Chocolate Candy Cane Cake Recipes

CHOCOLATE CANDY CANE CAKE

Steps:

• Gather the cake ingredients.
• Position two racks in the upper and lower third of the oven. Heat the oven to 350 F. Line 3 (8-inch) cake pan bottoms with parchment paper Spray the parchment and the sides of the pans with cooking spray.
• Add the butter and both sugars to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and continue to beat until combined, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl occasionally.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
• With the mixer running on low, add 1/4 of the sifted flour mixture and continue beating until well combined.
• Add 1/3 of the buttermilk and continue beating until well combined. Continue alternating mixing in the flour and buttermilk, ending with the flour, beating well after each addition.
• Divide the batter evenly between the pans, smoothing the tops. Bake, rotating the pan half way through until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean, 22 to 26 minutes (you may need to bake the cakes separately if your oven can't fit all three cakes simultaneously). Cool completely. To Make the Frosting and Assemble:
• Gather the frosting ingredients.
• Combine the egg whites, confectioners' sugar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix together on low speed, until the sugar is moistened and no dry patches remain. Turn off the mixer. With a silicone spatula, scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. With the mixer on medium speed, beat until well combined, about 5 minutes.
• Turn the mixer to medium-low. With the machine running, add the softened butter 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until completely combined before adding more.
• When all the butter is incorporated, stir in the vanilla extract and peppermint extract. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Turn the speed to medium and beat the buttercream until smooth and creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Divide the buttercream evenly into two large bowls. Add the melted chocolate to one bowl, folding together with a silicone spatula. Add the candy cane pieces to the second bowl, folding together with a clean silicone spatula.
• To assemble the cake, place 1 layer on a cake cardboard, and transfer to a cake turntable, if available. Scoop half of the candy cane frosting on top of the cake, and spread it into an even layer.
• Place a second cake layer on top of the frosting, and spread the remaining candy cane frosting on top of the cake. Finally, add the third cake layer on top.
• Spread a very thin layer of chocolate frosting all over the top and sides of the cake-this is the "crumb coat," to lock any stray crumbs to the cake. Refrigerate the cake briefly, for about 30 minutes, so the crumb coat can firm up.
• Spread a thicker layer of frosting along the top and sides of the cake. It doesn't have to be perfectly smooth, because the imperfections will be covered up with the chocolate sprinkles or curls (leave some of the chocolate frosting for decorating the top of the cake).
• Place the chocolate sprinkles or curls in a large shallow pie tin or bowl. Hold the cake in one hand, keeping it over the pie tin, and use the other hand to scoop up handfuls of chocolate sprinkles and press them into the sides of the cake, letting the excess drop back into the bowl.
• Transfer the reserved chocolate frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a star tip.
• Pipe rosettes of frosting all along the outer edge of the cake. Press a mini candy cane into each rosette and serve.

CHOCOLATE-CANDY CANE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Beat first 7 ingredients in large bowl with mixer until blended. Stir in chopped chocolate and 2 Tbsp. crushed candy. Pour into 2 (9-inch) round pans sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake 35 to 40 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min. Loosen cakes from sides of pans; invert onto wire racks. Carefully remove pans. Cool cakes completely.
• Fill and frost cakes with COOL WHIP. Sprinkle with remaining crushed candy just before serving. Keep refrigerated.

CHOCOLATE CANDY CANE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 Fahrenheit.
• Grease 2 9" round cake pans.
• Beat cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, oil, and water in large bowl with electric mixer on low until just moist.
• Beat on medium speed 2 minutes until well blended.
• Stir in chopped chocolate and 2 Tablespoons of the crushed candy canes.
• Spoon batter into pans.
• Bake 50 minutes to 1 hour until toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool in pan for 10 minutes then cool completely on wire rack.
• Place one layer of the cake on a plate and spread evenly with 1 cup of cool whip.
• Top with remaining cake layer and frost with the rest of the cool whip.
• Garnish with crushed candy cane.

