Sunflower Peep Cake

10 standard portions

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Ingredients

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs (2oz each)
• 1 cup buttermilk (or milk)
• ½ cup oil (vegetable or canola)
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon espresso powder
• 1 cup boiling water
• ½ cup unsalted butter (softened at room temperature)
• ¾ cups cocoa powder
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk (you might need a little more)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 15 Peeps Yellow Marshmallow Chicks
• ½ cup milk chocolate chips
• ½ cup green frosting

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C (160°C for fan oven).
2. Prep 2 x 8-inch/20cm cake pans by greasing them with butter and lining them with parchment paper.
3. In a bowl sift the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt), add the sugar, whisk and set aside.
4. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs with the buttermilk or milk, oil, and vanilla extract.
5. Mix well, then add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix to just combine (do not overmix, you don't want to work the gluten for a moist cake).
6. Add coffee powder to boiling water, and stir in. This will thin out the batter.
7. Pour the batter into the cake pans, and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
8. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool in cake pans for 10 minutes. Gently turn out on a cool rack upside down, and leave them to cool completely.
9. In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the butter until creamy for 3 minutes.
10. Add the cocoa powder, and beat at medium speed for 2 minutes.
11. Slowly add the powdered sugar, and beat for 2 more minutes at medium speed.
12. Add milk and vanilla extract and beat again for 1 minute.
13. Fill the cake with buttercream between the 2 cake layers, cover the outside of the cake with a thin layer of frosting. This will lock in all of the crumbs and make the cake easier to frost neatly.
14. Place the cake in the fridge for 20 minutes, this will harden the butter in the frosting and give it a solid shape. Frost again with the remaining frosting so the cake is fully covered with buttercream.
15. To decorate the cake, arrange 15 peeps around the outer edge of the cake with their tails pointing outward. Arrange chocolate chips in the center. Use green frosting to pipe stars around the bottom edge of the cake.