Ingredients

This time-saving recipe starts with a chocolate cake mix but produces a loaf you’d be proud to give and happy to receive. The addition of pudding mix and sour cream help create a moist and rich cake and the peppermint makes it perfect for the holidays.

ingredients

For Cake:

1 box (16.5 ounces) devil’s food cake mix

1 box (3.5 ounces) chocolate instant pudding mix

1/2 cup sour cream

3/4 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

1/2 cup water

1/3 cup milk

2 teaspoons peppermint extract

1 1/2 cups (9 ounces) mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

For Topping:

1/3 cup powdered sugar

1 1/4 teaspoons water

12 to 16 peppermint candies, chopped

Preparation

directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (325 degrees F for dark or nonstick pans and 2-3 minute longer baking times). Grease and lightly flour mini loaf pans. For Cake: In a large bowl, blend together mixes, sour cream, oil, eggs, water, milk and extract at low speed for 30 seconds. Continue mixing at medium speed for 1-2 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into pans and bake for 30-35 minutes for mini loaves (40-50 minutes for full-sized loaf) or until top springs back to touch and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely before removing from pan. For Topping: In a small bowl, stir together sugar and 1 teaspoon water. Add a few drops of water at a time to reach desired consistency. Drizzle over cooled cakes and top with candy pieces. Tip: Mini chocolate chips will distribute throughout the cake and create a more uniform chocolaty texture. If using regular chocolate chips, toss them with a teaspoon of flour before incorporating to help keep them from sinking to the bottom of the pan.