This is an easy to make St Patrick’s day cake that everyone will love – chocolate cake with a cheesecake center covered in fondant and gold coins – the perfect pot of gold cake for your holiday centerpiece.
I made the first Pot O’ Gold cake for my nieces St Patricks day themed party a few years ago. It was SO cute and so easy to make I now make it every year! There are very few cakes I ever repeat but this one and my carved pumpkin cake have become holiday staples.
The first time I made this cake I only had one round pan – 6 inch ball pan. But for some reason the ball pans NEVER make a perfectly round cake. cakes struggle to reach the top of a pan, and then of course you level them and they settle a little. SO I always fill them with either another cake layer or in this cake a crustless cheesecake!
This time around I thought it would be easier to see on the camera if it was larger so I did an 8 inch round cake and an 8 inch crustless cheesecake. Mmmmmmm More cake is ALWAYS a good choice. I think I’ll do an 8 inch every year!
The first time around I used my steamer to make the cake shiny – I loved the shiny cauldron cake. I TOTALLY FORGOT when I was doing the live video for the pot of gold cake! When I was editing the pictures I was like…. one of these things is not like the others… Although I did love the addition of the gold bars to the cake this time around!
Recipes and tools used in this pot of gold cake tutorial
- 2 half ball cakes (I used 8 inch but in the past have used 6 inch) I use this chocolate cake
- 8 or 6 inch cheesecake – about an inch tall – I used 1/3 of this recipe
- 1 lbs ganche
- frosting spatula
- Serrated Knife
- Turn Table
- fondant mat
- Black Fondant
- Extruder
- chocolate gold coins
- shortening
- steamer (optional for a shiny finish)
More Holiday themed cakes!
This is a LIVE video so it’s longer than normal as I answer questions and make a fool of myself being all dorky and silly. So of course you can forward to the good stuff! I’d love to hear what other recipes and cakes you’d like to see live or edited!
Do you have St Patrick’s Day tradition in the kitchen? I just make (for the first time ever) Corned beef!!! Yup the first time – AND in my new toy the instant pot!
So any other holiday’s you’d like me to come up with a fun and easy cake design for? Would you prefer video tutorials? or do you like the picture tutorials (or both?)?
Do not miss a single post. Subscribe to weekly recaps for Ashlee Marie by Email
Lucky Red Hen
February 28, 2013 at 8:14 amThat
looks
SOOO GOOD!!!
I dig that cheesecake is in there (my fave).
You never cease to amaze me.
Ashlee
March 27, 2013 at 12:36 amthanks!!! The cheesecake is a really fun center for my super moist cake, like DIVINE!
Kara
February 28, 2013 at 11:13 amOh man, that cheesecake layer in the middle sounds amazing! And of course the cake is over the top cute!
Ashlee
March 27, 2013 at 12:37 amthanks!!! I turned out SO amazing, I don’t konw that I’ll ever be able to make anything else for St. Patricks day!
nest of posies
March 3, 2013 at 4:51 pmthe cheesecake in the middle looks amazing! and this cake is outstanding!!!!
Ashlee
March 27, 2013 at 1:05 amit is TOTALLY amazing! It’s hard not to do it for every cake now, but my husband isn’t a cheesecake fan *gasp* so it’s not as often as i’d like!
Niki
March 3, 2013 at 6:34 pmThis is adorable!! It DID turn out great!!!
Ashlee
March 27, 2013 at 1:06 amthank you so so much! My kids all asked for it again this year! it works up fast and easy too!
Anjum Khan
March 4, 2013 at 1:46 amI can’t see it at all 🙁
Ashlee
March 27, 2013 at 1:07 amthat’s so weird, I’ve had a few comments lately about poeple not seeing posts. Try it again and if it still doesn’t work let me know what your viewing it on (pc, tablet, phone) and what browswer your using? That way I can work on the problem. thanks for letting me know.
somedaycrafts
March 4, 2013 at 1:54 amYOu ARe AMAZING! Seriously, you make it look so easy! You are much too talented!!!!
Ashlee
March 27, 2013 at 1:08 amawe thanks Michelle! I really enjoy doing it and coming up with new ideas!
Randi - Dukes and Duchesses
March 4, 2013 at 10:17 amYou are so stinkin’ talented! You made that look easy but I know my cake would never look that great!
Ashlee
March 27, 2013 at 1:10 amawe thanks! with a little bit of practice you can totally do it, seriously a few tips and tricks make all the difference!
Jennie
March 4, 2013 at 4:27 pmWOW Ashlee totally amazing. I am in awe, like mouth open in awe! GREAT WORK. hugs, jen
Ashlee
March 27, 2013 at 1:12 amthank you so much!!! I’m so in love with how it ended up! It’s always fun when people don’t believe it’s a cake until I cut into it! totally tickles me!
Heidi @ Mom's Crafty Space
March 4, 2013 at 4:30 pmThis is so awesome! You always make it look so simple, but there’s NO way mine would turn out even half as nice! 🙂
Ashlee
March 27, 2013 at 1:13 amyour so sweet! ganache instead of frosting, and good quality fondant makes a huge difference, or just come over and I’ll help 😉
Shannon
March 4, 2013 at 9:05 pmWow–fantastic cake! I really impressed. I love it!
Ashlee
March 27, 2013 at 1:16 amThank you so much! this is still one of my favorite cakes ever! hard to top, i need to come up with a fun design for every holiday, been trying to think of a 4th of July for years now, just not 100% in love with any idea yet.
Trish @ Uncommon
March 5, 2013 at 7:38 amOh my… you are one crazy talented lady! This is just amazing!
Take care,
Trish
Ashlee
March 27, 2013 at 1:20 amthanks! I love being a bit (or a lot) crazy!
Emily
March 14, 2013 at 9:46 amGreat cake! Quick question though: What size ball cake pan did you use? I can only find 6″ diameter pans. It seems like this one must be a bigger diameter.
Ashlee Prisbrey
March 27, 2013 at 1:51 amnope 6 inch is right! This is the pan I have http://amzn.to/XcLMfX 2 1/2 cups of batter in each side.
Audra
March 3, 2016 at 11:45 pmLady, you’re amazing. I’d love to take a class just to feel like I’m channeling your talent <3. Love this!
Ashlee
May 23, 2016 at 12:43 pmawww thank you so very much!