How to Build a Pot of Gold Cake

This shimmery St. Patrick's Day cake has a big surprise inside. 

Photo By: Con Poulos

Photo By: Jeff Harris/Studio D

Photo By: Jeff Harris/Studio D

Photo By: Jeff Harris/Studio D

Photo By: Jeff Harris/Studio D

Pot of Gold Cake

To create our layer cake filled with candy (aka a "pinata cake"), we spent weeks perfecting the recipe so the layers were moist but still structurally sound. Find out how we hid those M&M's in the following slides.

Get the Recipe: Pot of Gold Cake

Cut a 3-inch hole from the center of one cake layer with a paring knife; set the cake layer and the cutout aside.  

Score a 3-inch circle in the center of the other cake layer, then scoop out the middle without going all the way to the bottom; carefully transfer the cake to a serving plate. 

Spread the top of the scooped-out cake (but not inside the hole) with 1 cup frosting. Top with the other cake layer and pour the M&M’s into the hole. 

Slicing horizontally, cut off the top 1/2 inch from the reserved cutout to make a thin round; place on top of the candies to form a lid.