White Chocolate Peppermint Cake

Visions of candy canes dancing in the Nutcracker will ring through your head when you bite into this rich and decadent White Chocolate Peppermint Cake recipe crowned with white chocolate frosting. This will be the centerpiece of any holiday table and an instant celebration of the season.

From Pumpkin Pie with Evaporated Milk to Orange Spiced Cake, this time of year calls for beautiful desserts that will immediately let those in your life know you love them. There is something special about spending time in the kitchen baking from scratch and putting your heart into decorating your creation. This tender chocolate cake is just that, filled with creamy Oreo buttercream and topped with white chocolate frosting, the finishing flourish of crushed candy canes and Oreos is the perfect touch.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Peppermint Chocolate Cake
• White Chocolate Dream Cake Recipe Video
• Ingredients
• Flavor Variations
• How to Make White Chocolate Peppermint Cake
• Equipment
• Hint
• Storage
• What to Serve with Chocolate Peppermint Layer Cake
• Tips for the Best Chocolate Peppermint Cake Recipe
• More Cake Recipes
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Related
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Why You'll Love This Peppermint Chocolate Cake

• Texture - The moment you sink your fork into this incredibly moist chocolate cake, it will be love. 
• Presentation - This chocolate layer cake plays double duty as both the ultimate sweet treat to end any special meal with while also being an Instagram-worthy focal point for the table. It really is almost too pretty to eat, except the flavors will have you reaching for a second slice. 
• Make Ahead - You can bake the cakes several days in advance, make your frostings, and then assemble them the day of. That makes this ideal to entertain by getting you out of the kitchen and among your family and friends. 

White Chocolate Dream Cake Recipe Video

Ingredients

• Flour - Gluten-free - 1:1 baking flour makes it easy to measure for this chocolate cake layer cake without having to add any additional ingredients. Bob’s Red Mill is my go-to. If you are making this dairy-free make sure to check the ingredients as some brands add milk powder. 
• Sugar - Sugar adds sweetness to the cake while powdered sugar easily dissolves into the creamy dreamy Oreo buttercream frosting and white chocolate buttercream frosting. 
• OliveNation Cocoa Powder - This cocoa powder adds rich, deep chocolate flavor to every tender crumb of this cake.
• Baking Soda/Baking Powder
• Salt - Enhances all of the natural flavors of the ingredients in both the cake and the buttercream frostings while balancing the sweetness. 
• Eggs - Add richness to the cake while also giving it stability. Make sure they’re at room temperature. 
• Sour Cream - This not only adds a little tang that compliments the flavor of the chocolate but also adds moisture to this cake. 
• Milk
• Hot water - Adding hot water to chocolate cake batter enhances the natural flavors of the cocoa powder and intensifies it, makes the cake incredibly tender and moist, and helps activate the baking powder, giving the cake a soft, fluffy texture and rise.
• Vanilla Extract - The higher the quality of the vanilla extract, the more pronounced the flavor. Singing Dog Vanilla is my go-to. 
• Vegetable Oil - Adds incredible moisture to this cake without competing with the flavor of the other ingredients. 
• Butter - This gives the Oreo buttercream frosting and the white chocolate buttercream frosting their silky texture and rich flavor. 
• Oreos - Gluten-free Oreos add just the right amount of chocolate flavor to the Oreo buttercream and are also used to garnish this cake. 
• OliveNation Barry Callebaut White Chocolate Chunks - These OliveNation chunks are made from cocoa butter and milk solids, this white chocolate is the perfect size for melting like in the white chocolate frosting and also adding to baked goods. 
• OliveNation White Chocolate Extract - This water-soluble, low-sugar extract is made with natural ingredients and gives even more white chocolate flavor to the buttercream frosting. 
• Heavy Cream - Makes the white chocolate buttercream frosting extra silky, fluffy, and luxurious. 
• OliveNation Crushed Peppermint - Make life easier with this already crushed peppermint that is perfect for both decorating and adding to baked goods. It gives that instant bold, minty flavor.

