Shortcut Peppermint Layer Cake Food

PEPPERMINT LAYER CAKE WITH M&M'S TREES

Peppermint Layer Cake with M&M'S Trees image

This classic buttery vanilla layer cake has a cool pop of peppermint, which acts as a delicious base for festive handmade M&M'S trees. To make them, ice cream cones are coated with chocolate frosting, then decoratively coated with M&M'S and a light dusting of confectioners' sugar, leaving you with the perfect holiday centerpiece and dessert.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories dessert

Time 1h

Yield 38 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

Ingredients

1/2 cup vegetable oil, plus more for the pans
2 3/4 cups cake flour, plus more for the pans
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 stick unsalted butter
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 to 1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
4 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 cups confectioners' sugar, plus more for dusting
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 to 1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
1/4 cup milk
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
4 ice cream sugar cones
Red and green M&M'S, for decorating

Steps:

Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Brush two 9-inch round cake pans with vegetable oil, line the bottoms with parchment, brush the parchment with oil, then dust lightly with flour, tapping out the excess. Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl.
Beat the vegetable oil and butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until combined. Add the granulated sugar and beat until light and creamy, about 4 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then beat in the extracts. Reduce the speed to low; beat in the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until combined.
Divide the batter between the cake pans. Tap them against the counter, then bake until golden brown and the cakes spring back when gently pressed, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 15 minutes in the pans, then remove the cakes to the rack, remove the parchment and let cool completely.
Meanwhile, make the frosting: Beat the butter and salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the confectioners' sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating to combine after each addition. Beat in the extracts, then the milk, beating until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove 1 cup of the frosting to a small bowl.
Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring. Let cool slightly, then stir the melted chocolate into the reserved 1 cup frosting along with the cocoa powder.
Make the trees: Using a serrated knife, carefully saw off the wide ends of 3 of the sugar cones so all the cones are varying heights. Cover the outside of all 4 cones with a thick layer of the chocolate frosting. Press M&M'S into the frosting to cover completely.
Put 1 cake layer on a cake stand or platter. Spread about 1 cup white frosting on the cake. Top with the second cake layer, then frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining white frosting. Arrange the trees on top. Lightly dust the trees with confectioners' sugar.

PEPPERMINT LAYER CAKE

Peppermint Layer Cake image

Here's the perfect festive dessert recipe for your holiday table - a Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ layered cake, that looks and tastes like Christmas peppermint candy.

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories Dessert

Time 3h20m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ white cake mix
Water, vegetable oil and egg whites called for on cake mix box
1/4 teaspoon mint extract
3 containers Betty Crocker™ Whipped fluffy white frosting
Red and green paste food color
20 red and green hard round peppermint candies, unwrapped
12 red and green candy canes

Steps:

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with shortening and lightly flour, or spray with baking spray with flour.
Make cake mix as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs and adding mint extract. Pour batter into pans. Bake as directed for 8-inch rounds. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely. Cut each cake layer horizontally to make 2 layers. (Mark side of cake with toothpicks and cut with long, thin serrated knife.)
Tint 1 container frosting with red food color. Tint 1 cup frosting from second container with green food color. Leave remaining frosting white.
Place 1 cake layer, cut side up, on serving plate; spread with half of red frosting to within 1/2 inch of edge. Top with second cake layer, cut side down; spread with green frosting. Top with third cake layer, cut side up; spread with remaining red frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread white frosting on top and side of cake. Freeze 1 hour.
Place red and green round peppermint candies on bottom edge of cake. Break candy canes into large pieces; place in center of cake.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 670, Carbohydrate 105 g, Fat 5, Fiber 0 g, Protein 3 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 350 mg

PEPPERMINT LAYER CAKE WITH CANDY CANE FROSTING

Peppermint Layer Cake with Candy Cane Frosting image

This white layer cake with gooey peppermint-flavored frosting and crushed candy canes is a project but so worth it. Try it for the holidays for an extra festive dessert.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories dessert

Time 3h

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for the pans
2 cups sifted cake flour (sift first, then measure), plus more for dusting
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup whole milk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large egg whites, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
6 large egg whites
Pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/4 cup crushed candy canes, plus more for topping

Steps:

Make the cake: Position racks in the middle and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter three 8-inch-round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper; butter the parchment and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl. Combine the milk and the vanilla and peppermint extracts in a small bowl; set aside.
Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually beat in 1 cup sugar, then increase the mixer speed to high and continue beating until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, until just combined. Scrape down the side of the bowl, then increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until smooth, about 5 more minutes.
In a separate large bowl (using clean beaters), beat the egg whites with a mixer on high speed until foamy. Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and continue beating until stiff, shiny peaks form, about 6 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whites into the batter in 3 additions until combined.
Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake, switching the position of the pans about halfway through, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let the cakes cool 10 minutes in the pans, then run a knife around the edges and invert onto racks to cool completely. Peel off the parchment. (The cakes can be made up to 1 day ahead; wrap in plastic and store at room temperature.)
Make the frosting: Fill a medium saucepan with 1 to 2 inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Combine the sugar, corn syrup, egg whites, 2 tablespoons water and the salt in a heatproof bowl and set over the saucepan (do not let the bowl touch the water). Whisk until the sugar dissolves and the mixture registers 165 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 8 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pan and beat with a mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Increase the mixer speed to high and beat until fluffy and cool, about 4 more minutes. Add the vanilla and peppermint extracts and beat until combined, 1 more minute.
Assemble the cake: Place 1 cake layer on a platter and spread 1 cup frosting on top; sprinkle with about 2 tablespoons crushed candy canes. Top with another cake layer, spread with 1 cup frosting and sprinkle with another 2 tablespoons crushed candy canes. Top with the final cake layer, then frost the top and side of the cake with the remaining frosting. Sprinkle more crushed candy canes on top.