Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  18.25   Ounces        white cake mix
   3                    egg white
   1 1/3  cups          buttermilk
   2      tablespoons   vegetable oil
   9      Ounces        yellow cake mix*
     1/2  cup           buttermilk
   1                    egg
   1 1/2  tablespoons   cocoa
     1/2  teaspoon      liquid red food coloring
   1      teaspoon      cider vinegar
                        peppermint cream cheese frosting
                        **GARNISHES**
                        holiday trees
   6      5 inch        candy canes -- crushed
  12      5 inch        green candy canes -- , broken
  12                    round peppermint candies
                        **PEPPERMINT CREAM CHEESE ICING**
   8      Ounces        cream cheese -- softened
   1      cup           butter or margarine -- softended
   2      pounds        package powdered sugar
   2      teaspoons     peppermint extract

Preparation:

BEAT: first 4 ingredients according to cake mix package directions. BEAT: yellow cake mix and next 6 ingredients according to package directions. Spoon red batter alternately with white batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cakepans. Swirl batter gently with a knife. BAKE: at 350 for 22-25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rackes 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool on wire racks. PEPPERMINT CREAM CHEESE ICING: BEAT: cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating at low speed until smooth. Add extract, beating until blended. FOR QUICK PEPPERMINT ICING: stir together 3 (16-ounce) containers of ready to spread cream cheese frosting and 2 teaspoons of peppermint extract. (2 Teaspoons vanilla extract may be substituted) SPREAD: Peppermint cream cheese frosting between layers and on top and on sides of cake. (Cake may be chilled up to 2 days or frozen up to 1 month) Garnish, if desired. Serve within 2 hours. *1 3/4 cups yellow cake mix may be substituted.