and he was wondering what treats I had lurking in the freezer. He was plum out of luck as I had made two desserts for my book club dinner that night, and there was nothing to spare. I was nearly baked out, but I remembered doctored-up cake mix recipe that was always a crowd-pleaser: My mom’s Creme de Menthe Cake.
- This Mint Cake is a semi-homemade dessert made with a box cake mix for a quick dessert!
- It’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any time you want to bake something for a mint lover.
- It’s the classic, irresistible pairing of mint and chocolate!
Ingredient Notes
- Kitchen Staples – Vegetable Oil, Water
- Box of White Cake Mix – I used Duncan Hines brand. You can also use a homemade white cake recipe baked in a 9 x 13-inch pan
- Creme de Menthe – Green Mint Liqueur. Most of the alcohol will evaporate during the baking time.
- Whole Eggs – Use instead of the eggs listed on the box. It’s always best to have your eggs at room temperature when baking.
- Green Food Coloring – Will intensify the green colors in the cake.
- Jar of Fudge Topping – Use a good quality brand. You can always use a homemade recipe. I like Mrs. Richardson’s or Graeter’s brands. Double the amount for an extra thick fudge layer.
- Heavy Cream – 36% butterfat
- Vanilla Extract – Make sure it’s pure vanilla and not imitation.
- Powdered Sugar – sifted for a smoother topping.
- Cream Cheese – at room temperature for a smoother topping
- Creme de Menthe – Adds the mint flavor and color.
How to Make
This is one simple mint dessert. A box of white cake mix, a jar of fudge sauce, whipped cream and creme de menthe, a mint liqueur, are the basic ingredients.
- Eggs, water, oil, and liqueur are added to the cake mix.
- Then the cake is baked in a 9 x 13 pan.
- Once cooled, the cake is topped with fudge, then minty whipped cream, and voila, a dreamy grasshopper cake!
- Note: This circa 1970s recipe was topped with Cool Whip, but I prefer real whipped cream stabilized with a packet of Whip It. Dazzle the mint fans in your life with this yummy cake mix cake recipe!
Recipe Tips
For years, I made this Mint Cake from scratch, but it’s still darned tasty using a box mix, especially when you’re short on time. It’s a ridiculously easy recipe, especially my mom’s recipe topped with creme de menthe spiked Cool Whip instead of whipped cream. So feel free to take the easy route and it will still be a delicious mint cake.
- I like using a Duncan Hines white cake mix for this grasshopper cake.
- If you’d like to make this dessert from scratch, I’ve used this terrific White Cake Recipe in lieu of the box mix. Remove 3 tablespoons of the buttermilk and add the 3 tablespoons of creme de menthe to provide the mint flavor. Bake as directed.
- Use an extra half jar of fudge sauce to make a thicker chocolate layer. Fudge sauces are now made to pour so will not necessarily make a solid layer when refrigerated. A homemade fudge sauce will be thicker.
- I prefer the taste of Mrs. Richardson’s Fudge Sauce, but it oozed more than when I used Hershey’s brand.
- The minty topping was originally an 8-ounce tub of Cool Whip flavored with creme de menthe.
- It will work in a pinch, but I prefer the flavor of homemade whipped cream or a homemade whipped topping like in the recipe below.
- The addition of green food coloring will intensify the green color.
Frequently Asked Questions
The grasshopper cocktail was invented in 1918 in New York City for a cocktail competition. Philibert Guichet came in second place and brought this winner home to New Orleans where it really took off decades later in the 1980s. The name was due to the green color of the cocktail.
Creme de Menthe, the source of mint flavor in grasshoppers is made from Corsican mint or dried peppermint, not spearmint.
The grasshopper cocktail is made with cream, Crème de Menthe, and white Crème de Cacao.
You May Also Like
- Frozen Grasshopper Pie
- Easy Grasshopper Mousse
- Shamrock Shooters
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- Swirled Peppermint Bark
- Peppermint Bark Snowflakes
- More Dessert Recipes
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Creme de Menthe Cake
A super simple, yet impressive cake that starts with a box mix and ends a triple layered delight!
Ingredients
Cake:
- 1 box white cake mix (I used Duncan Hines brand)
- Oil (amount listed on box)
- Water (amount listed on box, then remove 3 tablespoons to account for the extra liquid from the creme de menthe)
- 3 tablespoons creme de menthe (green mint liqueur)
- 2 whole eggs (instead of eggs listed on the box)
- 2-3 drops of green food coloring, optional
Toppings:
- 1 jar of fudge topping
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- ⅔ cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 3 tablespoons creme de menthe
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Grease a 9 x 13 pan and set aside.
- Mix cake mix according to package instructions using 2 eggs and removing 3 tablespoons of water from the water called for on box. Add creme de menthe along with the water. If you'd like a greener cake, add a few drops of green food coloring.
- When the mixture is smooth, scrape it into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake according to the box instructions.
- When the cake is done a toothpick inserted in the center will come out clean. Cool cake completely.
- When the cake is cool, carefully spread fudge sauce over top.
