Chocolate Candy Cane Cake is an intense chocolate cake with a hint of peppermint flavor in each bite. Drizzled with a light peppermint glaze and sprinkled with crushed candy canes, I love how festive this chocolate candy cane bundt cake looks with barely any effort.
My family went nuts over this cake and I have to admit that I was hard pressed to stop snacking on it each time I was in the kitchen. This cake received rave reviews from everyone who tasted it.
Over the past few years, the Chocolate Candy Cane Cake has become a holiday tradition in our family. I look forward to making it and the kids sure do look forward to eating it.
If you can’t get enough of the chocolate and peppermint combination, this is the cake for you. This cake is intensely chocolate with just the right amount of peppermint flavor. The glaze and crushed candy canes make it the perfect treat for your Christmas parties.
For more chocolate and peppermint desserts to try, check out this {5-Minute} Peppermint Bark, Peppermint Marshmallow Fudge, and Peppermint Bark Cake Balls. I have this Peppermint White Chocolate Mousse Pie, Chocolate Peppermint Biscotti, and these Chocolate Peppermint Cookies on my list to try soon.
These Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes are calling my name as well. I can’t get enough of the chocolate and peppermint combination!
I’ve made the Chocolate Candy Cane Cake in a bundt pan, a 9×13 pan, and we’ve made cupcakes too. The cupcakes are super cute for a holiday party with their glaze and a sprinkling of candy and the handheld cupcakes are always popular for easy serving.
Can I just tell you how much I adore my bundt cake pans these days? This swirl bundt pan (pictured in this recipe) is my current favorite, but I also LOVE classic style of elegant tall bundt cakes, and the special shape bundt pans too!
I’ve decided that I simply can’t have too many bundt pans in my life. I LOVE how a simple bundt cake can look so much fancier (without ANY more effort) than the same cake baked in a sheet pan.
Check out all of the Gluten Free Dessert Recipes on this website!
Chocolate Candy Cane Cake
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1¾ cups all purpose flour *
- ¾ cup cocoa powder plus 2 tablespoons for flouring the pan
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup light flavored olive oil
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract optional
- 1 cup hot coffee or boiling water
Icing Ingredients
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- ¼ cup crushed candy canes for topping
* Gluten Free Alternative
- 1¼ cups brown rice flour
- ½ cup potato starch
- ¼ cup tapioca starch
- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease your pan and lightly flour it with a couple tablespoons of cocoa powder. (Alternatively, grease a 9×13 pan or prepare (24) cupcake liners.)
- Stir together all of the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla and beat with a mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the boiling water and continue stirring to combine. The batter should be very thin and watery. Pour into prepared bundt pan or divide between two round pans or cupcake holders.
- Bake the bundt cake for 35-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. A 9×13 pan will bake in 30-35 minutes and cupcakes will bake in 22-24 minutes. Cool completely.
Icing Instructions
- Combine the powdered sugar, milk, and peppermint extract in a small bowl. Whisk together until smooth. The glaze should pour off the spoon in a thick white stream.
- Add a teaspoon more milk to thin it, or 1-2 tablespoons more powdered sugar to thicken it, if necessary. Drizzle the glaze over the cake. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes.
- Store at room temperature, loosely covered, preferably not airtight. This cake will keep nicely and stay very moist for 3-4 days. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
{originally published 11/22/15 – recipe notes and photos updated 6/9/22}
Kim says
This looks so pretty!! I bet it tastes amaze.
Tricia Buice says
Beautiful Mary! I bet this cake is a favorite of everyone that tries it. I do love the cake pan too 🙂
Sue/the view from great island says
I feel fancy bundt cake pan deprived, I'm heading out to get one this week! Showstopper of a cake 🙂
Joshua Hampton says
Oh wow! That cake is beyond amazing. The chocolate lover in me is itching to make it. I definitely will.
Carrian Cheney says
beautiful for the holidays!!
Lynn says
I have been making this cake for the past 3 holidays…..it’s become our “traditional” Christmas dinner dessert. It’s very moist and stays moist to the last slice. And it’s a beautiful presentation.
Jen says
Why olive oil? Is this a healthier substitute for butter? Can I just use butter instead? Is this a “healthy” desert? It looks great, but I’m looking for a recipe that can win a holiday baking contest.. Olive oil has me scratching my head.
Mary says
You’re welcome to use vegetable or canola oil. I simply prefer a light flavored (definitely not extra virgin) olive oil for baking. Butter is not going to give you the same results.
Aria says
This one beautiful and perfect for my dinner!!!Thanks for the recipe, Merry Christmas! 🙂
Katie says
Absolutely fantastic! I was amazed how well the GF version of this cake baked up, and it didn’t taste GF at all! The mint was maybe just a tiny bit overpowering – I think I would leave it out of the cake batter next time – but all in all, a wonderful recipe that I will definitely make again!
Mary Younkin says
I’m so happy to hear that you love the cake, Katie!
Lisa says
I made this cake using Bob’s Red Mill gluten free flour. It was really moist & flavorful, stayed fresh tasting for days! My family loved it and couldn’t even tell it was GF.
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad you like it, Lisa!
Helena Guzman says
Question,would this cake still work if I used it in a different pan?
Mary Younkin says
Helena – Yes, you can there are instructions on the recipe for a 9 x 13 as well as cupcakes.