Sunday, December 11, 2011

Candy Cane Chocolate Cake


A Merry Christmas Welcome to Red Couch Recipes!


An easy way to dress up a cake during the Christmas season is to add some candy canes to a cake.  It gives the cake a Christmas look and flavor.   I took this cake to a church Christmas dinner on Friday night -- it was easy to put together and delicious.  If you are short on time, you could even gussy up a store-bought cake to give it a bit of panache.

I frosted my cake with Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting, see below, and added some mini candy canes, some chocolate curls, and some crushed soft peppermints.  I like to use Bob's Peppermint rods -- they are softer than traditional candy canes.  I made the small curls with a vegetable peeler and a chocolate bar.



I made my mother Nedra's Whole Wheat Chocolate Cake, because I love its texture and flavor.

1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 -1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
7/8 cup boiling water

Grease and flour a 9 x 13 pan or 2 (8-inch round cake pans). In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Then add 2 eggs and beat well. In a medium, and separate, bowl, add the whole wheat flour and cocoa together. In a small bowl, add the buttermilk and vanilla together. Then add the flour mixture and buttermilk mixture to the creamed butter and sugar mixture. alternately, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Add to mixture the baking soda. Finally, add the 7/8 cup boiling water all at once and mix thoroughly. Pour immediately into prepared pan(s) and bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes if using a 13 x 9 x 2 pan or 25 to 30 minutes if using the 8-inch round pans. Frost with Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting -- see recipe below.


Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting

Blend together 3/4 cup room temperature butter, 4 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 3-4 tablespoons water. You may need to add extra water, depending on how thick you want it.  I always like a moist frosting.

While frosting is still moist, place small candy canes on the side of the cake.  Add crushed peppermint rods and chocolate curls to the top of the cake.  Make sure to add some crushed peppermint to the cake platter to give it that Christmas feeling.



Thanks for dropping by Red Couch Recipes!

Posted with the following:  Weekend Wrapup, Made By You Monday

17 comments:

Leslie said...

That's beautiful!!! I've never thought about adding whole candy canes to a cake before, but it's a great idea! I'm sure it's tasty, too. The whole wheat chocolate cake spikes my interest, too.
Merry Christmas!
Leslie

Bonnie said...

I have never made a cake with whole wheat before but I trust you. I love this simple way to dress up a plain cake and I would never have thought of doing this. It's just great.

Bonnie said...

I have never made a cake with whole wheat before but I trust you. I love this simple way to dress up a plain cake and I would never have thought of doing this. It's just great.

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Oh my goodness Joni! Yummy!!! Thanks for the recipe! Love your pictures! xox

Lynn said...

Your cake is very pretty Joni, I'm sure it didn't last long! I've bookmarked this recipe, I'd like to try the whole wheat cake batter:@)

Lisa said...

I swoon!!!
Lisa

Marigene said...

Whole wheat...that sounds rather healthy! I am going to try it. Beautiful cake, Joni.

Karena said...

Yum what a delicious looking and I am sure...tasting cake!

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Karena

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Jacqueline said...

Fudgy delicious frosting and fabulous peppermint candy canes - two of my favorites for sure. Jessica is looking for some chocolates to sprinkle candy canes on. Maybe chocolate fudge huh? Your frosting makes me want to find a bowl to lick. Have a great day.

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

You can't get much better than chocolate and peppermint! Beautifully decorated holiday cake, Joni. I have your mother's recipe saved :)

Sue said...

Your cake is beautiful Joni, along with your food styling and photos! Love it all!

Debbie said...

It looks delicious, and I love the idea of the candy canes to decorate. I'm all caked out after making some red velvet ones, but I would like to try this one at some point. I'll bet the whole wheat flour gives it a taste and texture that is wonderfully different.

Download recipes said...

Wow, it looks so tasty and delicious! thnaks a lot for the recipe! Its decoration is fantastic!!!

Nancy's Daily Dish said...

Peppermint and chocolate...can never fail in my book! Great photos as usual!

Renée said...

How did I miss this fabulously festive cake? I'm fixing it now for a party tonight. It will be my centerpiece for my dessert buffet. Thanks Joni!

The Arizona Russums said...

this looks delish. i need to make a cake next week for christmas and this might be the one!

Kathleen said...

Hi Joni,

Trying to catch up here. I love the cake, looks beautiful!
No socks for me, my feet get too hot! :)

Engageya