Flavor Variations

• Oreos: Try other crushed Oreos like Golden or Peppermint to make different buttercream variations.
• Coffee: A touch of instant coffee or strong brewed coffee brings out the chocolate flavor even more. Don't use too much!
• Sheet Cake: If you want a simpler recipe for more laid back Christmas gatherings, try making this a sheet cake.

How to Make White Chocolate Peppermint Cake

For the Cake

1: Line the bottom of four 8 inch layer cake pans or two round 8 inch cake pans and lightly grease the sides.

2: Mix the sour cream and milk in a measuring cup and set it aside.

3: Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

4: Mix the wet ingredients in a stand mixer.

5: Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined. The batter will be thick.

6: Finally, add the hot water and mix until combined.

7: Divide the batter evenly between the pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. A food scale can help ensure the batter is evenly portioned.

8: Set the cakes aside to cool completely while you make the frostings.

For the Oreo Buttercream

1: Whip the butter in a stand mixer until light and fluffy.

2: Next, add the vanilla, salt, and 1 cup of powdered sugar, mixing on medium-high.

3: Alternate adding the remaining powdered sugar 1 cup at a time and the milk 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until the frosting is thick, rich, and fluffy.

4: If the frosting is too dense, add a little more milk. Be careful not to add too much!

For the White Chocolate Buttercream

1: Melt the white chocolate in a microwaveable bowl at 20-second intervals, stirring after each interval until fully melted. Then, set it aside to cool so it doesn't melt the butter in the frosting.

2: Beat the butter in a stand mixer until it's light and fluffy. Then, mix in the powdered sugar on low speed.

3: Add the extracts and melted chocolate and mix again until combined.

4: Finally, add the heavy cream and salt and mix until completely combined, light, and fluffy.

Putting it Together

1: Place one of the cooled cake layers on a cake stand and spread some of the Oreo buttercream over the top of it.

2: Repeat the process, adding another layer and more frosting between each until all the cakes are stacked and the top layer is bare.

3: Frost the top of the cake with the white chocolate buttercream frosting (see the recipe card). Then, frost the top and outside of the cake with more Oreo buttercream.

4: Using a glove, press the crushed Oreos and peppermint all around the outside of the cake. Enjoy!

Equipment

• OliveNation Layer Cake Pans - Take the stress out of slicing your cakes into layers. This not only makes it easy, but it also allows the cakes to bake up faster.
• Measuring cups/spoons
• Mixing bowls
• Mixer
• Microwave safe bowl
• Food scale - This will help you evenly divide the batter between the pans
• Parchment paper

Hint

Press the crushed Oreos and peppermint gently into the frosting on the sides of the cake. You need just enough pressure to make them stick. Too much pressure will make the cake look wonky.

Storage

The cakes can be made 3-4 days in advance. Tightly wrap them in plastic wrap and keep them stored in the refrigerator.

Once you have frosted your cake it will last for 3-4 days refrigerated. Make sure to keep it stored in an airtight container.

What to Serve with Chocolate Peppermint Layer Cake

This cake is the perfect dessert to serve at any holiday gathering. The colors and flavors are the perfect match for all your sweet favorites and make a holly jolly ending to your turkey, ham, or prime rib dinner.

As part of the larger holiday dessert table, pair this cake with other holiday treats like Christmas White Chocolate Oreos, Christmas Celebration Cookies, and, of course, pumpkin pie.

Tips for the Best Chocolate Peppermint Cake Recipe

• To help everything come together smoothly without overmixing, make sure that all of your ingredients including your eggs and milk are at room temperature.
• You will want to make sure your ingredients for both frostings are also at room temperature. This will give you that creamy, silky texture free of lumps.
• Use parchment paper rounds to help the rich chocolate cake easily release from the pans.

More Cake Recipes

• Peanut Butter Banana Cake
• Almond Vanilla Cake
• Gingerbread Spiced Bundt Cake

Frequently Asked Questions

Related

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