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Chocolate-Mint Present Cake Recipe

Chocolate-Mint Present Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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The flavor of crushed peppermint candies infuses every forkful of this outstanding chocolate cake from our home economists. It's a tasty surprise during the holidays.

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Chocolate-Mint Present Cake Recipe

Prep: 1 hour Bake: 25 min. + cooling

Yield: 24 Servings

60 25 85

Ingredients

1-1/3 cups baking cocoa
2-2/3 cups boiling water
1-1/3 cups butter, softened
3-1/3 cups sugar
6 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
2-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup crushed peppermint candies
FROSTING:
1-2/3 cups butter, softened
15 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk, divided
2-1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract
FONDANT:
1/4 cup shortening
3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
9 tablespoons light corn syrup
4 pieces ribbon candy (4 inches x 1 inch)
Assorted round candies, optional

Directions

In a small bowl, combine cocoa and water until smooth; cool completely. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder; add to creamed mixture alternately with cocoa mixture. Beat until smooth. Fold in peppermint candies.
Pour into four greased and floured 9-in. square baking pans. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
For frosting, in a large bowl, cream butter. Add confectioners' sugar, 1 cup milk and extract; beat on low until combined. Beat on medium for 1 minute or until frosting achieves spreading consistency, adding remaining milk if necessary.
Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with frosting. Repeat three times. Frost sides of cake.
For fondant, in a large mixing bowl of a heavy-duty stand mixer, cream shortening until light and fluffy. Beat in confectioners' sugar until crumbly. Gradually beat in corn syrup on low speed (mixture will be stiff).
Divide in half; tint one portion red and one portion pink. For ribbon, on a work surface dusted with confectioners' sugar, roll out red portion into a 19-in. x 4-in. rectangle; cut in half lengthwise. Carefully arrange over cake, draping ends down the sides. On a work surface dusted with confectioners' sugar, roll out pink portion into a 19-in. x 2-in. rectangle; cut in half lengthwise. Carefully position over red ribbon, draping ends down the sides.
Just before serving, break ribbon candies in half; place over ribbon on top of cake, creating a bow. Decorate with round candies if desired. Yield: 24 servings.

Nutritional Facts 1 serving (1 slice) equals 855 calories, 27 g fat (15 g saturated fat), 116 mg cholesterol, 601 mg sodium, 152 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 5 g protein.

Originally published as Chocolate-Mint Present Cake in Taste of Home's Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook Annual 2007, p68

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Reviews for Chocolate-Mint Present Cake

Chocolate-Mint Present Cake

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Reviewed on Aug. 29, 2011 by Bikerbaker

I love the look of this cake also! the ribbon candy is very imaginative on top. I bake professionally and I think 15 cups confectioner's sugar with that amount of butter sounds correct. It is a large amount of frosting but I would rather have too much on hand than have to make a second batch. There isn't a description of how to do the cute dots though. I would guess it's more fondant, and silver dragees?

Reviewed on Aug. 03, 2011 by rfroaden

15 cups of powerdered sugar for the frosting has to be a typo...

Reviewed on Apr. 02, 2011 by creek123

I have not made the cake yet. The 15 cups of icing sugar seems alot but if you take into consideration that approximately 1 cup of liquid is used and that you are icing 4 layers it probably is not that much. You could cut the recipe in half and make more if necessary.

Reviewed on Aug. 17, 2010 by jasper3975

I agree 15 cups of powdered sugar seems like a lot. A pound is approximately 4 cups, so that is almost 4 pounds, it's going to be a very sweet icing!

Reviewed on Aug. 17, 2010 by lynnpotterusa

I love the look of this cake! I didnt make it but reading the recipe i decided it is for very experienced cooks....and 15 cups of powdered sugar for frosting sort of put me off... very intimidating....