Chocolate Holiday Loaf

Serves: 8

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: ~50 min

Surprise your party guests with this fun chocolate loaf topped off with a peppermint glaze. It’s basically the winter holidays in a pan. It is perfectly soft, with just enough crunch from the glaze. Enjoy with a warm tea, mulled cider, or vanilla ice cream!

Ingredients

½ cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 tbs vanilla extract

½ cup sour cream

½ cup milk

2 eggs

1 ¼ cup King Arthur flour

⅓ cup cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

¼ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

⅔ cup dark chocolate chips

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tsp milk

½ tsp Peppermint Extract

Crushed candy cane

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Line the bottom and grease the sides of a 5 x 10 inch baking loaf.

3. In a medium size bowl, whisk the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

4. In a stand mixer, cream the sugar and butter for about 1-2 minutes. Add in the eggs and vanilla. Mix until well incorporated.

5. Then in a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate in 30 second intervals to avoid burning, and add into the standing mixer bowl. Mix again until well incorporated.

6. Add in the flour and milk, alternating between the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients to prevent a huge mess.

7. Bake in the oven for 45-55 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean. If you are noticing the loaf is burning on the edges, cover with aluminum foil.

8. Rest the loaf on a lined rack for about 20 min to allow it to cool completely.

9. Just before you’re ready to serve, add the powdered sugar, milk and peppermint extract together in a bowl. You’ll likely need more milk to get the desired consistency.

10. Drizzle the glaze over the loaf and sprinkle as much of the crushed candy cane pieces as you want on top.

11. Enjoy!