Cheesecake layer
3 8-oz packages cream cheese
½ c sugar
2 t unsalted butter, softened
3 large eggs
1 T flour
1-1/2 c sour cream
2 t vanilla
1/ t peppermint
2/3 c crushed peppermints
Sour cream cake layer
1 18.25-oz pkg white cake mix
2 large eggs
1 8-oz container sour cream
1/3 c vegetable oil
White chocolate mousse frosting
2/3 c sugar
1 c white chocolate morsels
2 c heavy cream
2 t vanilla
Garnishes: white chocolate curls, mint candies.
Prepare cheesecake layers: preheat oven to 325. Line bottom and sides of 2 8-inch round cake pans with foil, allowing 2-3 inches to extend over sides; lightly grease the foil. Beat cream cheese, ½ c sugar, and 2 T butter at medium speed with electric mixer 1-2 minutes or until creamy and smooth. Add 3 eggs, one at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Add flour, sour cream, vanilla and mint, beating until blended. Fold in candies. Pour batter into prepared pans, then place those pans in a large pan, add water to depth of 1 inch. Bake at 325 for 25 minutes or until set. Remove from oven to wire racks; cool completely – about 1 hour. Cover cheesecake (do not remove from pans) and freeze 4-6 hours, until solid. Lift from pans, using foil as handles, then gently remove foil. Wrap in plastic wrap and return to freezer until ready to assemble cake.
Prepare sour cream layers: Preheat oven to 350. Beat mix, eggs, sour cream, oil and ½ c water at low speed for 30 seconds or just until moistened; beat at medium speed 2 minutes. Spoon into 3 greased and floured 8-inch rounds. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, until wooden pick comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 min, remove from pans to racks and cool completely (about 1 hour).
Prepare frosting: Cook 2/3 c sugar and ¼ c watr in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring often, 3-4 min or until sugar is dissolved. Add white chocolate and cook, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature (about 30 min) whisking occasionally.
Beat cream and 2 t vanilla at high speed until soft peaks form. Fold in chocolate mixture until frosting reaches spreadable consistency.
Place 1 cake layer on a stand or plate. Top with successive cheesecake and cake layers (cake, cheesecake, cake, cheesecake, cake). Frost. Chill until ready to serve. Garnish.
Peppermint plate:
Preheat oven to 350. Trace a 10-inch circle on parchment paper, place paper on baking sheet. Arrange 60 hard mints inside circle on paper, laving 1/16 inch between candies. Bake 9-10 minutes, until candies begin to melt and touch. Remove from oven, cool completely on the baking sheet on a wire rack. Gently remove parchment paper and place on cake stand, under cake.