- Whip cream to soft peaks. In another large bowl, whip the powdered sugar, cream cheese, and creme de menthe until lightened and smooth. Stir in whipped cream and whip to firm peaks. Spread over fudge.
- Chill for 4 hours before serving.
Notes
The total amount of liquid used in the cake will be the same as what was called for on the box. You will need to remove 3 tablespoons of water from what is listed on the box and replace it will 3 tablespoons of creme de menthe.
Use a homemade white cake baked in a 9 x 13-inch pan instead of a cake mix if desired. Just add the creme de menthe to the batter.
Total time does not include cooling and chilling times.
If you want a thicker fudge layer, use 2 jars of fudge sauce.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
20Serving Size:
1 sliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 189Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 69mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 0gSugar: 9gProtein: 2g
35 Comments on “Creme de Menthe Cake”
This flavor pairing is my youngest daughter’s favorite. I look forward to the smile on her face when she tastes it.
Wow! This cake is super moist and so flavorful! Love every layer of this cake!
This came out really well. My family and our guests really enjoyed these pies. Thanks a lot for sharing this recipe. 🙂
This mint cake looks so pretty and it sure looks super tasty, I love the cool mint taste in the cake…
Thanks for the recipe…have a wonderful week!
Wow, this cake sounds so good and it’s really pretty too! I’m pinning this one so I have it handy for the holidays! Great recipe, Liz 🙂
I’ve made Grasshopper pie — in fact Mrs KR and I were just talking about our “need” to make that again a few days ago! — but never cake. Neat idea! This is SO fun — thanks.
My mom always loved making her Grasshopper pie when we had company. 🙂 So having grown up with it, I’m hooked on it, and anything in that vein. 😀 Your cake is so pretty and I’m sure, so delicious!
Thats so pretty I need to save this for the holiday and add some cherries on it for red and green Love it!
I love the color, I love the flavor.. I just love this cake!
That layer of fudge takes this to a next level of delicious! Delicious!
Delicious!
So sweet of you! This must have gone over real well. 🙂
What a beauty Liz, love that you put your own creative designs on this.
This is such a beautiful cake Liz!! Very elegant and I’m dying for a huge slice 🙂
It’s nice to have a couple of easy peasy recipes in your stash. It’s also nice sometimes to doctor up a cake mix. I’m all for it!
You know I gain a couple of pounds every time I come over here. Because I could finish this whole cake off all by myself, that’s probably 5 pounds of weight gain…but it would be worth it. 🙂
I love Andes mints so I know I’d go crazy for this cake!
Oh Liz, you seriously just stepped up another level in my cool books, and just quietly, you were sitting way up in the clouds in that department. 🙂 I love that you use box mixes from time to time too. i have been known to do that too, but have felt shame over the fact I did. *catch22
Great recipe, cant wait to try it. 🙂
This mint flavored cake must have been really tasty. Love mint desserts, just made some mint macarons as well this week.
Look beautiful Lizzy!!!
I can just taste that cool minty flavor right now!
What a pretty minty dessert! Looks like that you ladies had a great time in FWC!
I’d love to be in Orlando next summer! That cake is such a pretty colour and I do love mint with a bit of chocolate. After all your baking you were very good to make this for your son. You won’t believe it but I haven’t been receiving email notifications of your posts or newsletter for ages and I haven’t been able to fix the problem because it always tells me I’m already subscribed. Then out of the blue, tonight I received an email notification! I do hope that’s the start of good things to come and that whatever the problem was, it has now fixed itself xx
I am all for doctored cake mixes and this cake looks scrumptious! 🙂
Sometimes dessert out of a box is OK and even delicious! Looks like you had a great time in Orlando!
What a great way to use a box mix! I love minty treats so I know I would love this 😀
Very 70s-looking and very cool! I love that this is adapted from a simple cake mix. Your son is lucky to have you 🙂
This cake is perfect for me as I love the combination of mint and chocolate. Liked the color so much. The conference you attended seems fun way to see other bloggers/friends and get more experience in the same time.
It’s always good to have a couple of recipes that starts with a boxed cake. Love that you used fresh whipped cream! I usually have whipping cream in my refrigerator instead of the prepared stuff. Looks like you ladies had a fabulous time at the conference!
Oh that’s so pretty. I like how T just calls you up and orders a dessert! lol You are the greatest mom! I am going to need to learn about Whip It as I don’t use the Cool Whip either and just usually skip over anything calling for that…thanks for the heads up. 🙂
Dear Lizzy, what a delightful cake to make in a pinch. Doctored up cake mix recipes can really come in handy. Have a wonderful weekend dear. xo, Catherine
Mmmm..mint! Cake looks great, especially the color. I am guessing taste also 😀
Oh I agree–homemade whipped cream, can’t do without that! This cake sounds perfectly minty 🙂
Gorgeous color, I’ll bet this was a big hit! Your pound cake keeps calling to me from the side bar too:@)
Yay, yay, yay! Hallelujah even the gourmet Liz Berg uses cake mixes…Guilt relieved…Confession: I do like Cool Whip..But, I love (and have filed) your recipe and plan on making it. Even if I’m not getting invited to BBQs in the land of California green juices =) P.s. I’ll take green creme de menthe over green juice any day =)