How to make a Kit Kat Cake

It was my daughter’s 4th birthday last month and the birthday girl always gets to choose the cake. I’ve never made a superhero cake, but I’ve done many fairy cakes, a Castle Cake, a Ladybird cake, Under the Sea Cake, Number Four Cake, Confetti Cake, Garden theme cake, and plenty more. This time, I breathed a sigh of relief when Miss H requested the Kit Kat Cake. If you’re contemplating your child’s next birthday cake and want something that’s easy, quick and has plenty of “wow factor”, this cake is the answer. In a few easy steps I’ll show you how to make a Kit Kat cake.  No special baking skills are required to create this colourful, fun, eye-catching cake that will impress adults and kids alike!

You can make the Kit Kat Cake using your favourite chocolate cake recipe. Any cake will do. Just use your “go-to” cake and bake it in two tins. The best thing about this cake is it will hide any imperfections. The whole cake will be iced in chocolate buttercream and then covered with candy. You can even make things easier on yourself by baking the cake ahead of time, cover with plastic wrap then put in the freezer.

How to make a Kit Kat Cake

What you need:

– Kit Kats. Approximately 8 packets of regular sized Kit Kats (equalling 36 individual fingers.) Buy more than you need, for tasting purposes!

– Smarties or M&M’s (or a combination of both!). 1 packet is adequate but adequate is not really what we’re after here, is it? Buy two packets and use what you “need.”

– Buttercream icing (recipe to follow)

– A cake board, palette knife, willingness to taste-test, and a sense of fun!

Getting started

To ensure the assembly of the cake goes smoothly, prepare your workstation. It’s a good idea to break up your Kit Kats in advance. You will want these broken into two-finger pieces. Snap your regular sized Kit Kats into pairs while they are still in packet. This way you are not using your fingertips and transferring your fingerprints. Line up all your Kit Kats and if any are smudged set aside for baker’s consumption!

Use your favourite chocolate cake recipe and divide the mixture into two 9-inch cake (22cm) pans. Once cooked (when a skewer comes out clean) allow to cool completely. Don’t worry if your cakes do not look perfect – they don’t need to! Once the two chocolate cakes are cooked and cooled, remove from baking pan and trim off the “dome” that forms on most layer cakes so that the cakes are perfectly flat on the top and bottom.

Making the buttercream

Chocolate Buttercream Icing Recipe

– 300g butter, softened

– 5 cups soft icing mixture, sifted

– ¾ -1 cup cocoa, sifted (depending on your desired strength of chocolate flavour)

– 5 tbsp. milk

Method

– Using an electric mixer beat the butter until pale and fluffy.

– Add the icing mixture and cocoa a little at a time until fully incorporated.

– When this is fully combined add the milk and the chocolate buttercream will become light and fluffy.

Assembling the cake

Put a dollop of buttercream on the serving plate or cake board to glue down the first layer of cake. Then, cover the first layer with buttercream and lay down your second flat layer of cake. Cover completely around and the top of the cake with the buttercream and be generous about it.

Now you’re ready to decorate! Simply place the Kit Kat pairs around the sides of the cake, pushing them into the buttercream icing. Using Kit Kats in pairs around the edge of provides a perfect guide when cutting the cake. Continue around the circumference of the cake, and then fill the top with M&Ms and you’re almost done. Use a colourful ribbon to tie around the cake for a striking finish. As well as being decorative a ribbon provides additional support to the cake.

Variations: You can also substitute the M & M’s for smarties, jelly beans, flakes or mars bars. White chocolate Kit Kats also look fabulous around a white chocolate mud cake. Use your imagination and come up with a unique design.

Not only does this cake look awesome, it is so easy to make. No cake decorating skills are required and it will impress all the guests. Happy baking!

If you have any questions about making this cake, or suggested variations, please leave a comment below. I reckon next time I might make this with white chocolate Kit Kats!

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