Rudolph’s Delight Cake

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

½ cup brown sugar, packed

¾ cup cocoa powder

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

3 large eggs

1 cup buttermilk

½ cup vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

For the Frosting:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

3 ½ cups powdered sugar

½ cup cocoa powder

2 tsp vanilla extract

3 tbsp milk (more if needed)

For Decoration:

Red candy (such as a red jellybean or M&M for Rudolph’s nose)

Mini pretzels (for antlers)

Black icing or chocolate chips (for the eyes)

White fondant (for eyes, optional)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Cake:

Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.

Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together until fully combined.

Add wet ingredients: Add the eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix until smooth.

Incorporate boiling water: Slowly add the boiling water into the batter, stirring until well combined. The batter will be thin, but that's okay!

Bake: Divide the batter evenly between the two cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

2. Make the Frosting:

Cream the butter: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy and smooth.

Add dry ingredients: Gradually add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, one cup at a time, while continuing to beat the mixture.

Add vanilla and milk: Stir in the vanilla extract and milk. Beat the frosting until it's smooth and fluffy. Add more milk if necessary to achieve a spreadable consistency.

3. Assemble the Cake:

Frost the cake: Once the cakes have cooled, place one layer of the cake on a serving plate. Spread a generous amount of frosting over the top. Place the second cake layer on top and frost the entire cake with the chocolate frosting.

4. Decorate the Cake:

Make Rudolph’s face: To create Rudolph’s face, place the red candy (such as an M&M or jellybean) in the center of the cake for the nose.

Add the eyes: Use black icing or chocolate chips to create Rudolph’s eyes. You can also roll small pieces of white fondant into circles and place them under the chocolate chips for an extra touch of detail.

Add the antlers: Attach mini pretzels to the top of the cake to form Rudolph’s antlers.

5. Serve and Enjoy:

Celebrate: Serve this delightful cake to your guests and enjoy the smiles!

Enjoy Rudolph’s Delight Cake!

This cute and delicious cake is perfect for any holiday gathering, spreading holiday cheer and adding a fun festive touch to your dessert