If you have spent any time around this blog, you know I love cake – especially chocolate cake.
Think of it this way, chocolate cake is like the little black dress of desserts. It’s broad enough for most occasions – dress it up or down according to your needs, accessorize until your busy hands are content and your palate is satisfied.
Today’s chocolate cake is rippled with one of my favorite add-ons: M&M’S Pretzel for some sweet and savory hits, M&M’S Crispy for texture, and M&M’S Milk Chocolate for added richness.
Okay, so that was more than a few. But trust me when I say, it’s worth it! And it’s also a great way to decorate a cake if you lack a few cake piping skills like me. Toss it on, crumb the sides, press it into the frosting or drape it on like the picture—whatever you do, don’t skip the M&M’S. It makes the cake in terms of adding flavor and texture, and most noticeably, a visual pop that makes this a show stopping cake.
Want to make this holiday ready? Pick up the holiday theme colored M&M’S and you’re all set. Now get to it. Enjoy!
Looking for more delicious M&M’S recipes? Check out M&M’S Pinterest page for more recipe inspiration!
*This post is part of a sponsored partnership with M&M’S. All opinions are mine.

Chocolate Birthday Cake
Ingredients
- Chocolate Cake
- 5 oz. dark chocolate
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. fine sea salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup brewed coffee, cooled slightly
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup canola oil
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- Chocolate Ganache
- 2 oz. (4 Tbs.) unsalted butter
- 1 lb. semisweet chocolate (55% to 65% cacao), chopped (3 cups)
- 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
- 2 cups heavy cream
Add-ons:
- 1 cup caramel popcorn
- 1 cup crushed M&M’S Pretzel
- ½ cup M&M’S Crispy
- ½ cup M&M’S Minis Milk Chocolate Baking Bits
- ½ cup pretzels
Instructions
Preparation: Cover three 8-inch round pans with non-stick bake spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper; set aside. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
To make cake: In a heat-proof bowl, microwave the chocolate on high power in 20-second bursts until melted; making sure to stir between each intervals. Let cool slightly.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda; set aside. In a second bowl, whisk together the melted chocolate, buttermilk, coffee, and vanilla; set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, oil and sugar on medium high, until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at time until fully incorporated before adding the next one. Turn mixer speed to low. Alternately beat in flour mixture and buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix just until combined.
Evenly divide batter between prepared pans; smooth tops. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out free of wet batter. Remove cakes from oven and set aside to cool in pans for 10 minutes. Run a knife around edges of pans and invert cakes onto a wire rack. Cool completely before frosting.
To make the ganache: Place butter in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring every few seconds until melted and butter starts to smelly nutty, about 5 minutes. Immediately scrape the browned butter into a heat proof bowl. Add the chocolate and kosher salt.
Place cream in the same pot over medium heat, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and pour over the chocolate and butter. Let stand 2 minutes, and then whisk until smooth. Set aside to cool at room temperature. Stir ganache every 15 minutes for an hour, or until ganache is thickened and spreadable.
To assemble the cake: Split each cake in half horizontally. Place one cake, bottom side up on a cake stand. Use an offset-spatula and spread top with ganache frosting. Repeat with remaining cake layers, then frost sides. Finish by adding on M&M’S Pretzel, M&M’S Crispy M&M’S Minis Milk Chocolate Baking Bits, caramel popcorn and pretzels.
The cake looks magnificent, only 1 question, what size pans do you use. I couldn’t see it stated anywhere. Thanks 🙂
I have to say, I am not usually HUGE into chocolate cake….but with all those toppings? I could go for a few slices of this goodness! Pinned!
Naomi, I love this cake! Today is actually my youngest’s birthday! and we always pick up the holiday themed colored M&M’S . . it’s tradition for us! We love them!
Gorgeous, gorgeous cake! You can never go wrong with a slice of chocolate cake- I’ll always crave it!
It totally is the little black dress of desserts!! Wow, this is gorgeous. Love that yummy topping!
I’m a big lover of chocolate cake! And you totally nailed this.
This is completely awesome Naomi!
What a fun cake!!
Chocolate cake perfection right here! Yum!
Love a big slice of chocolate cake!!
That is a perfect gorgeous cake. I love chocolate and would love a cake for every birthday.
xx
Decadently delicious Naomi!! And totally gorgeous!
What a fun cake recipe!
what size cake pans and how many?
Such a playful way to use M&Ms…this cake is beautiful!
This cake is awesome and it tis the season for M&M’s (the holiday ones please!)!! So fun and beautiful! 🙂
It is really like a little black dress!! Love the M&Ms 🙂
Naomi! This is just gorgeous! I love M&Ms. Of course my favorite is in my Fro Yo but definitely need to try them on a birthday cake now for a colorful vibe!
Hi Anna – I missed that in the recipe! It’s three 8-inch round pans. I’ve updated the recipe.
Hi Candi – I missed that in the recipe! It’s three 8-inch round pans. I’ve updated the recipe.
What a stunning cake! And that’s such an effective(and delicious) decorating technique 🙂
What a FUN cake!
Such a fun way to decorate a cake. I love the idea of holiday theme colored M&M’S!
The little black dress of desserts – that is the best description EVER!!! It totally is, and there is never a day that chocolate doesn’t top the list of things i want!
Love all those decadent layers — and who can resist M&Ms?
check out that topping situation! YUM!
Those layers are perfection, gorgeous cake!
A tall chocolate layer cake is one of my favorite dessert indulgences. I love the whimsy added to this cake using the M&M’s!
I didn’t think chocolate cake could get any better until you added M&Ms!
I never thought about it before, but chocolate cakes are the little black dress of desserts 🙂
Wow what a beautiful birthday cake! That chocolate ganache frosting looks so rich and delicious! Love the sweet and salty toppings too 🙂
I too cannot pipe worth a darn, but honestly I’d rather have all those fun toppings on my cake instead of extra frosting! This is such a great cake!
I definitely lack way more piping skills than you do! It’s taken me 3 years to learn how to pipe an acceptable looking frosting swirl on top of a regular cupcakes… There’s no way I could do that for a cake! But I think that the way you decorated this gorgeous dessert is more striking and stunning than lots of piping. I’d rather have extra M&Ms and candy than more frosting! PS Six layer chocolate cakes are my kryptonite — literally! I wouldn’t want to share this cake at all! 🙂
MM!MM! That’s all I can say! And.. Is Ganache essentially the same thing as icing or frosting? Thanks!
Oh my gosh Naomi, this is outstanding. I’m not a great cake decorator but I may try to tackle this for my daughter’s birthday this month. It’s such a cool cake. I’m not sure I can get my candies are perfect as yours but I’m sure going to try. Luckily I’m always stocked up on M&M’s so I’m good to go. Can’t wait to try this!!
Very nice pictures. It is so beautiful.
I need all of this right now! Looks amazing!!
I love the colors and presentation! So festive and inspiring!
What is the baking temperature supposed to be? I guess I missed it and I really tried to look.
Mine came out pretty dry. I did 350* for the shortest recommended time
I don’t see a temperature either, which is pretty disappointing.