Ultimate KitKat Smarties Cake Recipe: A Colorful Chocolate Delight for Every Celebration
Prepare for a showstopper! This KitKat Smarties cake is not just a delicious recipe; it’s a festive masterpiece that’s surprisingly easy to make. Brimming with rich chocolate and vibrant colors, this cake promises to bring joy and delight to children and adults alike, making every occasion extra special.
Every now and then, you stumble upon a recipe that just *clicks*. For me, that moment arrived during a November food blog swap. My assignment was to explore and bake from Marina’s Bakery, a Dutch blog entirely dedicated to the wonderful world of baking. Browsing through her site, I discovered a treasure trove of tempting treats, but one particular post immediately captured my attention.
Marina had shared her own birthday cake, accompanied by a truly stunning photograph. As fate would have it, my birthday party was just four days away. The timing felt like a delicious coincidence I couldn’t ignore. The image alone was enough to convince me, but a quick consultation with my children sealed the deal. Their eyes lit up with excitement at the thought of a cake adorned with their favorite candies, and the decision was made: the KitKat Smarties cake would be our celebratory centerpiece!
The Perfect Party Cake: Why This KitKat Smarties Cake Stands Out
Opting for this vibrant creation was easy, especially with its layers of rich chocolate cake and decadent chocolate mousse. The decision to use Smarties instead of M&M’s was a conscious one, primarily due to concerns about artificial colors. While M&M’s offer a similar visual appeal, Smarties provided a fantastic, naturally colored alternative that still delivered on the fun and festive aesthetic. Rest assured, my chocoholic tendencies were fully satisfied, as the core elements of chocolate mousse, rich chocolate cake, and the iconic KitKat bars remained central to this delightful dessert.
The true test came at my birthday party. Watching the children (and many adults!) eagerly devour slices of this colorful creation confirmed my choice. The consensus was unanimous: this cake isn’t just a feast for the eyes; it’s an absolute treat for the taste buds. Its playful design, combined with its irresistible flavor and satisfying textures, makes it an unforgettable addition to any celebration. Whether it’s a birthday, a holiday gathering, or simply a day that needs a little extra sprinkle of joy, this KitKat Smarties cake is guaranteed to be a hit.
Mastering Your KitKat Smarties Cake: Essential Baking Tips
Achieving a showstopping KitKat Smarties cake is simpler than you might think with these expert tips and tricks:
- Add a Festive Ribbon: For an extra touch of elegance and to help secure the KitKats in place (especially if the cake is travelling or sitting out for a while), wrap a decorative ribbon around the outside of the cake. Finish it with a beautiful bow to complement your party theme. Choose a ribbon that matches the Smarties’ vibrant colors for a cohesive and truly eye-catching look.
- Prepare Your Baking Pan Thoughtfully: If you’re using a standard baking dish (around 7.25 inches or 18 cm diameter) instead of a springform pan, it’s crucial to prepare it correctly. Line the bottom with parchment paper and generously grease the sides with butter or baking spray. This ensures your beautiful cake can be easily removed after cooling, preventing any frustrating mishaps that could compromise its perfect party presentation.
- The Skewer Test for Doneness: To confirm your cake is perfectly baked and moist, insert a wooden skewer or toothpick into the very center of the cake. If it comes out clean and dry, your cake is ready. If there’s still wet batter or moist crumbs, return it to the oven for a few more minutes and retest. This simple step guarantees a wonderfully moist, perfectly cooked cake every time.
- Mastering Au Bain-Marie: Melting chocolate gently is key to a smooth, luscious texture, free from scorching or seizing. The “au bain-marie” method involves placing a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Crucially, ensure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. The steam will gently melt the chocolate, allowing you to achieve a perfectly smooth chocolate mixture for your cake batter.
- Cooling is Absolutely Crucial: Patience is a virtue, especially in baking! Allow your cake to cool completely to room temperature in the pan before attempting to remove it or slice it. A warm cake is significantly more fragile and prone to crumbling, tearing, or breaking. Once fully cooled, transfer it to a wire rack to ensure even cooling and prevent any condensation from making the bottom soggy.
