Chocolate Peppermint Trifle

Ingredients:
For the Cake:
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

For the whipped cream:
2 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
For garnish:
2 Peppermint candy canes, crushed
1 tablespoon semi-sweet baking chocolate, grated

For the chocolate filling
1 (3.9 oz) package instant Chocolate pudding
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
Peppermint baking chips

Directions:

• Heat oven to 375°. Line a 15 x 10 inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Spray with non-stick spray grease with butter.
• In stand mixer, add eggs. Whip on high for 5 minutes until light in color and thickened. Turn mixer to low and add vanilla and water. 
• Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder. Gradually add dry ingredients to eggs and beat just until batter is smooth.
• Spread batter evenly on cake pan. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool cake completely. Whip chocolate pudding mix with milk until soft set. In another container, whip cream until soft peaks form. Add cream to pudding and mix well. 
• Add peppermint baking chips and fold together.
• In a separate bowl, whip cream and powdered sugar until soft peaks form.
• To assemble trifle, break up cake and divide into 3 portions. Line the bottom of the trifle dish with 1/3 of the cake. 
• Top with 1/2 of the chocolate pudding mixture. Top with 1/3 of the whipped cream. Add more cake, pudding, cream. Them cake and cream. 
• Garnish with crushed peppermints and grated chocolate.