Peppermint Cake with Buttercream Frosting and White Chocolate Ganache

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The J.M. Smucker Company. The opinions and text are all mine.

I love baking at the holidays (well, anytime, really!). Recently we had some friends over for a meal, and I knew I wanted to make a beautiful, decadent holiday dessert!

I wanted to try the new Purely Simple™ line from Pillsbury™, so I headed to Publix to pick up a cake mix! As you know, I am someone who reads ingredient labels, so I was excited to see that the Pillsbury™ Purely Simple™ mixes are made with simple ingredients and do not include any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

Because we’re in peppermint season, I concocted a delicious peppermint cake with peppermint buttercream frosting and white chocolate ganache!

The cake itself is easy… just a Pillsbury™ Purely Simple™ cake mix, eggs, milk, butter, and peppermint extract. Could not be simpler to make!

The frosting is a breeze to make too, since it starts with a Pillsbury™ Purely Simple™ Buttercream frosting mix. Just add butter, water, and peppermint extract!

Peppermint Cake with Buttercream Frosting and White Chocolate Ganache

Impressive triple layer peppermint white cake with white chocolate ganache and peppermint buttercream frosting!

Author: Aliesha @ Feathers in Our Nest

Recipe type: Dessert

Ingredients

1 box Pillsbury™ Purely Simple™ White Cake Mix
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup milk
3 eggs
½ tsp. peppermint extract
1 package Pillsbury™ Purely Simple™ Buttercream Frosting Mix
½ cup butter, softened
¼ cup water
½ tsp. peppermint extract
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream
Optional (for garnishing): candy canes and additional white chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three round cake pans.
Blend cake mix and butter in bowl with mixer on medium speed until combined.
Add milk, eggs, and peppermint extract, mixing on low speed to combine. Beat on medium speed for one minute, then increase to medium high and blend for two additional minutes.
Divide batter evenly into three pans.
Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool cake before frosting.
To prepare frosting, combine frosting mix and butter with a mixer set to low speed.
Add water and peppermint extract and mix on low until combined.
Beat on high speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl as needed.
To assemble cake, place first layer on plate or cake stand. Cover with a thin layer of frosting and a layer of white chocolate ganache (see "notes" below).
Add second layer, frost, and add ganache.
Add third layer and frost. Frost sides of cake. Drizzle a bit more ganache on top if desired.
Other garnish ideas: crush candy canes in a large zip bag and press them into the sides of the cake. Melt white chocolate, then drizzle it onto waxed paper to form trees. When hardened, place trees on top of cake.
Serve cake at room temperature or chilled.

Notes

For white chocolate ganache, pour 1 cup white chocolate chips into a heat-proof bowl. In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup heavy cream until steaming (but not boiling). Pour cream over white chocolate and stir until melted. Refrigerate ganache until needed.

Peppermint Cake with Buttercream Frosting and White Chocolate Ganache

Ways to Take a Cake Over the Top

-Coat the sides with crushed candy canes, crushed cookies, or sugar sprinkles

-Create chocolate flourishes, trees, or snowflakes using chocolate or white chocolate

-Serve the cake on a beautiful cake plate

-Drizzle ganache over the cake before serving

-Add a special garnish such as fresh raspberries or sugared cranberries

I chose to garnish my cake with crushed candy canes along the sides, white chocolate ganache in between the layers and on the top, and white chocolate trees on the top to give it a beautiful presentation!

This cake has a delicious homemade taste despite starting from a box mix and being so simple to throw together. Combined with the beautiful garnishes, it’s the perfect recipe for holiday entertaining!