- Achieving Even Cake Layers: When it’s time to slice your cake horizontally, use a long, sharp serrated knife and a gentle sawing motion. For the best results and easier handling, slightly chill the cake in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before slicing. You can also use toothpicks or a cake leveler as guides to ensure you get two perfectly even layers for your luscious chocolate mousse filling.
- Secure KitKat Placement: To make sure your KitKat bars adhere firmly to the sides of the cake and stand tall, apply a generous and even layer of chocolate mousse around the entire perimeter of the cake. Press each KitKat bar gently but firmly into the mousse. If you’re concerned about them falling, especially for transport or a long party, the ribbon tip mentioned above is an incredibly helpful extra security measure.
- Smarties Distribution for Maximum Impact: For a visually appealing top, scatter the Smarties generously and evenly over the chocolate mousse layer. You can create playful patterns, spell out a name or age, or simply go for a joyous, colorful sprinkle that completely covers the top. Consider having a few extra Smarties on hand, as some might “accidentally” disappear during the decorating process – it’s all part of the fun!
Explore More Delectable Desserts
If you’ve enjoyed baking this festive KitKat Smarties cake, you’ll love these other fantastic recipes from my kitchen. Each one is crafted with care to bring joy and deliciousness to your table:
- German Apple Strudel (Apfelstrudel)
- Banana Napoleon with Caramel
- Grandma’s Traditional Dutch Apple Pie Recipe
- Raspberry and Mascarpone Tartlets
Serving and Storing Your KitKat Smarties Cake
This magnificent cake is best enjoyed at room temperature to fully appreciate the moist texture of the chocolate cake and the creamy decadence of the chocolate mousse. For an even more indulgent experience, serve a slice with a scoop of premium vanilla ice cream or a side of fresh, tart berries to balance the sweetness. Its vibrant appearance makes it a fantastic dessert table centerpiece, guaranteed to draw compliments and be the star of any party.
Should you miraculously have any leftovers (which is highly unlikely given its popularity!), store the cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To ensure the cake and mousse are soft and delicious, allow it to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving. For convenience, you can prepare the cake layers and chocolate mousse a day in advance, storing them separately, and then assemble the cake closer to your event to save valuable time on the day of your celebration.
Customization Ideas for Your KitKat Smarties Cake
While the classic KitKat Smarties combination is an undeniable winner, feel free to unleash your creativity and personalize your cake to suit your taste or occasion:
- Candy Alternatives: If your dietary preferences aren’t restricted by artificial colors, M&M’s are a popular and readily available choice for the top. For a different texture or theme, consider using chopped chocolate bars, colorful sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, or even fresh seasonal berries (though these might require a thicker mousse border to adhere properly).
- Chocolate Variations: Experiment with different types of chocolate for both the cake batter and the mousse. Dark chocolate will yield a richer, more intense flavor profile, while white chocolate can create a beautiful visual contrast and a sweeter taste. You could even use a mix of milk and dark chocolate for a complex flavor.
- Flavor Boosts: To deepen the chocolate flavor, add a dash of high-quality espresso powder to the cake batter. For a zesty twist, incorporate a hint of orange or raspberry zest. A touch of peppermint extract in the mousse could offer a refreshing and unexpected variation, perfect for holiday seasons.
- Different Cake Sizes: This versatile recipe can be adapted for larger or smaller cakes. For a larger cake (e.g., a 9-inch/23 cm pan), you may need to increase all ingredient quantities by approximately 50% and adjust the baking time accordingly. For charming individual cupcakes, simply bake for a shorter duration, typically around 18-22 minutes.
- Themed Decorations Beyond Candies: Beyond the ribbon, consider enhancing your cake with small toy figures for a child’s themed birthday, edible glitter for a touch of glamour on a special anniversary, or even fresh flowers for an elegant garden party. The possibilities for creative decoration are truly endless!
