Candy Cane Cake Recipes

CANDY CANE COOKIES I

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• Mix well the shortening and butter, sugar, egg, almond and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix flour and salt and add to shortening mixture. Divide dough in half.
• Blend red food coloring into one half. Roll 1 teaspoon of the red dough and 1 teaspoon of the white dough on lightly floured board into 4 inch strips. Place strips side by side and press lightly together and twist like a rope. Curve top of rope down to look like the handle of a candy cane.
• Bake 9 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove while still warm. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup crushed peppermint stick candy and 1/2 cup sugar (optional).

PEPPERMINT LAYER CAKE WITH CANDY CANE FROSTING

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.

HOLIDAY CANDY CANE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Generously grease and lightly flour 12-cup fluted tube cake pan. Or spray with baking spray with flour.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, milk, cream cheese, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly, then on medium speed 2 minutes. Pour into pan.
• Bake 38 to 44 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 15 minutes; turn upside down onto cooling rack and remove pan. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• To assemble, cut cake in half crosswise. Place half of cake on serving plate to form hook of candy cane. Cut remaining half into 5 equal pieces (about 2 inches wide). Stir half of the peppermint extract into each container of frosting. Attach cut pieces to hook of candy cane with frosting, alternating pieces to form the straight part of the cane. Frost cake.
• To decorate, arrange strips of fruit snack rolls on cake to look like stripes on a candy cane. Store cake loosely covered.

CHOCOLATE-CANDY CANE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease two 9-inch round cake pans. Beat cake mix, dry pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, oil and water in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed just until moistened, stopping frequently to scrape side of bowl. Beat on medium speed 2 min. or until well blended. Stir in chopped chocolate and 2 Tbsp. of the crushed candy canes. Spoon evenly into prepared pans.
• Bake 35 to 40 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool 10 min. Loosen cakes from sides of pans with metal spatula or knife. Invert cakes onto wire racks; carefully remove pans. Cool completely.
• Place one of the cake layers on serving plate; spread evenly with 1 cup of the whipped topping. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and side of cake with remaining whipped topping. Sprinkle with remaining crushed candy canes just before serving. Store leftover cake in refrigerator.

CANDY CANE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Generously grease and flour 12-cup fluted tube cake pan. Make cake batter as directed on box. Pour about 2 cups batter into pan. In small bowl, pour about 3/4 cup batter; stir in food color and peppermint extract. Carefully pour pink batter over white batter in pan. Carefully pour remaining white batter over pink batter.
• Bake and cool cake as directed on box.
• In small bowl, mix white icing ingredients. If necessary, stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until smooth and spreadable. Spread over cake. Sprinkle crushed candy on top. Store loosely covered.

CANDY CANE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350. Generously grease a 10 to 12 cup bundt pan; lightly coat with flour.
• Make cake mix as directed on package. Pour about 2 cups of batter into pan.
• In small bowl, pour about 3/4 cup batter; stir in food color and peppermint extract.
• Carefully pour pink batter over white batter in pan. Carefully pour remaining white batter over pink batter.
• Bake 38 to 42 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes our clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to wire rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In small bowl, mix together glaze ingredients, using just 1 T of milk at first. Stir in additional milk 1 teaspoon at a time until smooth and consistency of thick syrup. Spread glaze over cake, allowing some to drizzle down side. Garnish with crushed candy canes, if desired.
• Store loosely covered at room temperature.

CANDY CANE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF. Generously grease and flour 12-cup fluted tube (bundt cake) pan.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and egg whites with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds; beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
• Pour about 2 cups batter into pan. Pour about 3/4 cup batter into small bowl; stir in food color and peppermint extract. Carefully pour pink batter over white batter in pan. Carefully pour remaining white batter over pink batter.
• Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Turn pan upside down onto wire rack or heatproof serving plate; remove pan. Cool cake completely, about 1 hour.
• In small bowl, mix all icing ingredients. Stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until smooth and spreadable. Spread icing over cake. Sprinkle top with crushed candy.

