Guarantee sweet smiles

Two flavors of fluffy cream cheese frosting make this cookie-topped masterpiece simply irresistible

Minty Chocolate Cookie Cake

So easy from a mix! 1 (15.25 oz.) pkg. yellow cake mix

3 eggs

1⁄3 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 cup butter, at room temp.

1 ( 8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, at room temp.

4 cups confectioners’ sugar

3⁄4 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted, cooled

1⁄8 tsp. peppermint extract

Green liquid food coloring

3⁄4 cup chocolate fudge topping, at room temp., stirred until smooth

7 mint Oreo cookie halves

Easy as 1,2,3!

1Heat

oven to 350°F. Coat 2 (8") round cake pans with cooking spray. On low speed, beat cake mix, 1 cup water, eggs and applesauce 30 sec.; on medium speed, beat 2 min. Divide evenly between pans. Bake until toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean, 22–25 min. Let cool 15 min. Transfer from pans to rack; let cool.

2On

medium speed, beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy, 2 min. On low speed, gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until blended. On medium-high speed, beat until light and fluffy, 2–3 min. Transfer 3⁄4 cup frosting to separate bowl; stir in chocolate and peppermint extract. Transfer chocolate-peppermint frosting to pastry bag fitted with medium star tip; reserve. Tint remaining frosting light green with food coloring. Place 1 cake layer on serving plate; spread with 1 cup green frosting. Top with remaining cake layer; spread remaining green frosting over cake top and side. Chill until set, about 20 min.

3Spread

chocolate fudge topping over cake top. Chill until set, 15 min. Pipe chocolate-peppermint frosting rosettes around top of cake. Garnish with Oreos.

SERVINGS: 16 ACTIVE time: 45 min. TOTAL time: 3 hrs.