Peppermint White Chocolate Cake
A winter wonderland is born with a moist white chocolate cake that’s layered in a cool peppermint whipped frosting and topped with peppermint meringue cookies.
YES, I am bringing you another peppermint and white chocolate creation!! This peppermint white chocolate cake is a holiday beauty that you will love regardless if you are a peppermint fan or not. It’s made of a moist white chocolate cake with a hint of peppermint and layered in a cool peppermint whipped frosting to give you a slice of magic. Yup, magic! That’s what it felt like when enjoying a slice of this cake.
I think I’ve probably turned you guys off on the peppermint by now (I hope not!!). The hubs and I were talking about holiday baking the other day and he pointed out that I have ignored gingerbread!!! So so true. Maybe I was just very determined not to run out of time with peppermint that gingerbread slipped through the cracks. Last year I was all about the gingerbread if you remember from this gingerbread cake with molasses buttercream and these gingerbread cookies! They were both the highlights of my 2013 baking season and I think, looking back I need some more gingerbread in my life.
As soon as I am done eating this white chocolate peppermint cake ☺
What are some of your favorite gingerbread holiday recipes? Inspire me please!!
Peppermint White Chocolate Cake
A winter wonderland is born with a moist white chocolate cake that's layered in a cool peppermint whipped frosting and topped with peppermint meringue cookies.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 4 cups cake flour, sifted
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 cups buttermilk, at room temperature
- ½ cup white chocolate chunks, chopped
For the Frosting:
- 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ cup white chocolate, melted
Instructions
To make Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour three 9-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment and grease parchment.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add in eggs, one at a time, and mix until combined. Beat in vanilla and peppermint extract. Add ⅓ of the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Add half of the buttermilk then ½ of the remaining flour, then the rest of the milk and the rest of the flour, beating well after each addition. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the white chocolate into the batter until well combined.
- Divide the batter evenly into the prepared baking pans. Bake cakes until the center springs back when touched and a tester comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes.
- Let cakes cool in pan for at least 10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack. Let cool completely before frosting.
To make Frosting:
- Whip butter for 6 minutes on medium speed using the paddle attachment of an electric mixer. The butter will become pale and creamy.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and mix on low speed for 1 minute. Then increase speed to medium and mix for 6 minutes until the frosting is very light, creamy and fluffy. (Optional: color a cup of the frosting with one or two drops of pink food coloring. Use this to fill the cake).
To Assemble:
- Level cakes before frosting if needed.
- Place one layer of cooled cake on a cake plate. Spread about ½ cup of frosting on top of the first layer. Place another cake layer on top of frosting. Top with more frosting and spread evenly. Finally top with the last cake later. Spread frosting over the top and sides of the cake. Smooth frosting and decorate as desired.
- Top cake with peppermint meringue cookies.
- Store leftovers at room temperature for 2-3 days.
For more peppermint recipes, check these out:
Peppermint White Chocolate Cookies
Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous! I totally prefer peppermint to gingerbread so if you want, you can keep on peppermint-ing! But I would never say no to gingerbread either. 😛
Hahha I plan to 🙂
Well you know how I feel about peppermint and white chocolate. So this is a total win for me! Gorgeous, Zainab!
I do!! We are soul mates there 🙂
Such a gorgeous cake! I never get tired of peppermint! Keep it coming!
This cake looks so amazing and festive as well. Peppermint + white chocolate = winner
AGreed!!
I am never turned off by peppermint! Gorgeous cake! You never fail to impress me but this one is stunning. Love the peppermint flavors!
Thanks Ashley!!
Wow, what a gorgeous cake! Can’t wait to see what gingerbread treats you come up with too!
I will have two next week 🙂
I am sooo glad you have NOT stopped doing the peppermint love. I am not turned off one bit. I am adoring this cake so much!
Yay!!
Zainab, you are posting to the ultimate peppermint fan right here… That cake is gorgeous!!
Let’s unite Lexi!!
I will totally take peppermint over gingerbread. It’s not that I don’t like gingerbread, but I love mint ALL year round! Especially with chocolate! This cake is a stunner!
Hahha me too 🙂
Zainab, you are KILLING me here with awesome! This is seriously the most gorgeous cake and it has all my favorite things–white chocolate and peppermint.
I knew you would approve of this!!
Beautiful cake! I love peppermint too, and Christmas cake-making is my favorite kind of cake-making. I love the little snowflake sprinkles you put on top of each meringue kiss!
You are right, Christmas cake-making is the best of all!!
This cake is STUNNING and soooo Christmas-y!!!
Thanks dear!!
oh man how cute are those little swirls of frosting, this cake is too yummy to handle Zainab 🙂
Thanks Emily!
You could never turn me off to peppermint! I absolutely love it especially at this time of year. I can just picture this cake as a centerpiece to the table at a holiday party. It’s absolutely gorgeous! Love the pink frosting in between the layers 🙂
It will be a great centerpiece!!
