Tuesday, December 10, 2013

White Chocolate Peppermint Cake

12 Cakes of December

Please, please do not scroll down, look at how long this recipe is and “X” out. It’s long, I’ll have to give you that, but it’s simple. Believe me, I only do easy.

And while you’re not looking, don’t notice that there’s alcohol in this cake and think it’s not for you. I’ve given a non-alcoholic option to the recipe and it’s every bit as good. Pinky swear.

White Chocolate Peppermint Cake | www.BakingInATornado.com


When Crumbs in my Mustachio asked me to be part of her “12 Cakes of December” project I was honored. Then I was terrified. I took a look at the other (read that to mean “real”) bakers in this project and i immediately moved on to being intimidated. I pretty much settled there, even tried to back out a few times. But here’s the thing, I always told my kids that when faced with a challenge you move forward and conquer your fears. Damn, my own words have come back to haunt me.

12 Cakes of December  | www.BakingInATornado.com


So here’s my contribution to the 12 Cakes of December. Hear me out, I’m going to take you through all the steps, if for nothing else than to prove that I can do it. Check out the other cakes: 9 are already posted, 2 more are coming, links to all can be found both at the end of this post and if you scroll down my Facebook page. If you feel as thought I didn’t embarrass myself, we’ll call it good.

Make the cake first. You’ll need 3 9-inch cake pans, alcohol if you choose to use it, and some pretty basic cake ingredients:


White Chocolate Peppermint Cake | recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert



While the cake is baking, you can make the frosting and the filling:


White Chocolate Peppermint Cake | recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert




Once completely cooled, the layers are sprinkled with white chocolate cocoa mixed with alcohol, but you can use just the cocoa or skip this step altogether:


White Chocolate Peppermint Cake | recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert



Assemble the cake and filling and you’re ready to frost:




White Chocolate Peppermint Cake | recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert



Please note that this is a dense cake, not a light and fluffy cake. My family loved it. Since I made the  . . . ahem . . . combustible version, none were allowed to drive for a week after. 

White Chocolate Peppermint Cake | www.BakingInATornado.com


Links to the other beautiful cakes:



12/1 Lemony Thyme's Chocolate Truffle Pirouette Cake
12/2 Cooking from a SAHM's Strawberry 'n Cream Cake with Tea Berries
12/3 Moore or Less Cooking's Coconut Tres Leches Cake
12/4 365 Days of Baking & More's S'more's Cake
12/5 It's Yummi's Pomegranate Lime Bundt Cake
12/6 The Rowdy Baker's Brownie Bombe
12/7 Hun . . . What's for dinner's Chocolate Roll with Candy Cane Whipped Cream
12/8 Chocolate, chocolate and more's Egg Nog Pound Cake
12/9 Manila Spoon's No Bake White Chocolate Cranberry Cheesecake
12/10 My White Chocolate Peppermint Cake!
12/11 Crumbs in my Mustachio's Hot Cocoalicious
12/12 Tampa Cake Girl's Red Velvet White Chocolate Cheesecake


Baking In A Tornado Graphic | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics





White Chocolate Peppermint Cake
                                        ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients, Cake:
1 stick butter, softened
1 1/2 cups of sugar
4 eggs
¼ cup oil
¼ cup water
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup White Chocolate Liqueur OPT: 1/4 cup water
¼ cup Whipped Cream Vodka  OPT: ¼ cup water
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 pkg white chocolate instant pudding mix
2 TBSP Peppermint Schnapps OPT: ¼ tsp peppermint extract
 
Ingredients, Filling:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup powdered sugar
¼ cup Peppermint schnapps OPT: 1 tsp peppermint extract
1/3 cup peppermint candies crushed fairly finely (About 10 candies)
1 cup heavy cream
OPT: red food coloring
 
Ingredients, Frosting:
2 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/3 cup powdered sugar
¼ cup Whipped Cream flavored Vodka  OPT: 1 tsp vanilla extract
 
Ingredients, Assembly:
3 TBSP White Chocolate Hot Cocoa (make according to package directions) mixed with 3 TBSP White Chocolate Liqueur OPT: use just the cocoa or skip this part altogether
2 TBSP White Chocolate Hot Cocoa mixed with 2 TBSP Peppermint Schnapps OPT: use just the cocoa or skip this part altogether
 
