This post is sponsored by The Hershey Company, but all opinions are my own. Thank you for continuing to support the brands that make My Baking Addiction possible.

If you're at all like me, you might be feeling the pressure of the holiday season creeping in.

As I'm staring at a closet full of unwrapped gifts and a to-do list no less than one mile long (okay, slight exaggeration there), the daily hustle and bustle has me feeling like I need to book an 8-hour massage.

I am one of those people that tends to make the same recipes repeatedly each holiday season. Because A) I'm a creature of habit and B) I want my little babe to have sweet memories of food traditions that she can pass on for years to come.

Baking, especially during the holiday season, is the ultimate expression of love as far as I'm concerned. And that leads to true happiness.

Tell me, how could anyone possibly be unhappy taking a bite of one of these decadent little cakes? They couldn't. That's what baking does. Happiness-bringers.

It's like when I tell Elle (at her grumpiest moments) that she better not smile. It becomes impossible not to smile. And in my mind, it's the absolute same when you take a bite of chocolate-y, peppermint-y bliss.

And I do mean bliss. It's one of my favorites, so this lovely flavor combination graces our holiday dessert table year after year.

But instead of chocolate-peppermint brownies or cupcakes, this year I decided to kick my chocolate-peppermint game up a notch with these Chocolate Peppermint Mini Bundt Cakes.

I think Bundt cakes are a pretty underrated dessert. And while I can truthfully say they've never been a holiday go-to for me, I think that's about to change.

I'm normally not a fan of specialty pans. Typically, that's because they don't get used often enough. But I make the exception for a beautiful mini Bundt cake pan.

I feel like they allow you to take a simple, unassuming cake recipe and turn it into something really special. And let's be real here, I've always been a sucker for mini desserts - especially when there's a rich, silky ganache involved.

No fancy frosting here. Let the beauty of the cake shape shine, and enhance it with a glossy, gorgeous chocolate ganache. Making things look elegant with minimal effort - this is my jam!

To make the ganache, I used HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Baking Chips. They melt so easily and when combined with heavy cream and a little peppermint extract, they create the easiest "frosting" you could ever try.

Bundt cakes, especially mini Bundt cakes, are perfect for just about any occasion. But especially for the holiday season.

Who could possibly resist an adorable mini chocolate cake drenched with peppermint ganache and a sprinkling of crushed candy canes? Certainly not this girl, and I bet not any of your favorite party guests either.

Taking that classic can of HERSHEY'S Natural Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, its flavor the pure definition of all baked chocolate things in my mind, and turning it into a beautiful dessert? That's baking happy, my friends.

Looking for a few extra tips to make this recipe a total success? I listed a few additional at the bottom of this blog – I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did!

Chocolate Peppermint Mini Bundt Cakes

Prep: 20 minutes          Bake: 16 - 20 minutes          Yield: 10 mini Bundt cakes

A fun and delicious dessert for any holiday party. A drizzle of peppermint ganache and sprinkling of crushed candy canes makes them super festive!

Ingredients

For the Cake Batter:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup HERSHEY'S Natural Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (6 grams)
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup strong black coffee
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract

For the Ganache:

• 1 cup HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Baking Chips
• 6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
• crushed candy canes

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray the wells of a mini Bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray with flour. This type of baking spray will ensure that your mini Bundt cakes release from the pan with ease.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, HERSHEY'S Natural Unsweetened Cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
3. Add eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oil and peppermint extract. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for about two minutes; the batter will be thin.
4. Pour batter evenly into prepared mini Bundt cake wells; filling each well about 3/4 of the way full.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 16-20 minutes, or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.

To Make the Ganache:

 

1. Place HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Baking Chips in a heatproof bowl. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the heavy cream until it simmers. Do not allow the mixture to boil, or you could potentially have a mess on your hands.

2. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips and allow it to sit for about 2 minutes. Whisk the cream and chocolate chips until a silky, smooth chocolate ganache comes together. Stir in the peppermint extract.

3. Drizzle ganache over the mini Bundt cakes and top with crushed candy canes.

Notes

• If you only have one mini Bundt pan with 6 wells, this batter will keep at room temperature while you bake the first batch, just be sure to give it a good whisk before pouring into your clean, dry and sprayed pan.
• Mini Bundt pans have a lot of little nooks. I find the best way to clean them is to allow them to soak in hot, soapy water for about 20 minutes. Then use the sprayer on your faucet to help release any crumbs.

5 Tips for Holiday Baking Success

1. If you're making a new recipe for a holiday party, be sure to test it before the big day. There's nothing worse than a baking fail when people are excited for holiday dessert.
2. Whether you're making cookies, or mini Bundt cakes, be sure not to overmix your dough or batter. You want to mix cookie doughs and cake batters until they are just combined.
3. This may seem obvious, but I always recommend starting in a clean kitchen. A full sink, or messy work area will only amp up your stress level.
4. Make sure your ingredients are fresh. This is a great time of year to pick up fresh panty ingredients like flour, baking powder, baking soda and spices.
5. Use quality ingredients like HERSHEY'S Natural Unsweetened Cocoa Powder and HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Baking Chips. Quality ingredients will always ensure you create a delicious dessert!