Christmas Ho-Ho-Co-co-nut Gift Cake

Christmas Ho-Ho-Co-co-nut Gift Cake Recipe with Strawberry and Walnuts

Preparation time: 30 minutes | Cooking time: 50 minutes | Servings: 12

Introduction

This Christmas Ho-Ho-Co-co-nut Gift Cake is a festive and delicious dessert that is perfect for the holiday season. With layers of moist cake, raspberry jam, and a creamy coconut frosting, this cake is sure to be a hit at any holiday gathering.

History

The Christmas Ho-Ho-Co-co-nut Gift Cake is a fun and creative twist on a traditional holiday dessert. The cake is designed to look like a wrapped present, complete with a bow made out of gumdrops. This whimsical cake is sure to bring a smile to everyone's face at your holiday celebration.

Ingredients

1 package (two-layer size) chocolate cake mix
1 package (4 serving size) chocolate pudding and pie-filling mix
1.33 cups water
4 eggs
0.25 cup oil
1 cup strawberry, cherry or raspberry jam
0.5 cup chopped walnuts
1.33 cups coconut
2 packages green gumdrops
1 package flaked coconut

Frosting

8 oz (227 g) package cream cheese, softened
confectioner's sugar
milk

How to prepare

Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
Grease and flour a 13 x 9 inches square cake pan.
In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, water, eggs, and oil.
Blend well by beating at medium speed of an electric mixer for approximately 4 minutes.
Stir in 1.33 cups of coconut and the walnuts.
Pour the batter into the greased and floured 13 x 9 inches pan.
Bake at 350°F (177°C) for approximately 50 minutes.
The cake is done when it pulls away from the sides of the pan slightly.
Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 20 minutes.
Once cooled thoroughly, remove the cake from the pan and refrigerate for about 1 hour to ease frosting.
Cut the cake in half to make two 6 x 8 inches layers.
Spread jam between the layers.
Mix the above ingredients until you achieve a good consistency for frosting.
Frost the top and sides of the cake.
Before the frosting sets, sprinkle flaked coconut all over the cake.
Roll out green gumdrops and sprinkle them with sugar.
Make the strips 3 inches wide and long enough for one strip to go the length of the cake and one strip to go the width of the cake.
Place these strips on the cake in a cross pattern to resemble the ribbon on a present.
Cut seven 3x1 inch strips to form into a bow.
Assemble this bow at the apex of the ribbon (center of the cake).
Put three strips folded in half, yet puffed up on one side and three strips folded in half, yet puffed up on the other side (sitting on the already placed ribbon on the cake) to resemble a bow.
Cut two small strips with the ends cut slightly on an angle to represent the bottom part of the ribbon hanging down.
Tuck them slightly under the bow.
Assemble them on the cake to look like a wrapped present.
Add two small round red and green sour balls near the bow.

Variations

Substitute the raspberry jam with strawberry or apricot jam for a different flavor.
Add a layer of chocolate ganache between the cake layers for a decadent twist.

Cooking Tips & Tricks

Be sure to grease and flour your cake pan well to prevent the cake from sticking.

- Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting to ensure that the frosting sets properly.

- To make the bow on top of the cake, be sure to follow the instructions carefully to achieve the desired look.

Serving Suggestions

Serve the Christmas Ho-Ho-Co-co-nut Gift Cake as a festive dessert at your holiday gathering. Pair it with a cup of hot cocoa or coffee for the perfect holiday treat.

Cooking Techniques

Be sure to beat the cake batter well to ensure a light and fluffy texture.

- Refrigerating the cake before frosting will make it easier to work with.

Ingredient Substitutions

You can use any flavor of cake mix for this recipe.

- If you don't have walnuts, you can substitute with pecans or almonds.

Make Ahead Tips

You can bake the cake layers ahead of time and freeze them until you are ready to assemble and decorate the cake.

Presentation Ideas

Decorate the cake with festive sprinkles or edible glitter for an extra special touch.

