Peppermint Chocolate Cake Recipe

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This decadent Peppermint Chocolate Cake combines all-time favorite Best Chocolate Cake Ever, peppermint buttercream and peppermint bark for a festive cake that’s perfect for the holidays!

Slice of Peppermint Chocolate Cake Recipe on white plate // addapinch.com

Oh friends, this Peppermint Chocolate Cake recipe has just got to show up on your Christmas list of must-make cake recipes. It’s not only delicious, but is also beautifully festive for the holiday season. And if you enjoy my Best Chocolate Cake, you will love this cake! It has the extra deliciousness of peppermint buttercream topped with homemade peppermint bark – and a little extra holiday flair!

Peppermint Chocolate Cake

Peppermint Buttercream frosting on Chocolate Cake, topped with Peppermint Bark crumbles, on a white cake plate

Hello, deliciousness.

Two scrumptious, decadent treats come together in this beauty of a dessert. Both treats are fabulous on their own, but as a dessert with a little extra something special for the holidays, this is a winner.

I’ll spare you all of the amazing comparisons and just tell you, it tastes like the best peppermint bark you’ve ever tasted. In cake form.

Not to mention, there’s an out of this world decadent Peppermint Buttercream Frosting atop this beauty.

And since that holiday treat is Sam’s most favorite candy in the whole wide world, and this chocolate cake is his favorite cake, then obviously this is a dessert that he loves. Everyone I’ve ever served this cake to agrees!

Side view of cake topped with peppermint bark on white antique cake stand. // addapinch.com

How to Make Peppermint Chocolate Cake

This beautiful cake is really easy to make. You’ll make my Best Chocolate Cake and add a Peppermint Buttercream to top it. Then top with bark if you desire.

Here’s what you’ll need to make it.

Ingredients for Best Chocolate Cake

  • all-purpose flour
  • sugar
  • unsweetened cocoa powder
  • baking powder
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • espresso powder – easy to find at the grocery store or even online if your grocer doesnโ€™t stock, but I use it frequently and started making my own homemade espresso powder. It is so easy to make and have on hand!
  • milk โ€“ you can also use buttermilk, almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk
  • oil โ€“ you can use vegetable, canola or melted coconut oil
  • eggs โ€“ when baking, I like to use room temperature eggs
  • vanilla extract
  • boiling water

Step-by-Step Instructions for Chocolate Cake

Prep. Preheat the oven to 350ยบ F. Prepare two 9-inch cake pans by spraying with baking spray or buttering and lightly flouring.

Whisk dry ingredients. Add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and espresso powder to a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk through to combine or, using your paddle attachment, stir through flour mixture until combined well.

Mix in wet ingredients. Add milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla to flour mixture and mix together on medium speed until well combined. Reduce speed and carefully add boiling water to the cake batter until well combined.

Bake.ย Distribute cake batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center of the chocolate cake comes out clean. You can follow my tips forย how to tell when your cake is done.

Frost. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes, remove from the pan and cool completely. Frost with Peppermint Buttercream frosting. Ingredients and instructions to follow.

Note – If you want to make three layer cake instead of two โ€“ simply split the cake batter between 3 cake pans instead of 2 pans. If making 3 layers, check cake for doneness after about 25 minutes.

Ingredients for Peppermint Buttercream Frosting

  • butter – softened
  • confectioner’s sugar – sifted
  • peppermint extract
  • pinch salt
  • milk, heavy cream or half-and-half
  • peppermint bark – chopped, for garnish (optional)

If you don’t have peppermint bark on hand to garnish top of cake, you can either omit it or crush a few candy canes to sprinkle on top.

Step by Step Instructions for Frosting

Cream the butter. Place softened butter into the bowl of a stand mixer that has been fitted with the paddle attachment. Turn the mixer on a medium setting and cream the butter until it is smooth and has lightened in color, about 3 minutes.

Add sugar and beat. Add confectionerโ€™s sugar, ยฝ a cup at a time. After each cup has been incorporated, turn the mixer onto the highest speed setting and for about 10 seconds to lighten the frosting.

Mix in extract and salt. Include the peppermint extract and a pinch of salt and combine until well-incorporated.

Add milk for desired consistency. Add milk, heavy cream or half-and-half until the frosting has reached the preferred consistency. For a firmer frosting, add more confectionerโ€™s sugar, a ยผ cup at a time. For a softer frosting, add more milk or cream, a tablespoon at a time.

Frost and garnish cake. After the cake layers have cooled as directed, frost the cake. Sprinkle chopped peppermint bark on top of cake as garnishment, if using.

Closeup view of top of cake with crushed peppermint bark // addapinch.com

I sure hope you love this Peppermint Chocolate Cake as much as we do. It is the perfect dessert for Christmas and New Year.

