Peyton's Momma™

Minnesota based Family Lifestyle blog. Mother Daughter duo take on food, travel, and more.

Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake

Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake

Rich chocolate cake and cool peppermint are one of the best flavor combinations of the holiday season, and this Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake brings them together in one beautiful dessert. It’s incredibly moist thanks to chocolate pudding and sour cream, loaded with chocolate chips, and finished with a creamy cream cheese frosting topped with crushed candy canes.

If you’ve ever been intimidated by making a decorated cake, bundt cakes are a fantastic place to start. The decorative pan does most of the work for you, creating a bakery-worthy dessert with very little effort. Even beginner bakers can make an impressive cake that’s perfect for Christmas parties, family dinners, cookie exchanges, and holiday dessert tables.

This recipe starts with a boxed cake mix, making it simple enough for busy holiday schedules while still tasting completely homemade.

Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake

  • Rich, moist chocolate cake
  • Easy shortcut recipe
  • Creamy peppermint cream cheese frosting
  • Loaded with chocolate chips
  • Beautiful holiday presentation
  • Perfect for Christmas gatherings
  • Beginner-friendly baking recipe
  • Great make-ahead dessert

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1 box chocolate cake mix
  • 1 (3.9-ounce) box instant chocolate pudding mix
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 4 large eggs
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1½ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping

  • 3 candy canes, crushed

Ingredient Notes

Chocolate Cake Mix

A boxed mix keeps this recipe simple while creating a soft, moist cake.

Chocolate Pudding Mix

Instant pudding adds incredible moisture and gives the cake a bakery-quality texture.

Sour Cream

Sour cream makes every slice rich, tender, and flavorful.

Peppermint Extract

A small amount adds refreshing peppermint flavor without overwhelming the chocolate.

How to Make Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake

Step 1: Prepare the Pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Move the oven rack to the center position.

Grease and flour a bundt pan thoroughly or use baking spray with flour.

Step 2: Mix the Batter

In a large mixing bowl, combine:

  • Chocolate cake mix
  • Chocolate pudding mix
  • Sour cream
  • Eggs
  • Water
  • Vegetable oil
  • Peppermint extract

Mix until smooth.

Fold in the chocolate chips.

Step 3: Bake

Pour the batter evenly into the prepared bundt pan.

Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 20 minutes.

Invert onto a wire rack and cool completely.

For the cleanest frosting, wrap the cooled cake and let it rest overnight before decorating.

Step 4: Make the Frosting

Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.

Add the vanilla extract.

Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until light and fluffy.

Step 5: Decorate

Transfer the frosting to a piping bag.

Pipe decorative swirls around the top of the bundt cake.

Sprinkle generously with crushed candy canes.

Slice and serve.

Tips for the Perfect Bundt Cake

  • Thoroughly grease every detail of the bundt pan.
  • Let the cake cool before removing it from the pan.
  • Don’t overmix the batter.
  • Frost only after the cake has completely cooled.
  • Let the cake rest overnight for the easiest decorating.

Variations

White Chocolate Peppermint

Drizzle melted white chocolate over the frosting.

Chocolate Peppermint Mocha

Add 1 teaspoon espresso powder to the batter.

Peppermint Bark Cake

Top with chopped peppermint bark pieces.

Holiday Sprinkle Cake

Decorate with festive red, white, and green sprinkles.

Mini Bundt Cakes

Use the same batter to make mini bundt cakes or bundtlettes for parties.

Storage

Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Let slices sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving.

Freeze the unfrosted cake for up to 3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! In fact, it decorates even better after resting overnight.

Why use pudding mix?

Pudding mix helps create an incredibly moist, tender cake.

Can I use homemade chocolate cake batter?

Absolutely.

Can I freeze the cake?

Yes. Freeze it before frosting, then thaw and decorate before serving.

What ice cream pairs well with this cake?

Vanilla, peppermint, chocolate, or cookies-and-cream ice cream all pair beautifully.

Serving Ideas

Serve this cake with:

  • Peppermint ice cream
  • Vanilla ice cream
  • Hot chocolate
  • Coffee
  • Homemade whipped cream
  • Fresh strawberries

This Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake is an easy yet impressive dessert that’s perfect for celebrating the holiday season. The moist chocolate cake, creamy frosting, and refreshing peppermint topping create a classic Christmas flavor combination that’s always a crowd favorite.

Whether you’re baking for a holiday dinner, office party, cookie exchange, or simply treating your family to something special, this bundt cake is guaranteed to become a seasonal tradition. And if you’re serving a crowd, don’t forget—you can also use this recipe to make adorable mini bundt cakes for individual desserts.

Check out our other bundt cake recipes for more ideas.

Print Pin

Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword Bundt Cake, Chocolate Bundt Cake, Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Peppermint, Peppermint Bath Bomb, Peppermint Bundt Cake

Ingredients

Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake

  • 1 box Chocolate Cake Mix
  • 1 box Instant Chocolate Pudding, 3.9 ounce pkg
  • 1 c Sour Cream
  • 4 large Eggs
  • 1/2 C Water
  • 1/2 C Vegetable Oil
  • 1/4 tsp Peppermint Extract
  • 1 1/2 C Chocolate Chips

Frosting

  • 8 ounces Cream Cheese, room temp
  • 1/4 C Butter, room temp
  • 1 1/2 C Powdered Sugar
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 3 Candy Canes, crushed

Instructions

  • First, prep your bundt pan with Crisco and flour or you can use the Pam baking spray with flour. 
    Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and move the rack to the middle. 
    In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, pudding, sour cream, eggs, water, vegetable oil, and peppermint extract until smooth. 
    Fold in the chocolate chips. 
    Pour the cake batter into the bundt pan making sure to get it evenly throughout the whole pan. 
    Place in your preheated oven for 45-50 minutes. You know it's done when you insert a toothpick into the cake and it comes out clean. 
    Remove from the oven and let cool for about 20 minutes then take it out of the pan and let it cool on a wire rack for about another hour. It's best if you can let it sit overnight if possible before you frost the cake but you'll want to cover it so it does not dry out. 
    When you are ready to make the frosting you'll want to use a stand mixer. 
    Cream together the cream cheese and butter until it's creamy. 
    Mix in the vanilla extract. 
    Next, beat in the powdered sugar a little at a time until it's the consistency you want. 
    Scoop the frosting into a piping bag and pipe the frosting on to the bundt cake.
    Sprinkle the crushed candy canes on top of the frosting. 
    Serve and enjoy! A scoop of vanilla ice cream or even peppermint ice cream goes wonderfully with this cake. 

About Shanna

Shanna started writing shortly after her daughter was born. She's written for various outlets over the years. When she's not writing about her adventures with her daughter, she's out having adventures!