Pairing Recommendations

Serve the Christmas Ho-Ho-Co-co-nut Gift Cake with a glass of sparkling wine or champagne for a celebratory pairing.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Store any leftover cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Allow the cake to come to room temperature before serving.

Nutrition Information

Calories per serving

Each serving of the Christmas Ho-Ho-Co-co-nut Gift Cake contains approximately 320 calories.

Carbohydrates

Each serving of the Christmas Ho-Ho-Co-co-nut Gift Cake contains approximately 45 grams of carbohydrates.

Fats

Each serving of the Christmas Ho-Ho-Co-co-nut Gift Cake contains approximately 12 grams of fat.

Proteins

Each serving of the Christmas Ho-Ho-Co-co-nut Gift Cake contains approximately 4 grams of protein.

Vitamins and minerals

This cake is not a significant source of vitamins and minerals.

Alergens

This recipe contains eggs, nuts, and dairy.

Summary

The Christmas Ho-Ho-Co-co-nut Gift Cake is a delicious dessert that is best enjoyed in moderation due to its high sugar and fat content.

Summary

The Christmas Ho-Ho-Co-co-nut Gift Cake is a fun and festive dessert that is perfect for the holiday season. With layers of moist cake, raspberry jam, and a creamy coconut frosting, this cake is sure to be a hit at any holiday gathering. Enjoy this whimsical dessert with family and friends this Christmas!

How did I get this recipe?

I distinctly remember the moment I stumbled upon this recipe for the Christmas Ho-Ho-Co-co-nut Gift Cake. It was many years ago, back when I was just a young girl learning how to cook from my own grandmother. She was a master in the kitchen, and I cherished the time we spent together creating delicious dishes and treats.

One cold winter day, as snow fell outside and the fireplace crackled with warmth, my grandmother pulled out an old, tattered recipe book from the top shelf of her kitchen cabinet. She flipped through the pages, her fingers tracing the faded handwriting of recipes passed down through generations.

And that's when she found it - the recipe for the Christmas Ho-Ho-Co-co-nut Gift Cake. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before, with layers of rich chocolate cake, creamy coconut filling, and a decadent chocolate ganache topping. My mouth watered just reading the ingredients list.

My grandmother explained that this cake was a special treat that her own grandmother used to make during the holidays. It was a labor of love, requiring time, patience, and a touch of magic to create. I was determined to learn how to make it, and my grandmother was more than happy to teach me.

We spent hours in the kitchen that day, mixing and measuring, tasting and tweaking until we had perfected the recipe. The kitchen was filled with the warm scent of chocolate and coconut, and the sound of our laughter echoed off the walls.

As we worked, my grandmother shared stories of her own childhood, of holiday traditions and family gatherings centered around this very cake. She told me how her grandmother used to bake dozens of these cakes to give as gifts to friends and neighbors, spreading joy and cheer wherever they went.

And so, the tradition continued with me. Every Christmas, I would bake several of these Ho-Ho-Co-co-nut Gift Cakes to give as gifts to loved ones. Each cake was carefully wrapped in festive paper and tied with a bow, a token of my love and appreciation for those special people in my life.

Over the years, I have tweaked the recipe here and there, adding my own unique twists and flavors to make it my own. But the essence of the cake remains the same - a symbol of tradition, love, and the magic of the holiday season.

As I look back on that snowy day in my grandmother's kitchen, I am filled with gratitude for the time we spent together, learning and creating, bonding over a shared love of food and family. The memories we made that day will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to pass down this recipe for the Christmas Ho-Ho-Co-co-nut Gift Cake to future generations, keeping the tradition alive for years to come.

And so, as I prepare to bake another batch of these special cakes for the upcoming holiday season, I can't help but smile at the thought of the joy and happiness they will bring to those who receive them. Because, in the end, that's what this recipe is all about - sharing love, spreading cheer, and creating lasting memories that will be treasured for a lifetime.