Peppermint Chocolate Cake Recipe

4.91 from 10 votes
Peppermint Chocolate Cake Recipe – Thisย decadentย Peppermint Chocolate Cake combines all-time favorite Best Chocolate Cake Ever, peppermint buttercream and peppermint bark for a festive cake thatโ€™s perfect for the holidays!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 24

Ingredients

Peppermint Buttercream Frosting

  • 1 cup (226 g) butter, , softened
  • 3 – 4 cups (340-454 g) confectionerโ€™s sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon (4 g) peppermint extract
  • pinch (0.4 g) kosher salt
  • 2-3 tablespoons (28-43 g) milk, heavy cream, or half-and-half
  • 1/2 cup (114 g) chopped peppermint bark, for garnish (optional)

Instructions 

  • Prepare chocolate cake as instructed. Allow to cool completely. As cake is cooling, prepare peppermint buttercream frosting.
  • Peppermint Buttercream Frosting
  • Place softened butter into the bowl of a stand mixer that has been fitted with the paddle attachment. Turn the mixer on a medium setting and cream the butter until it is smooth and has lightened in color, about 3 minutes.
  • Add confectionerโ€™s sugar, ยฝ a cup at a time. After each cup has been incorporated, turn the mixer onto the highest speed setting and for about 10 seconds to lighten the frosting.
  • Add peppermint extract and a pinch of salt and combine until well-incorporated.
  • Add milk, heavy cream or half-and-half until the frosting has reached the preferred consistency. For a firmer frosting, add more confectionerโ€™s sugar, a ยผ cup at a time. For a softer frosting, add more milk or cream, a tablespoon at a time.
  • Frost cake and sprinkle chopped peppermint bark on top of cake as garnishment (optional).

Notes

For 3 layers – I simply split the cake batter between 3 cake pans instead of 2. For 3 layers, check cake for doneness after about 25 minutes.
Nutrition for 1 serving of cake with frosting.ย 

Nutrition

Calories: 251kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 246mg | Potassium: 118mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 467IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Peppermint Chocolate Cake Recipe - Chocolate Cake has to be an all-time favorite cake recipe and this Peppermint Chocolate Cake version is perfect for the holidays. // addapinch.com

Originally published 2013.

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About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

4.91 from 10 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Review




42 Comments

  1. Jennifer L Seiber says:

    5 stars
    This was a delicious cake! I made it exactly as instructed. I baked my cakes a couple days before I frosted them. I just let them cool completely and then wrapped them individually in Saran wrap and refrigerated them until I was ready to frost and serve. It turned out perfect! Thank you for the recipe!

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      I’m so glad you enjoyed this cake, Jennifer. It is a favorite at Christmas time for me.

  2. Rosemary says:

    Hi Robyn, thanks for the recipe. Can I use cake flour instead of all purpose flour? and the measurements will still be the same?

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      Rosemary, you can use cake flour in this recipe if you wish. I thought cake flour made the cake too tender but many people have commented that they used it and the cake was fine. You will need to use 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons cake flour for every cup of all-purpose flour in this recipe. Hope you enjoy!

  3. Annazetta M Henderson says:

    Hi Robyn, I have found your deserts to be absolutely scrumptious. I am going to make the Carmel cake for Thanksgiving, however, I want the chocolate and peppermint cake reร lly bad. I was wondering if you have ever made your cake’s and sold them as well as shipping? If you have please consider making this for me and let me know what you think it’s worth.

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      Annazetta, I appreciate that you love my desserts. I’m sorry but I don’t bake and sell my cakes.

  4. Lindsay says:

    Should butter be salted or unsalted? Thank you

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      I use salted butter, Lindsay, but you can use whichever you prefer.

  5. Allison Spataro says:

    5 stars
    Another home run. Made this for Christmas Eve. It was a huge hit. I doubled the frosting and added additional peppermint extract. I had a difficult time getting the peppermint bark to crush in the food processor so next time I might used crushed peppermint candy instead. Make this. You won’t be sorry.

  6. Lisa says:

    Beautiful cake! One question – every time I’ve made buttercream, I’ve always ended up with it on the yellow-er side of the white-yellow spectrum. How did you get the buttercream so white? Looking to make this for a Christmas/Murder Mystery party we’re having this weekend!

    Thanks!

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      Thanks Lisa!
      Sounds like such a fun party!
      To make the buttercream as white as possible, make certain to follow all of the recipe instructions exactly. I also give some tips in my blog post for my Classic Vanilla Buttercream Frosting. I hope this helps and that you enjoy this! xo

  7. Simmi says:

    Hi
    Can you bake the cake and make the frosting 2-3 days ahead before serving. Thanks.ย 

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      Hi Simmi,
      Yes, you can make this cake ahead. You can let cake with buttercream frosting stay at room temperature for up to 3 days. I just make sure stored under a cake dome or cover. Thanks!

  8. Chris says:

    Great recipe. It was a hit.

    A few notes that I made for myself.

    1. I will add chocolate chips to the cake next time. Just extra decadent.

    2. Make extra icing. Just because more is always better.

    3. May need more mint extract. Also could be that you need a fresh bottle of mint extract.

    4. I didn’t have the peppermint bark so I us d crushed candy canes for the top. Looked great.

    Enjoy. Thanks, Robyn.

    –Chris