Sunflower Peep Cake

I have never been very good at baking cakes but this one is so easy and the frosting is unbelievable!  This is a sweet recipe for Easter sure to put a smile on the faces of your families.  You could easily use any color peeps to make a different "flower". 

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

 

2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 cup carbonated beverage (Coke, Sprite, 7 UP)

1 teaspoon vanilla

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup cocoa

pinch of salt

4 cups powdered sugar

Garnish

Yellow Peeps Chicks (enough to go around the top edge of your cake (I used 3 sleeves)

6 oz. chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate chips)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt together.  Cream sugar, mayonnaise, carbonated beverage (I used Coke),  and vanilla.   Add the dry ingredients to the wet.  Stir until well blended.   Prepare two round 8" or 9" pans by spraying them with nonstick baking spray with flour in it or greasing and flouring them.  You can also ensure the cake will turn out by cutting two rounds of parchment or wax paper and placing in the bottom of your pans.  Spray paper and all with nonstick spray.  I used 9" pans.

 

Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Remove and let cool for about 15 to 20 minutes before turning them out of the pan.  

Prepare the cream cheese frosting while the cakes cool completely.  Beat cream cheese and butter together until light and fluffy.  Add the salt, cocoa, and vanilla and blend together.  Gradually add in the confectioner's sugar.  When your cakes have cooled, place them on your cake plate and frost.  Press the Peeps around the edge of the cake while the frosting is fresh and still soft.  Then sprinkle the chocolate chip in the middle for the sunflower seeds.  

Original recipe came from http://sweetteaandcornbread.blogspot.com/search/label/chocolate