Directions, Cake:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 3 9-inch round cake pans.
*Beat the softened butter with the sugar until smooth.
*Beat in the eggs, milk, water, oil and liqueur (or water).
*With mixers on low, incorporate the flour, baking powder, salt and pudding mix. Then raise speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes.
*Put 1/3 of the mix each into 2 of the baking pans. Mix the Peppermint Schnapps into the remaining 1/3 and pour into the third prepared pan. NOTE: WHEN PUTTING THIS PAN INTO THE OVEN AND WHEN TAKING IT OUT, REMEMBER WHICH PAN HOLDS THE PEPPERMINT LAYER.
*Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the center springs back to the touch. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove and cool completely.
 
Directions, Filling:
*Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and peppermint schnapps until smooth. Mix in crushed candies. Add red food coloring if desired.
*In a separate bowl, beat heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
*Fold heavy cream into the cream cheese mixture.
 
Directions, Frosting:
*Beat all ingredients until stiff peaks form.
 
Directions, Assembly:
*Put one of the 2 layers without the peppermint onto a plate. Pierce the top with a fork and very slowly drizzle half of the cocoa/white chocolate liqueur mixture over the top and allow to sink in.
*Cover with ½ of the filling mixture.
*Put the layer of the cake with the peppermint in it on top, pierce and drizzle the cocoa/peppermint mixture and allow to sink in. Cover with the other half of the filling mixture.
*Top with final layer of cake, pierce and drizzle with the rest of the coca mixture.
*Frost sides and top with the frosting.  Decorate according to your preferences.
*Keep Refrigerated.

17 comments:

  1. Oh the cake looks lovely Karen, and the best part of the ingredients is the chocolate liqueur. Once I've started on that, I'll make a cake that no-one will ever forget :) Hey, did I also see the words 'vodka and schnapps'? This is getting better by the minute :)

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    1. LOL, now don't go soaking that cake. Or do, and let me know how it works out.

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  2. Mail it to me? Please oh please oh please?!

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    1. I don't know if I dare break your heart and tell you that it's already gone.

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  3. beautiful cake! I actually took my Kitchen Aid stand mixer down out of the way-up-high cabinet yesterday! Momma's gonna bake. Look out. I already have some of your recipes (and recipe swaps with other bloggers) on my list to add to my usuals cuz I like to try different things. My 6yo is excited about the strawberry cookies so that one's a go fer sher. This cake seems like something I'd do for my BFF's b-day in January - I think she'd be very impressed with me. :)

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    1. Oh, definitely something for the BFF's birthday. Just don't forget to save some of that booze for the cake.

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    2. you know me far too well. ;)

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  4. This looks awesome and chocolate liquor! Yum! Seriously, I'm in interested in your sweet tooth..mainly because I have one and if I was a talented as you I would eat my own treats every day. xx

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    1. Wait until your kids get a little older, Monica, and have all their friends hanging around, You'll see how very difficult it is to even get a taste of your own treats!

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  5. Wow - that is a lot of ingredients but that cake looks orgasmic! Plus, there is booze in that cake! Yum!

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    1. I had SO much fun developing this recipe. Bet you can guess why.

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  6. As Carla Hall says " I don't drink alcohol, I eat mine" so cut me a big ol' slice and I'll be over to get it.

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    1. I LOVE that quote. I think I have to print it out and attach it to my fridge.

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  7. For someone who was intimidated by the other bakers, you definitely made a beautiful and amazing looking 3 layer cake! You are a great baker in my book if you can do that. You're right! That recipe is long. I need to get some more things to bake more. I made muffins this year for Thanksgiving and hubby loved them so much. Definitely a hint for me to get some cake pans and all of that so I can bake more :)

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    Replies
    1. You really should try baking. I find it very soothing but my mom bakes well so I guess I came by the love of baking naturally.

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  8. This cake sounds yummy. My hubby would love it, he loves everything peppermint.

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    Replies
    1. My son does too, that's one of the reasons I chose it for this cake. Hope you decide to make it for your husband.

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