Easy Mint Swirl Chocolate Cake (Betty Crocker)

Directions

Grease and flour a bundt cake pan (tube pan, fluted). Set oven to preheat to 325℉ (160℃).

In small bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on high speed until smooth and fluffy. Beat in granulated sugar, 1 egg, ⅛ teaspoon peppermint extract and 3 drops food color until smooth; set aside.

In large bowl, beat cake mix, 1 cup water, the butter and 2 eggs on low speed 30 seconds; beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Pour into pan. Spoon cream cheese filling over batter.

Bake 42 to 48 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool in pan 15 minutes. Turn pan upside down onto cooling rack or heatproof plate; remove pan. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

In 1-quart saucepan, heat chocolate chips and shortening over low heat, stirring frequently, until melted; set aside.

For glaze, mix powdered sugar, ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract, 1 to 2 drops food color, the corn syrup and enough of the 3 to 4 teaspoons water to make a thick glaze that can be easily drizzled. Drizzle over cake. Immediately spoon melted chocolate over glaze in ½-inch-wide ring. Working quickly, pull toothpick through chocolate to make swirls.

Refrigerate until serving time.

Store in refrigerator.

TIPS

Sprinkling with coarsely chopped chocolate mint candies makes this already-incredible cake even more decadent!

The vegetable shortening keeps the melted chocolate chips smooth. Butter and margarine contain more water than shortening, so they cannot be substituted.