Hot Cocoa Snack Cake

This tender, fluffy snack cake is filled with lots of surprises, making this dessert a winner for the holidays!

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In my last post I mentioned that I was really excited about Fall baking and how the holidays are coming quickly, whether we want them to or not! Well, I was shopping in Walmart the other day and casually took a stroll down the seasonal aisle to find all of the Christmas candy out. I mean ALL OF IT. I was both excited and scared. {Scared only because Christmas is coming too quickly!!} But it gave me inspiration almost instantly do some holiday baking, so I did. I made the most delicious Hot Cocoa Snack Cake, and I just HAD to share it with you today! 

I spruced up a Pillsbury™ Funfetti® Holiday Cake Mix by adding cocoa powder, milk, vanilla, and some of my favorite M&M's® Holiday flavors. There are M&M's® inside the cake, plus more on top for decoration. It's cute and fun and perfect for holiday parties, or just for your own family! I know mine loved it and didn't want me to share, they wanted it all for themselves!

I added milk to the batter to make the cake extra tender and fluffy, plus it's great to get in a little more Calcium whenever you can. Did you know that children and families in our communities are missing out on the essential nutrients supplied by milk because it’s not typically donated to food banks? For a small donation at pourmilklove.com, The Great American Milk Drive will deliver a gallon of milk, and all of its essential nutrients, that it provides, to a family in need in YOUR local community! 

The Great American Milk Drive is the first ever national program to help deliver gallons of milk to hungry families who need it the most. Log onto milklife.com give to learn about the need for more nutritious foods in America's food banks and how your small donation can make a big impact.

Now, who's ready to bake {and eat!} some cake?!

Hot Cocoa Snack Cake

Author: Sarah Bates | The Chef Next Door

Serves 16

Print this recipe

Ingredients:

1 box Pillsbury™ Funfetti® Holiday Cake Mix

1/2 cup Great Value milk

1/2 cup water 

1/2 cup vegetable oil 

1/4 cup cocoa powder 

3 eggs 

1 teaspoon vanilla 

1/2 cup M&M's® Holiday Milk Chocolate, roughly chopped

1/2 cup M&M's® Hot Chocolate, roughly chopped 

1 container Pillsbury™ Funfetti® Holiday Vanilla Flavored Frosting

1/2 cup M&M's® Holiday Milk Chocolate, for decorating

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13-inch pan with non-stick baking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the cake mix, milk, water, vegetable oil, cocoa powder, eggs, and vanilla until completely combined and smooth. Fold in the chopped M&M's®. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting. When ready, use an offset spatula or knife to spread the frosting all over the cake, then sprinkle with the Funfetti® candies. Add additional M&M's® Holiday Milk Chocolate and press them gently so that they stick to the frosting. Slice the cake into squares and serve.

Bon Appétit!

Find more inspiration by checking out these delicious holiday baking recipes and let me know what your favorite holiday recipe is!

You can find everything you need to make this amazing holiday snack cake at your local Walmart. The seasonal aisle is filled with all of the M&M's® Holiday flavors! In the center aisle of the grocery section I found the Pillsbury™ Funfetti® Holiday Cake Mix and Frosting. And the Great Value Milk is in the dairy aisle!