Name: Chocolate Peppermint Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: Cake
Ingredients: 1 cup butter, plus additional for greasing pan, divided; 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, plus additional for dusting pan, divided; 1 cup water; 2 1/4 cups sugar; 1 teaspoon peppermint extract; 3 eggs; 2 cups flour; 3/4 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 cup buttermilk; 1 cup California Walnut halves and pieces; 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips; 3 tablespoons butter; 2 tablespoons milk; 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract; 1/2 cup coarsely chopped California Walnuts; 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy

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Chocolate Peppermint Cake bakes a rich cocoa batter and peppermint with walnuts, then finishes with a smooth peppermint chocolate glaze and festive toppings.

This chocolate peppermint Cake Recipe combines deep cocoa flatvor with refreshing peppermint and a glossy glaze, creating a bakery-style Bundt cake at home.

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Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Peppermint Cake
What Goes With Chocolate Peppermint Cake
Chocolate Peppermint Cake Recipe
More Peppermint Recipes

Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Peppermint Cake

Chocolate Peppermint Cake delivers rich chocolate layers, cool peppermint flavor and a decadent finish that feels both festive and indulgent.

Rich chocolate base: Cocoa, butter and sugar create a moist, deeply flavored cake with a soft crumb.
Refreshing peppermint twist: Peppermint extract adds a cool contrast that balances the richness.
Decadent truffle glaze: Melted chocolate, butter and milk create a smooth, glossy topping.
Crunchy topping contrast: Walnuts and crushed peppermint add texture and visual appeal.

Chocolate Peppermint Cake delivers bold chocolate flavor, refreshing mint and a rich, glossy finish in every slice.

What Goes With Chocolate Peppermint Cake

This rich, chocolatey cake pairs well with simple additions that balance its sweetness and enhance the peppermint flavor:

Vanilla ice cream: Adds a creamy, cool contrast that complements the chocolate and mint combination beautifully.
Whipped cream: A light topping that softens the richness of the cake while enhancing its texture.
Hot coffee or espresso: Balances the sweetness and highlights the deep cocoa flavor.
Hot chocolate or peppermint mocha: Reinforces the chocolate and mint flavors for a cozy pairing.
Fresh berries: Adds brightness and a slight tartness to balance the richness.

Chocolate Peppermint Cake is perfect for holidays, gatherings or special desserts.

These pairings make Chocolate Peppermint Cake perfect for holidays, gatherings or special desserts.

Chocolate Peppermint Cake Recipe

Chocolate Peppermint Cake bakes rich chocolate flavor with a cool hint of peppermint, then finishes with a smooth truffle glaze and crunchy walnut topping for a festive dessert.

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 50–60 minutes
Total time: About 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 10–12

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

To prepare Chocolate Peppermint Cake, you’ll need the following kitchen tools:

Measuring Cups and Spoons: For accurately measuring cocoa, flour, sugar and other ingredients.
Small Saucepan: To melt butter, cocoa and water smoothly.
Mixing Bowls: To combine wet and dry ingredients separately.
Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer: To mix the batter until smooth and fluffy.
Spatula: To fold in walnuts and scrape the bowl.
Bundt Pan: To bake the cake evenly and create a decorative shape.
Cooling Rack: To cool the cake before glazing.
Small Saucepan or Microwave-Safe Bowl: To melt the glaze ingredients.

These tools make it easy to create a moist chocolate peppermint cake with a smooth truffle glaze, crunchy walnut topping and festive peppermint finish every time.

Chocolate Peppermint Cake bakes rich chocolate flavor with a cool hint of peppermint, then finishes with a smooth truffle glaze and crunchy walnut topping for a festive dessert.

Ingredients

These ingredients come together to create a rich chocolate cake with peppermint glaze.

Cake

Butter
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Water
Sugar
Peppermint extract
Eggs
Flour
Baking powder
Salt
Baking soda
Buttermilk
California walnuts

Chocolate peppermint truffle glaze

Dark chocolate chips
Butter
Milk
Peppermint extract

Toppings

California walnuts
Crushed peppermint candy

How To Make Chocolate Peppermint Cake

Preheat the oven to 350°F, then butter a Bundt pan and dust with cocoa powder.

In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter, cocoa powder and water, whisking until smooth, then let cool.

Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and beat in the sugar, peppermint extract and eggs.

In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda.

Add the dry ingredients to the chocolate mixture in batches, alternating with buttermilk, mixing until just combined.

Fold in the walnuts.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 50–60 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool the cake, then invert onto a serving plate.

Melt the chocolate chips, butter, milk and peppermint extract until smooth, then let cool slightly.

Drizzle the glaze over the cake and top with chopped walnuts and crushed peppermint candy before serving.

More Peppermint Recipes

Explore more peppermint recipes that bring cool, refreshing flavor to festive treats and desserts.

Peppermint House is a fun twist on how to use peppermints!

For more mouth-watering cake ideas!

The Perfect Cake: Your Ultimate Guide to Classic, Modern, and Whimsical Cakes Cake Decorating for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to Decorating Like a Pro Martha Stewart’s Cake Perfection: 100+ Recipes for the Sweet Classic, from Simple to Stunning: A Baking Book The Great British Baking Show: The Big Book of Amazing Cakes

Chocolate Peppermint Cake

Yield: 10-12

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Chocolate Peppermint Cake bakes rich chocolate flavor with a cool hint of peppermint, then finishes with a smooth truffle glaze and crunchy walnut topping for a festive dessert.

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Ingredients

Cake:

1 cup butter, plus additional for greasing pan, divided
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, plus additional for dusting pan, divided
1 cup water
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
3 eggs
2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup California Walnut halves and pieces

Chocolate Peppermint Truffle Glaze:

1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

Toppings:

1/2 cup coarsely chopped California Walnuts
1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F, then butter a Bundt pan and dust with cocoa powder.
In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter, cocoa powder and water, whisking until smooth, then let cool.
Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and beat in the sugar, peppermint extract and eggs.
In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda.
Add the dry ingredients to the chocolate mixture in batches, alternating with buttermilk, mixing until just combined.
Fold in the walnuts.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 50–60 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool the cake, then invert onto a serving plate.
Melt the chocolate chips, butter, milk and peppermint extract until smooth, then let cool slightly.
Drizzle the glaze over the cake and top with chopped walnuts and crushed peppermint candy before serving.