Girl, this cake is GORGEOUS!!!! My jaw dropped when I first saw the photo. Those layers of red frosting in the middle is the perfect touch. My favorite recipe in the gingerbread family would probably have to be ginger molasses cookies that are super duper soft.
Thank you Lisa!! I will have to make ginger molasses cookies 🙂
This cake looks incredible! I love peppermint and white chocolate together and the presentation is beyond beautiful! Pinned!
Thanks Amanda!
YUM. I’m cool with skipping over gingerbread (which I also love) entirely if it means I can have an extra slice of this cake. 😉
Always an extra slice!!
This cake is like a peppermint-y winter wonderland! It’s a work of art and looks so amazing!
It is winter-y wonderland indeed 🙂
im a big peppermint white chocolate person so this looks heavenly… i will take gingerbread too though.
I’m doing some gingerbread this weekend!!
I think you’re the one doing the inspiring with this cake! Your frosting job is gorgeous! Can you please do my cakes for me?? I love this peppermint and white chocolate combo, it is not only delicious, but has amazing presentation. Girl, seriously, open a bakery. And ps I’m ok with more cake, less gingerbread 😉 Pinning!
Hahhah thanks Mary Frances!! You flatter me always 🙂
This cake is absolutely stunning!!! I love everything about it! Peppermint and white chocolate are my favorite especially around this time of year so I am loving all these recipes!
Thanks Kelly!
Ohh my goodness this looks divine! No way can you over do peppermint! I just made a gingerbread loaf! My first gingerbread thing this season.
Can’t wait for the loaf!!
I’m so NOT turned off by the peppermint!!! LOVE this white chocolate peppermint cake!!! so pretty, Z!!!
Thanks Alice!
You make such beautiful cakes! I almost don’t care what the flavors are, it’s so darn pretty! But I do actually care and I LOVE white chocolate w/ peppermint. This cake is amazing!
Hhahah you do care 🙂 Thanks Sarah!
Wow, what a stunning cake! I adore those little red and white swirls on top, they look so pretty. And this cake sounds SO delicious! I’m a huge fan of white chocolate + peppermint, so yummy. Pinned!
Thanks Rachel!! I know you love peppermint and white chocolate as I have been following your holiday recipes.
This cake exemplifies all that is Christmas, what a beauty! Your frosting job is impeccable 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks Uru!
what a pretty cake 🙂
Zainab, you never fail to surprise me! What a beautiful, beautiful cake. You outdid yourself. That little pop of pink really makes this extra special! ^_^
xo,
Tammy<3
Thank you Tammy!!
This is a gorgeous cake Zainab and those peppermint meringue cookies look so good.
Thanks!!
Z, you are killing me with the cakes. Seriously. One of these days I will have to brave a layer cake (for which my kids would seriously love me)
YOU HAVE TO BINTU!! The holiday season is the perfect time!!
This cake looks beautiful!! Gingerbread is great but peppermint is also a star holiday ingredient. Also though your gingerbread cake also sounds soo delicious!!
Thanks Karishma!
I’m a huge fan of white chocolate and peppermint, and this looks absolutely stunning! But when you fold in the white chocolate chunks, do they remain intact after baking as well? Or do they sort of *melt* into the batter? From your pics, I can’t really detect any visible chunks (but the lighting may have something to do with this) so I’m kind of curious if the cake has any white chocolate chunks scattered within or it if has an overall subtle white chocolate flavor…thanks so much for this gorgeous recipe!
That is a gorgeous cake and looks absolutely scrumptious! I love peppermint. I have to tell you I made your gingerbread molasses cake for the 8th time. My family loves it and requests it whenever we have family get togethers. I will be trying your peppermint cake now! Thank you for sharing your fabulous recipes with us!
This is an amazing cake!!
My mouth is watering, and I happen to loooooooooooove white chocolate
Worthy of a French bakery, showcased at the window!
beautiful cake, perfect for the holiday season!
so festive and cute!
Oh wow! that looks so good and so pretty!
Amazing!
This cake is a winter beauty! I love the white with the little pops of red. I feel like I’ve done the opposite of you, haha. All gingerbread and no peppermint recipes. Maybe I can sneak one in before Christmas! 🙂
Uhm, I vote on starting a food blogger cake swap… and I demand (request, respectfully hope…) that I get this cake! It’s beyond stunning!!!
How did u frost those tops in two different shades swirled together?
I put in a drop of red food gel coloring in my pipping bag before putting the frosting in there. Hope that helps!
Peppermint Hooray! Love this cake. Love how simple it is but sometimes I like to put a few or more decorations to make it more appealing to my niece and nephews. Thank you for this recipe and hope you will get inspired soon so that we can expect more recipes from you.
Made this yesterday as a Christmas. Although I didn’t have 3 tins I ended up using two tins, reducing the temperature and increasing the time. Turned out lovely. Thanks for the recipe
So glad to hear you loved the recipe!