Fudge Peppermint Vodka Cake is the most decadently dense, flourless fudge cake, covered with with Peppermint vodka icing and crushed candy canes. Wow! Talk about a holiday sweet treat!
Fudge Peppermint Vodka Cake
This flourless fudge cake recipe, with peppermint vodka icing and crushed candy canes is the ultimate holiday dessert.
An easy 6-ingredient cake with a 3-ingredient icing for a gazillion compliments, sounds like the best dessert to make for the holidays or special occasions!
I promise you this cake is so easy to make, even your tweens will ask to make it for you; just substitute the peppermint vodka for peppermint extract in the icing. Shhhh, make a separate cake with peppermint vodka icing for the adults though!
Adult Peppermint Vodka Cocktail
Speaking of peppermint vodka icing for adults; if you love this cake, you are sure to want a fabulous fireside Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cocktail!
Flourless Fudge Cake
Who needs flour in their chocolate cake! When there are lots of eggs (think macarons), to rise and hold this cake together, and lots and lots of chocolate… well, I say forget the flour!
Flour has a new definition from the all-purpose flour a decade ago. Flour can be ground oats, or nuts or even seeds.
Flour aids as a binder in baking, to make yummy flavors all stick together and be fluffy. Eggs, especially when they have been separated, egg whites whipped to fluffy perfection and yolks for lots of fat and flavor, who needs flour!
Peppermint and Fudge
How did mint and chocolate together, ever become a ‘thing’? Well, first of all, did you know that mint chocolate chip ice cream is one of the 10 most popular ice cream flavors?
Yep! The darker the chocolate, ie less sweet chocolate and more bitter, makes room for the sweetness to come from other ingredients.
Then, add to that dark earthy chocolate flavor, the light bright, refreshing flavor of mint, and you have the perfect marriage of flavors.
Fudge and Fudge Cake
Fudge, fudge, fudge, fudge, fudge! What is fudge anyway, other than lots and lots of chocolate with something to bind it together. How does fudge differ from cake, you might ask?
A chocolate cake usually uses flour and a rising agent whereas fudge is often thought to be a candy. Fudge relies on butter and cream, or milk without rising agents and bakes to a dense chocolate candy.
A fudge cake is unique, in that it is not a candy, though lots of chocolate goes into it. A fudge cake is flourless, and relies on lots of fluffy eggs to create that luscious cross between a candy and a cake.
Fudge cake is so scrumptious and decadent that it really does not need an icing. It is perfect all by itself. Only problem is, it doesn’t look ‘showcase’ gorgeous.
Its beauty is on the inside and doesn’t rely on fancy coverings and decorations to catch your attention.
Peppermint Vodka Cake
Peppermint and Chocolate. What a contrast in flavors. Chocolate is deep, dark, almost earthy and doesn’t need words, while mint is light, bright and full of chatter! Put these two together and you totally have a party in your mouth!
While candy canes were originally an all white candy stick of mint and sugar, it caught on fast to make them red and white stripes.
This color combo caught on fast, which everyone now knows, have become the colors that most often depict the colors of Christmas.
I’m sure mint has nothing to do with the season of Christmas but it sure tastes refreshing and would almost make you think it’s healthy too!
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Flourless chocolate cake, at first bite, would make you think you are eating fudge, but I assure you, flourless chocolate cake is way better than fudge. Why?
Fudge is sooooo sweet, and heavily laden with chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate, held together with sweetened condensed milk… more sugar!
Flourless chocolate cake is a beautiful blend of chocolate, both melted chocolate and raw cacao, but it’s held together with EGGS!
Lots and lots of eggs, 5 whole eggs, to be exact! THAT is why this flourless chocolate cake recipe is so darn delicious.
I have another reason why flourless chocolate cake is the cake of choice, wanna know what it is? With so many folks practicing a gluten-free diet, this is one cake that gluten-free folks won’t have to say ‘no’ to. You’re welcome!
Oh, and while we’re on the subject of flourless cakes, let me (real quick), share another glorious flourless cake with you!
Flourless Almond Orange Cake may not look like a holiday cake but when January health focus returns, this cake is perfect! This beauty is made with crushed almonds, lots of eggs and several entire oranges, peels and all!
Peppermint Vodka
Oh my! Vodka, as we know, has very little flavor on its own, so it makes for the perfect alcohol to fuse any favorite flavor with.
Peppermint Vodka is such a refreshing alcohol to sip on over ice, or add to any of your favorite peppermint flavored recipes.
Peppermint Vodka Icing vs No Icing
We all know the 2 main ingredients in most cake icings is butter and confectionary sugar. Pour in a full miniature of Peppermint Vodka into that butter mixture, and you will be lucky to get it on the cake! It’s good enough to eat right out of the bowl as a dessert all by itself!
Now you’re talking! Dark, earthy rich flourless chocolate cake with a schmear of candy cane peppermint vodka icing looks and tastes as though it could very well be the favorite dessert of Santa’s Elves. Of course, we will never know because the elves never leave the North Pole and their busy work shop, but I’d bet money on it!
Holiday Fudge Cake Recipe With Peppermint Vodka Icing
While this sounds like a whimsical adult holiday dessert, I did make this cake for MY DECEMBER BIRTHDAY!
I made a fancy dinner and then served this cake on a more elegant dessert plate. I can assure you that it was as delicious as it was pretty!
Ingredients Needed
- Butter
- Cream
- Chocolate chips or squares
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Cacao
- Confectionary sugar
- Peppermint Vodka
- Candy Canes
Equipment Needed
- Saucepan
- Stovetop or burner
- Hand mixer and a mixing bowl or Standup mixer
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Spring-form pan
- Wooden spoon
- Icing knife – to spread
- Oven
Fudge Peppermint Vodka Cake
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- Butter – 2 sticks
- Cream – 1/4 cup
- Chocolate chips or squares – 8 oz.
- Eggs – 5
- Sugar – 1 cup
- Cacao – 1/4 cup
Icing Ingredients
- Butter – 1 stick, soft
- Confectionary sugar – 2 cups
- Peppermint Vodka – 1 miniature bottle, about 1.5 oz. (or just use peppermint extract and omit the vodka if the cake is for those not wanting alcohol)
- Candy Canes – 1/4 cup, crushed (optional)
Instructions
Cake Preparation
- Place the butter, cream and chocolate squares in a pan on top the stove, melt completely and cool completely.
- Whisk the eggs, sugar and cacao in a bowl until light and creamy. Slowly pour the melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture.
- Preheat the oven to 350. Butter the inside of a 9-inch spring-form pan. Dust a little cacao around the pan. Pour the batter inside the prepared pan. Bake for about 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cook cake completely before icing.
Icing Preparation
- Whip the butter, sugar and vodka together to form a creamy icing. Spread across the cooled cake and sprinkle crushed candy canes or other sprinkles of choice.
Notes
Nutrition
I believe the table... that place that draws people to gather, is the most powerful symbol of togetherness. All that happens before the table is set, the planning, the gathering, the preparing, are all an intricate part of the dance that create the mood of celebration to share with friends and loved ones.