CHOCOLATE CANDY CANE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line three 8-inch round baking pan with parchment paper and/or spray well with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. (See notes.)
• In a large bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt together to combine. Set aside. In a liquid measuring cup, stir buttermilk, vanilla and instant coffee granules (if using) together. Set aside.
• In a separate large bowl, mix oil and sugar together until combined. Mix in eggs and egg white, one at a time, until mixture becomes lighter in color, about 90 seconds.
• Alternate adding in flour mixture with milk mixture, being sure to start and end with flour. Scrape the sides and mix again to ensure a smooth batter.
• Divide evenly between baking pans and smooth the top. Bake 22-30 minutes in the lower 2/3rds of the oven. If you're using two cake pans instead of three, you will need to bake this cake 28-35 minutes. Cake will be done when a toothpick comes out clean or mostly clean with a few moist crumbs. Cool 15-20 minutes in cake pans before trying to invert on cooling racks. Once you can handle the warm pans with your bare hands, you can flip them out. Cool completely before frosting and decorating.
• See recipe notes for how much frosting you will need to make. In a large bowl, measure and add butter, powdered sugar, salt, vanilla and peppermint extract. Stir with beaters on low (or paddle attachment on stand mixer) to mix and break up the butter. It will still be very powdery and dry. Slowly add in the heavy cream. Once you notice the frosting start to come together stop adding the cream. You may need to add more than the amount listed. This is also normal. Increase mixer speed to medium to get rid of any lumps and create a smooth frosting. Scrape the sides and the bottom of the bowl and mix again to ensure a completely smooth frosting. Peppermint frosting will be done when it can hold its shape, but you can easily move a butter knife through it. If it's too thick, add more cream and mix. If you've added too much cream and the frosting is too soft, add more powdered sugar. If you notice there are a lot of air bubbles in your frosting, use a large wooden spoon to beat a lot of the air out of the frosting by hand.
• Frost the cake by layering cake with frosting and crushed candy canes in between each of the three layers, then doing a crumb coating (a thin coating of peppermint frosting around the entire cake) and freezing for 15 minutes before adding the final layer of frosting. You will still see some of the chocolate cake edges because the cake is darker than the frosting, but this is totally normal. Nothing to worry about! Add crushed candy canes to the bottom half of the cake and top. Finish off with rosettes or dollops of frosting around the top. Cut into pieces and enjoy!

CHOCOLATE CANDY CANE CAKE

Steps:

• Gather the cake ingredients.
• Position two racks in the upper and lower third of the oven. Heat the oven to 350 F. Line 3 (8-inch) cake pan bottoms with parchment paper Spray the parchment and the sides of the pans with cooking spray.
• Add the butter and both sugars to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and continue to beat until combined, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl occasionally.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
• With the mixer running on low, add 1/4 of the sifted flour mixture and continue beating until well combined.
• Add 1/3 of the buttermilk and continue beating until well combined. Continue alternating mixing in the flour and buttermilk, ending with the flour, beating well after each addition.
• Divide the batter evenly between the pans, smoothing the tops. Bake, rotating the pan half way through until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean, 22 to 26 minutes (you may need to bake the cakes separately if your oven can't fit all three cakes simultaneously). Cool completely. To Make the Frosting and Assemble:
• Gather the frosting ingredients.
• Combine the egg whites, confectioners' sugar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix together on low speed, until the sugar is moistened and no dry patches remain. Turn off the mixer. With a silicone spatula, scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. With the mixer on medium speed, beat until well combined, about 5 minutes.
• Turn the mixer to medium-low. With the machine running, add the softened butter 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until completely combined before adding more.
• When all the butter is incorporated, stir in the vanilla extract and peppermint extract. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Turn the speed to medium and beat the buttercream until smooth and creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Divide the buttercream evenly into two large bowls. Add the melted chocolate to one bowl, folding together with a silicone spatula. Add the candy cane pieces to the second bowl, folding together with a clean silicone spatula.
• To assemble the cake, place 1 layer on a cake cardboard, and transfer to a cake turntable, if available. Scoop half of the candy cane frosting on top of the cake, and spread it into an even layer.
• Place a second cake layer on top of the frosting, and spread the remaining candy cane frosting on top of the cake. Finally, add the third cake layer on top.
• Spread a very thin layer of chocolate frosting all over the top and sides of the cake-this is the "crumb coat," to lock any stray crumbs to the cake. Refrigerate the cake briefly, for about 30 minutes, so the crumb coat can firm up.
• Spread a thicker layer of frosting along the top and sides of the cake. It doesn't have to be perfectly smooth, because the imperfections will be covered up with the chocolate sprinkles or curls (leave some of the chocolate frosting for decorating the top of the cake).
• Place the chocolate sprinkles or curls in a large shallow pie tin or bowl. Hold the cake in one hand, keeping it over the pie tin, and use the other hand to scoop up handfuls of chocolate sprinkles and press them into the sides of the cake, letting the excess drop back into the bowl.
• Transfer the reserved chocolate frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a star tip.
• Pipe rosettes of frosting all along the outer edge of the cake. Press a mini candy cane into each rosette and serve.

CANDY CANE CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F then generously grease your baking pan.
• Make the cake batter as directed in the package instruction. Pour ⅓ cup of the mixture into the baking pan and bake for 5 to 7 minutes.
• Into a small bowl, pour another ⅓ cup of the batter; stir in the food color and the peppermint extract.
• Carefully pour the pink batter over the baked white batter and bake again for roughly 3 minutes or until stable.
• Carefully pour the remaining ⅓ cup of white batter over the pink batter. This is to create a thin layer of coloring at the center of the cake when you slice through.
• Bake the cake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• In a small bowl, mix the icing ingredients. If necessary, stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until smooth and spreadable.
• Cool for 10 minutes then turn the pan upside down onto a cooling rack or heatproof serving plate. Cool the cake completely for about 15 minutes.
• Spread the icing over the cake and sprinkle with crushed candy on top. Store loosely covered and enjoy!