Finally, an outlet for my family’s eBay addiction!  Do you have some plastic deer figurines tucked away like I do?  Chances are you can scrounge some up from an old holiday box in your basement to spruce up a seasonal cake.  

This is a three layer chocolate espresso cake with alternating layers of white chocolate ganache and peppermint American-style buttercream frosting.  The savory chocolate cake balanced the sweet peppermint flavor that could have been overwhelming on a different flavored base.  

Instead of opting for a smooth finish, I spread the buttercream in rough drifts to better mimic the look of drifting snow.  I finished off the cake with sanding sugar and garnished the display with juniper and fir limbs from my grandmother’s yard.  

I was happy to finally share my creation with my family.  Living in New York, I haven’t had a chance to have them sample my most recent pastry projects.  

This style of cake is perfect for any winter party.  You’ll be grabbing for the slice that accumulated the most snow!