Photo credit: momlovesbaking.com
Last year I needed a cake to donate to the school dessert auction. I called Jen, my dessert auction expert, and she turned me onto this cake. It did not disappoint! I've since made it for 3 dessert auctions at the school (it gets invited personally to make an appearance), and is always good for delivering!
Just use a cake mix, put batter in 4 cupcake tins before putting the batter in the 9 inch pans. This helps keep the cake small enough that the Kit Kats are taller than the cake. If you don't make the cupcakes, there's just more of a dome to cut off when you level the cake - so it doesn't matter a bunch. Divide the batter between two 9-inch round cake pans equally between the two pans. Then bake them according to the package instructions.
Level off the cooled cakes to make them flat.
Frost with a chocolate frosting.
Line Kit Kats around the edge of the cake. My last cake used 43 Kit Kats, so have plenty on hand!
Once there are Kit Kats around the entire cake, fill the top with M&M's. A large bag will do - but not by much. Having 2 bags on hand is a good idea - or even that huge Party bag of M&M's (cheapest at Costco) works good.
Add a ribbon, and it's done!
This cake travels really well because the frosting is covered by the candy. You can wrap it in cellophane, gift basket style, and it's perfect.
The cake also is great for holidays because you can buy seasonal M&M's (Christmas red and green, Easter pastels, etc.) and matching ribbon.