CHOCOLATE CANDY CANE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line three 8-inch round baking pan with parchment paper and/or spray well with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. (See notes.)
• In a large bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt together to combine. Set aside. In a liquid measuring cup, stir buttermilk, vanilla and instant coffee granules (if using) together. Set aside.
• In a separate large bowl, mix oil and sugar together until combined. Mix in eggs and egg white, one at a time, until mixture becomes lighter in color, about 90 seconds.
• Alternate adding in flour mixture with milk mixture, being sure to start and end with flour. Scrape the sides and mix again to ensure a smooth batter.
• Divide evenly between baking pans and smooth the top. Bake 22-30 minutes in the lower 2/3rds of the oven. If you're using two cake pans instead of three, you will need to bake this cake 28-35 minutes. Cake will be done when a toothpick comes out clean or mostly clean with a few moist crumbs. Cool 15-20 minutes in cake pans before trying to invert on cooling racks. Once you can handle the warm pans with your bare hands, you can flip them out. Cool completely before frosting and decorating.
• See recipe notes for how much frosting you will need to make. In a large bowl, measure and add butter, powdered sugar, salt, vanilla and peppermint extract. Stir with beaters on low (or paddle attachment on stand mixer) to mix and break up the butter. It will still be very powdery and dry. Slowly add in the heavy cream. Once you notice the frosting start to come together stop adding the cream. You may need to add more than the amount listed. This is also normal. Increase mixer speed to medium to get rid of any lumps and create a smooth frosting. Scrape the sides and the bottom of the bowl and mix again to ensure a completely smooth frosting. Peppermint frosting will be done when it can hold its shape, but you can easily move a butter knife through it. If it's too thick, add more cream and mix. If you've added too much cream and the frosting is too soft, add more powdered sugar. If you notice there are a lot of air bubbles in your frosting, use a large wooden spoon to beat a lot of the air out of the frosting by hand.
• Frost the cake by layering cake with frosting and crushed candy canes in between each of the three layers, then doing a crumb coating (a thin coating of peppermint frosting around the entire cake) and freezing for 15 minutes before adding the final layer of frosting. You will still see some of the chocolate cake edges because the cake is darker than the frosting, but this is totally normal. Nothing to worry about! Add crushed candy canes to the bottom half of the cake and top. Finish off with rosettes or dollops of frosting around the top. Cut into pieces and enjoy!

CHOCOLATE-CANDY CANE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Chop 4 oz. chocolate; set aside. Beat next 6 ingredients with mixer until blended. Stir in chopped chocolate and 2 Tbsp. candy.
• Spoon into 30 paper-lined muffin cups.
• Bake 20 to 23 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in pans 10 min. Remove from pans to wire racks; cool completely.
• Melt remaining chocolate; cool slightly. Frost cupcakes with COOL WHIP; drizzle with chocolate. Sprinkle with remaining candy.

CHOCOLATE-CANDY CANE CUPCAKES WITH WHIPPED TOPPING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 30 muffin cups with paper liners.
• Beat cake mix, pudding mix, sour cream, oil, water, and eggs for cupcakes with a mixer on low speed until moistened. Beat on medium speed for 2 more minutes.
• Stir in chopped chocolate and 2 tablespoons of the crushed candy canes. Reserve remaining crushed candy for the topping. Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 20 to 23 minutes. Cool in the tins for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Melt chocolate square for topping in a microwave-safe bowl in a microwave, 10 to 20 seconds.
• Frost cooled cupcakes with whipped topping. Drizzle with melted chocolate and top with remaining crushed candy canes.

CHOCOLATE CANDY CANE MARTINIS

Steps:

• In a pitcher, combine cream, vodka and liqueur. Refrigerate until serving., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Gradually beat in cream until stiff peaks form. Fold in 3 tablespoons crushed candies; pour remaining candies onto a small plate. Refrigerate whipped cream mixture until serving., In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Spread onto a small plate. Spin rims of 12 cocktail glasses into melted chip mixture, then into crushed candies. Pour vodka mixture into prepared glasses; dollop with whipped cream mixture. If desired, garnish with additional candy canes.