Do ever look at your holiday leftovers and you can’t even imagine what you’re going to do with the amount of food you have? I’ve been there. If you’re family isn’t a fan of eating the same thing for three nights, but you don’t want to waste food, I’ve got a great recipe for using leftover mashed potatoes. This Mashed Potato Chocolate Cake fools everyone – you’d never know what’s in it – and it tastes moist (thanks to the spuds).

The tradition of mashed potato cake comes from the “potato state” which is Idado. Farmers had an abundance of produce for their families. Women got creative in the kitchen and mashed potato cake was invented! There’s even mashed potato ice cream too.

I haven’t gone as far to try ice cream, but our family certainly loves this cake recipe. It uses traditional mashed potatoes – so you don’t want to use any funky flavors. Avoid garlic, onion and horseradish potatoes. Just use leftover traditional mashed potatoes and you’ll have an amazing cake.

My kids would never try this if they knew it had mashed potatoes in it, but they are none the wiser. They love this mashed potato chocolate cake and I’m never sharing my secret with them!

Looking for more leftover Thanksgiving recipes? Here are some favorite recipes to try:

• Easy Turkey Pot Pie
• Thanksgiving Egg Rolls
• Cranberry Oatmeal Bars
• Christmas Cranberry Coffee Cake

How To Make Leftover Mashed Potato Chocolate Cake

The idea is that you’re using leftover mashed potatoes, but you can certainly buy store-bought mashed potatoes if you don’t have any leftovers. What gives the cake the chocolate flavor is cocoa powder! The spuds release moisture into the cake and you’re left with a delicious and simple chocolate cake.

For this recipe, you’ll use a 9×13-inch baking dish. This is a common size baking dish for many sheet cakes and casserole recipes. If you don’t already have one, it’s a must-have for the kitchen and a great investment. Other than that, I make my cake using my stand mixer, but you can use a hand mixer if you don’t own one yet.

When To Make Leftover Mashed Potato Chocolate Cake

As the name states, it’s the perfect cake to use the day after you’ve made mashed potatoes. For our family, we’ve made this cake after Thanksgiving and even after Christmas. Since mashed potatoes last in the refrigerator, I’ll make the cake for our New Years Eve dinner.

I love the idea of not wasting any food. The price of groceries is way too expensive to let food go to waste. Our family has a tendency to make too many side dishes for the holidays and this is the perfect cake to ensure none of our potatoes are going to waste.

Why Is There No Frosting?

This recipe is just for the cake and I typically don’t add a frosting. I’ve sprinkled powdered sugar over the top, which is definitely the easiest way to top the cake! If you want to make a homemade chocolate buttercream frosting, just frost the cake after it’s been cooled.

What To Serve With Mashed Potato Chocolate Cake

I love to add homemade whipped cream, fresh berries or ice cream to the cake. For garnish, a sprig of fresh mint looks beautiful. Whenever I serve dessert to guests, I make a fresh pot of coffee too. If you want to add another dimension of flavor, you can throw some caramel sauce on top!

How To Keep Mashed Potato Cake Fresh

Once the cake is cooled and served, you can cover it with plastic wrap. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated. The cake will stay fresh for 3-4 days to enjoy. Freeze any leftovers after that.

If you prefer the cake to be refrigerated, feel free to throw it into the fridge. Keep it covered. Let it thaw to room temperature before serving again. The cake might need a fresh dusting of powdered sugar on top when you serve it again.

Freezing Mashed Potato Chocolate Cake

If you freeze any leftovers, be sure to wrap it well with plastic wrap and foil to avoid freezer burn. The cake will be good, in the freezer, for up to three months. You can thaw the cake to room temperature on your counter before serving again. Discard any leftovers after three months in the freezer.

What You Need From The Grocery Store:

• Butter
• Sugar
• Eggs
• Cold Mashed Potatoes (Leftovers – with no added flavors)
• Vanilla
• All-Purpose Flour
• Cocoa
• Baking Soda
• Milk

Step-By-Step Directions To Make Mashed Potato Chocolate Cake

Preheat the oven to 350º. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in potatoes and vanilla.

Combine Flour, cocoa, and baking soda in a small bowl.

Add it into the wet mixture, alternating with milk. Blend well after each addition. Add in nuts and stir.

Pour into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.

Bake at 350º for 40-45 minutes or until cake tests done with a toothpick. Cool on a wire rack. Garnish with fresh whipped cream, powdered sugar or berries.