Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake with Mint Italian Meringue Frosting

Long time, no see!   I am back with chocolate cake!  Yeah.  Italian meringue seems to be a bit of a pain but it is actually quite easy.  Just get everything ready and it will go super fast.

Old Fashioned Italian Chocolate Cake

3 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 buttermilk
1/2 cup water
1 cup oil
1 Tablespoon vanilla
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350°.  Combine dry ingredients, set aside.  In a large bowl mix sugar and oil, beat in eggs, then add vanilla.  Add 1/2 of the dry ingredients to oil and sugar mixture. Combine.  Add buttermilk and water. Combine.  Finally add the remainder of the flour mixture. Pour into well greased and floured pans or into a greased 9 x 13 pan.  Bake at 350° F for about 35 to 45 minutes.  Insert toothpick in center of cake to check to see if it is done.

Mint Italian Meringue Frosting

8 egg whites
1 3/4 cup sugar
pinch of salt
1/2 cup water
1 pound butter
2 teaspoons peppermint extract.
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon green coloring

In a saucepan pour sugar in.  Drizzle water over sugar evenly.  Do not stir.  Cover and bring to a boil.  Separate all of the eggs, insuring no yolk gets in the white. Place egg whites in bowl of mixer.  When the sugar and water begin to boil place candy thermometer in.  At 230°F, start beating egg whites. When the sugar water reaches 250°F slowly pour into whipped egg whites as the mixer runs.  Continue whipping for 8 to 10 minutes.  Side of mixer bowl should feel cool to the touch when ready to add butter. Add butter a little at a time.  Once all butter is in, add extract and coloring.  Beat until combine.  If it looks curdled just let it keep mixing, it will come back together.