Food & Cooking Recipes Dessert & Treats Recipes Cake Recipes Easy Chocolate-Peppermint Cake 3.8 (10) 20 Reviews By Martha Stewart Test Kitchen Martha Stewart Test Kitchen The recipes developed by our test kitchen team have undergone a rigorous process of development and testing, ensuring that every element is optimal, from ingredient amounts to method and cooking time. This process includes triple-testing recipes to ensure they meet our high standards. The many stellar cooks and food editors who have been part of our team include Sarah Carey, Lucinda Scala Quinn, Jennifer Aaronson, Shira Bocar, Anna Kovel, Greg Lofts, Riley Wofford, Lauren Tyrell, and Lindsay Leopold. Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 14, 2021 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Yunhee Kim Prep Time: 30 mins Total Time: 3 hrs Servings: 10 Peppermint-flavored icing gives this easy chocolate cake a seasonal flavor. Ingredients ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, plus more for pan 1 cup all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon baking powder 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped 1 ¼ cups sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 large eggs ½ cup low-fat buttermilk Chocolate Icing for Easy Chocolate-Peppermint Cake Whipped Cream, for serving (optional) Chocolate shavings or crushed peppermint candies, for serving (optional) Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour an 8-inch round cake pan; line bottom with parchment or waxed paper. Whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 inches water to a boil. Place butter and chocolate in a large heatproof bowl; set over (not in) water. Turn off heat; let stand until melted, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir to combine. Remove bowl; cool 5 minutes. Whisk in sugar and vanilla, then eggs and buttermilk until combined. Fold in flour mixture until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until cake pulls away from sides and a toothpick inserted in center has a few moist crumbs clinging to it, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Run a knife around edge of cake; invert onto a wire rack (and leave inverted) to cool completely, about 1 hour. Set cake on a serving platter. Tuck parchment or waxed paper under sides of cake. Pour chocolate icing onto center of cake and spread evenly over top and sides. Let set, about 40 minutes. Serve cake with whipped cream and chocolate shavings or peppermint candies, if desired. Cook's Notes To help the cake sit level, place the bottom of an empty baking pan on top of the inverted cake as it cools, and gently push down to flatten underside. Rate it Print