Have a birthday party coming up? Surprise your guests when you cut into the birthday cake and colorful candy spills out just like a piñata. It’s Piñata cake time!
I’m often asked why I do not want to open up a bakery in my area. Everyone compliments my baked goods and I have been asked lots of times to sell them, but it all just does not sound appealing to me. The thought that I have to bake the same cookies, cupcakes or brownies almost every day does not put a smile on my face.
I’d rather dirty up my kitchen, day after day, trying out new fun recipes and sharing them with you.
And speaking of fun, making this Piñata cake was the FUNNEST!
A buttery cake layered with a thick cream cheese frosting dotted with M&M’s baking bits and filled with more M&M’s for a double birthday surprise.
Let the celebration begin!
With my birthday coming up in just a couple of weeks I’ve been on the lookout for the best birthday cake for a while now. Yes, I’m that girl who makes her own birthday party. Yes, it’s nice my husbands drives all the way into town to get me a small cake from the local bakery, but a cake baked in my own kitchen with my little 5 year old sous-chef by my side will always taste better.
And this Piñata cake is was a breeze to make. If you’ve made a layer cake before (and even if you haven’t) this is totally something you can handle. Make sure you have all the ingredients on hand, read and re-read all the directions on how to assemble the cake and you’re in good hands!
The cake is as important as the candy inside.
The cake needs to be a sturdy one. Since it’s a layer cake and I do have the habit of adding quite a bit of frosting in between later, you want your cake to be able to handle the weight. A super soft cake with collapse by the time you place the 3rd layer on top. A dry cake has no place in my kitchen, or anyone’s kitchen!
This cake has a tender crumb, it’s full of flavor and the addition of Greek yogurt keeps it moist for days. (and it was a struggle to keep it for that long!)! The leftover cake kept calling my name! Shall I mention now this is probably the easier recipe for cake? There’s no need to cream the sugar and the butter, alternate the flour with the milk. No! Add all the ingredients for the cake in a bowl and whisk until combined! Easy-peasy!
Once you baked your cake and it’s cooled completely, it’s time to assemble it!
Out of a thin cardboard or a thicker piece of paper, make a cylinder, about 3-4 inch in diameter. Cut a whole into one of the cake layers to fit the cylinder.
Place one of the cake layers on a serving platter. Position the cylinder in the center and spread frosting round it.
Fill the cylinder with M&M’S.
I love M&M’S! The are so colorful, just perfect to fill the inside of a piñata cake! You can use regular size M&M’S, baking bits, or even a combo of different flavors and textures. M&M’S Milk Chocolate, M&M’S Peanut Butter, M&M’S Pretzel, M&M’S baking bits and so many more!
Carefully, place the 2nd cake layer over the frosting. The layer with the center cut out. Spread more frosting over it.
Gently, wiggle the cylinder out making sure the candy stays inside the cake.
Finish the cake with the 3rd cake layer and frost the entire cake.
I made a very short video of the assembly steps, hope that helps out.
Again, do not worry, making a piñata cake is not as intimidating as it may sound!
Do you love M&M’S? Which ones are your favorite?
If you’re looking for more ideas using M&M’S in your recipes, follow along the newly launched Pinterest page https://www.pinterest.com/mmschocolate/ for daily inspiration!
Yields 12-16 servings
Have a birthday party coming up? Surprise your guests when you cut into the birthday cake and colorful candy spills out just like a piñata. It’s Piñata cake time!
40 minPrep Time
20 minCook Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 2 eggs
- 12 tablespoons cream cheese, room temperature
- 12 tablespoons butter, room temperature
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 3/4 cup M&M’S Mini Milk Chocolate Baking Bits
- 1 cup M&M’S to fill the cake
- 1/2 cup M&M’S to decorate the cake on top
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350F. Grease and line three 9 inch round baking pans with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In the mixing bowl of your mixer, add all the ingredients for the cake. With the whisk attachment on, beat on low-speed until all the ingredients are combined.
- Divide the cake batter between the three prepared pans.
- Bake in preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until the cakes are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove the cakes from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes in the pan before inverting and cooling them completely on wire racks.
- In a mixing bowl, add the cream cheese and butter. With the paddle attachment on, beat on low-speed until smooth and creamy. Add the powder sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Once all the sugar is incorporated, add few drops of heavy cream to reach desired consistency.
- With a spatula, fold in the M&M’S minis baking bits.
- Out of a thin cardboard or a thicker piece of paper, make a cylinder, about 3-4 inch in diameter. Cut a whole into one of the cake layers to fit the cylinder.
- Place one of the cake layers on a serving platter. Position the cylinder in the center and spread about 1 – 1 1/2 cups frosting around it.
- Fill the cylinder with M&M’S.
- Carefully, place the 2nd cake layer over the frosting making sure the cutout hole lines up with the cardboard cylinder.
- Spread 1 to 1 1/2 cups frosting over the second layer.
- With your fingers, gently wiggle the cardboard cylinder out making sure the M&M’S stay inside the cake.
- Place the 3rd cake layer over the frosting and, with an offset spatula spread the remaining frosting on top and on the sides of the cake.
- Decorate the top of the cake with more M&M’S.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
If you enjoyed this cake, you may also like
M&M’S cake with cream cheese frosting and chocolate ganache
Disclosure – this post is sponsored by M&M’S. Although I’ve been compensated to develop the recipe and write this post, the opinions expressed here are all mine. Thank you for supporting brands I love.
Happy Baking,
Roxana
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