Everyone will love this beautiful, moist holiday cake even if they're not candy cane lovers. The crushed candy melts into the batter and provides pockets of liquid flavor that just melt in your mouth.
Cake:
1 T. vanilla
1/4 t. salt
2/3 c. crushed candy canes, divided, 1/3 c. with the batter, 1/3 c. sprinkled and swirled on top
1 1/4 c. whole milk
1 1/2 c. granulated sugar
3/4 c. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 c. sour cream, heaping (or whole milk yogurt)
6 egg whites
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
4 t. baking powder
Buttercream:
3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 lb. powdered sugar, sifted
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. peppermint extract
1/4 c. milk
Cake:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place parchment paper in a 9x13 inch cake pan.
In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter; mix in sugar; add vanilla and salt; mix until creamy.
In another bowl, whisk milk and sour cream together.
In a separate bowl, sift flour and baking powder together.
Add egg whites to the stand mixer; mix on medium until combined. Alternate adding milk mixture and dry mixture; mix until batter is fully combined.
Fold in 1/3 c. crushed candy canes. DO NOT overmix.
Pour cake batter into the prepared sheet pan. Sprinkle 1/3 c. crushed candy canes into the batter. Swirl with a knife or a spatula.
Bake for about 30 minutes or until cake is springy in the middle.
Let cool.
Frosting:
Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter. Add the sifted sugar on low speed. Slowly pour in milk, peppermint extract and vanilla. Beat until combined and fluffy.
Assembly:
Use an ice cream scoop to evenly distribute the frosting on the cake. Smooth out with an offset spatula. Sprinkle on crushed candy canes. (If the texture of candy canes bothers you, then onit them in the buttercream.)
Serve.
15 servings.
* Tip: If there are little clumps of butter after mixing the wet ingredients don’t panic, it all works out by the time the dry ingredients are mixed in.
**Any flavor/kind of candy canes can be used, so don't limit them to the red and white variety.