Ever since I made my first Rainbow Cake, I've been inspired to try other creations using the same simple vanilla cake recipe (Marbled Rainbow Cake, Green Layer Cake and the Neapolitan Cake to name a few).

For this Chocolate & Peppermint Cake, I doubled the vanilla cake recipe (link below) and once mixed together I separated the mixture evenly into three bowls.  I combined two of the bowls and added a few tablespoons of cocoa to make my chocolate cake batter, and to the remaining batter I added a couple of drops of peppermint oil (essence would be fine as well).  If I had had green food colouring in the house I would have added that as well (I bought that the next day to make the icing!).  I halved the chocolate batter again to bake in two separate cake tins and then baked the peppermint layer.

For the icing, I made normal butter icing, adding peppermint oil and green food colouring.  I did a thick crumb coat with this and also added it in between each layer while assembling.  The chocolate icing was made with no recipe in mind - I just melted dark chocolate and mixed it with some butter icing until it was at a good consistency.  Once the cake was covered in the final coating of chocolate icing, I drizzled melted dark chocolate mixed with a bit of oil over the top.

The taste of peppermint was super strong with this cake - but a thin slither was delicious!!

Go here to find the basic Vanilla Cake recipe I use (take out the coconut).

I dare you to dream up a delicious cake and have a go at making it.

For more delicious recipes visit here.