Shelly's Recipe

OLD-FASHIONED CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE WITH PEPPERMINT DRIZZLE

Category: Cakes

Vegetable oil spray, for misting the pan
1 tablespoon rice flour or unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting the pan
1 package (15 ounces) yellow cake mix
1/4 cup (half of a 3.9-ounce package) chocolate instant pudding mix
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted
3 ounces Andes mints, chopped (18 mints, 2/3 cup chopped)
For the peppermint drizzle and garnish
1 cup confectioners sugar, sifted
3 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
2 or 3 gluten-free peppermint hard candies, coarsely crushed

Bake the cake: Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350. Lightly mist a 12-cup Bundt pan with vegetable oil spray. Dust the pan with the rice flour or cocoa and shake out the excess. Set the pan aside.

Place the cake mix, pudding mix, milk, oil, eggs, vanilla, and melted chocolate in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are just incorporated, 30 seconds. Stop the machine and scrape down the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat the batter until smooth, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes longer, scraping down the side of the bowl again if needed. Fold in the chopped Andes mints. Pour the batter into the prepared Bundt pan, smoothing the top with the rubber spatula, and place the pan in the oven.

Bake the cake until the top springs back when lightly pressed with a finger, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer the Bundt pan to a wire rack and let the cake cool for 10 minutes. Run a long, sharp knife around the edge of the cake, shake the pan gently, and invert the cake onto a wire rack to cool completely, 15 to 20 minutes longer.

Meanwhile, make the peppermint drizzle: Place the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl and whisk in the milk and peppermint extract until smooth. Transfer the cake to a serving plate. Spoon the glaze over the cooled cake and, while the glaze is still wet sprinkle the crushed peppermints over the top. Let the drizzle set for 20 minutes, before slicing and serving.

Notes: Store the cake in a cake saver at room temperature for up to three days. Freeze the unglazed cake, wrapped in aluminum foil, for up to one month. Let the cake thaw overnight on the kitchen counter before glazing.