Description
A festive, buttery peppermint pound cake swirled with red batter and topped with a rich cream cheese peppermint bark frosting—perfect for holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Baking spray with flour
1 lb unsalted butter, softened
3 cups white sugar
6 large eggs, room temperature
4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1/2 tsp red food coloring (or more as needed)
1 (3 oz) package cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbsp whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp crushed peppermint candies
1/4 cup chopped chocolate peppermint bark
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Generously spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with baking spray containing flour.
- Beat the softened butter in a stand mixer until creamy and pale, 4–6 minutes.
- Gradually add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing just until incorporated.
- Alternate adding flour and milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix on low just until blended.
- Add vanilla and peppermint extracts and mix briefly.
- Transfer 1 cup of batter to a bowl and stir in red food coloring.
- Layer one-third of uncolored batter into the pan, dollop one-third of red batter over it, and repeat. Swirl lightly with a skewer.
- Bake 1 hour 45–55 minutes, or until a wooden pick comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert onto a rack and cool completely (about 1 hour).
- For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar slowly, then milk and vanilla; beat until smooth.
- Drizzle frosting over cooled cake. Sprinkle crushed peppermint candies and peppermint bark on top.
- Let stand 20–30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Increase peppermint extract carefully—too much can overpower the cake.
Deepen the red swirl for a more dramatic marbled effect.
Add mini chocolate chips for a chocolate–peppermint twist.
Use white chocolate peppermint bark for a sweeter finish.
Grease the Bundt pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 55g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
