Holiday Cheer You Can Eat
Recipes to embrace the holiday season
During the winter, one of my favorite activities is baking. Over the years, I’ve discovered these two chocolate-packed recipes. They are easy to make and taste delicious.
Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake
Cake Ingredients
1 package of chocolate cake mix
1 package of instant vanilla pudding mix
4 eggs
1 cup of sour cream
1/3 cup of oil
1/2 cup of water
1 1/2 cups of semi sweet chocolate chips
Icing and Garnish Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup of milk
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 soft peppermint candies (Tip: brands with good peppermints for this recipe are Stewart Candy and Bob’s)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, oil and water. Mix ingredients until combined.
- Add chocolate chips to the batter and fold to incorporate.
- Grease bundt pan, then pour batter into pan.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean.
- After cake has cooled for a few minutes, turn cake out of pan and onto a cooling rack. Leave to cool completely.
- Take 6 of the 11 peppermints and crush them into a fine powder. Take the remaining 5 peppermints and crush them into big chunks. Using a rolling pin works well for this step.
- Using a mixer, cream together the butter and cream cheese.
- Add in the vanilla extract, then mix until combined. Add powdered sugar. Mix until no clumps remain. Add milk and mix slowly until liquid is incorporated.
- Add the powdered peppermints and mix into frosting.
- Frost cake and top with crushed peppermints.
Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
1 cup of milk
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
a pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Combine the cocoa, brown sugar, and salt in a small bowl.
- Mix the milk and cream together in a small pot. Then add the dry mixture. Set the pot on the stove over medium heat.
- Add in the vanilla and heat till desired temperature.
- Pour in mug and enjoy.