Did you try this delightful recipe? We’d absolutely love to see your creations! Tag #byandreajanssen on Instagram to share your beautiful photos. I regularly feature the most inspiring bakes from my community on my social channels! And if you enjoyed making this festive cake, please take a moment to leave a rating on the recipe card below. Your valuable feedback helps fellow home cooks discover and enjoy this recipe, and it profoundly supports my passion for sharing delicious culinary adventures.
Looking for more baking inspiration and delicious treats? Don’t miss out!
- Explore a variety of engaging video recipes on my YouTube channel, where you can follow along step-by-step with my expert guidance.
- Don’t forget to save your favorite recipes on Pinterest! It’s the perfect way to organize your baking ideas and easily find them again for your next kitchen adventure.
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Andréa
Pin Recipe
Equipment
-
A conventional oven is used. When using a convection oven (with air fan) decrease the temperature with 30 °F / 20 °C.
-
Springform pan, 7¼ inches (18 cm) diameter, or a similar size round baking dish.
-
Heatproof bowl and saucepan for au bain-marie.
-
Electric mixer or stand mixer.
-
Spatula.
-
Wire cooling rack.
-
Long, serrated knife for slicing cake layers.
Ingredients
- 180 grams Milk Chocolate, (minimum 72 % cocoa, high quality recommended for best flavor)
- 100 ml milk
- 200 grams butter, (unsalted, softened to room temperature for easier creaming)
- 75 grams sugar
- 3 eggs, (large, at room temperature for better emulsification)
- 200 grams self-rising flour
- 400 grams chocolate mousse, (prepared or good quality store-bought, chilled)
- 375 grams KitKat, (mini bars, approximately 20-22 bars, unwrapped)
- 200 grams Smarties, (colorful chocolate candies, for decoration)
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
-
1. Preheat the oven to 355 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). If using a convection oven (with an air fan), decrease the temperature by 30 °F / 20 °C.
-
2. Prepare your baking pan: Cover the bottom of your 7¼ inches (18 cm) springform pan (or baking dish) with baking paper. Brush the sides generously with softened butter or baking spray to ensure easy release after baking.
-
3. Melt chocolate mixture: In a heatproof bowl, combine the milk and chopped milk chocolate. Heat them au bain-marie (place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, ensuring the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water) until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth. Stir occasionally to prevent scorching.
-
4. Cool: Remove the chocolate mixture from heat and let it cool down slightly to lukewarm while you prepare the rest of the batter.
-
5. Cream butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together with an electric mixer (or stand mixer) until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This usually takes about 3-5 minutes.
-
6. Incorporate eggs: Add the eggs one at a time to the butter-sugar mixture, beating well after each addition until fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is well mixed.
-
7. Add chocolate: Whisk the slightly cooled chocolate and milk mixture into the egg and butter batter until it is well combined and smooth.
-
8. Fold in flour: Using a spatula, gently fold the self-raising flour into the batter until just combined and no dry streaks remain. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a dense or tough cake.
-
9. Bake: Pour the prepared cake batter evenly into your prepared baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean and dry.
-
10. Cool: Let the baked cake cool completely to room temperature in the pan on a wire rack before attempting to handle or slice it. This is a critical step for structural integrity and preventing breakage.
-
11. Slice: Once completely cooled, carefully slice the cake horizontally into two even layers using a long, sharp serrated knife. For best results, chill the cake slightly before slicing.
-
12. Assemble: Place one cake layer on your chosen serving plate or cake stand. Spread half of the prepared chocolate mousse evenly over this layer, extending almost to the edges.
-
13. Top layer: Gently place the second cake layer on top of the chocolate mousse, aligning it carefully.
-
14. Frost: Use the remaining chocolate mousse to generously frost the top and sides of the entire cake, creating a smooth and even base for the decorations.
-
15. Decorate: Carefully place the KitKat mini bars vertically around the entire circumference of the cake, pressing them gently but firmly into the chocolate mousse to secure. Finally, sprinkle the colorful Smarties generously and creatively over the top of the cake. For an extra festive touch and added security, tie a decorative ribbon around the KitKats. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!