christmas cake recipe | Delicious Christmas Cake Recipe

Christmas cake recipe — a short introduction to this piece.

Christmas cake recipe: Quick Notes

Get ready for the holidays with a layered Christmas cake perfect for the season.

A Christmas cake that doubles as a holiday centerpiece?! Why not! If you’re thinking ahead to the holidays, and all the baking that is about to happen, this cute little cake might be the one to add to your seasonal repertoire. Soft, buttery layers, stacked with tangy cream cheese frosting and cranberry jam for that perfect mix of sweet and tart. Everything you want in a holiday dessert.

It’s a holiday classic that looks like it came from a bakery but tastes like home. Click through for this cute and tasty Christmas cake recipe.

Christmas Cake Ingredients

The secret is in the mix: real butter (softened to just the right temperature), sour cream for richness, and a splash of vanilla that brings everything together. This recipe makes 12–14 slices of cake.

Cake Ingredients (3 layers)

213 g (1⅔ cups) all-purpose flour
150 g (¾ cup) granulated sugar
1 g (¼ tsp) baking soda + 3 g (1 tsp) baking powder
176 g (¾ cup) unsalted butter, room temperature (it should be very soft)
3 large eggs, room temperature
115 g (½ cup) sour cream
15 mL (1 tbsp) vanilla extract
125 mL (½ cup) whole milk

Cream Cheese Frosting (filling & crumb coat)

300 g unsalted butter, room temperature
300 g powdered sugar, sifted
600 g cream cheese, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract

Tree Buttercream (decorating the cones)

150 g unsalted butter, room temperature
200 g powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla extract
Green gel food coloring

Assembly & Decoration

About 1 cup cranberry jam (store-bought or homemade)
6–8 sugar cones
Pomegranate seeds
Fresh rosemary sprigs
Powdered sugar, for dusting

How to Make a Christmas Cake

1. Bake the Christmas Cake Layers

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans.

In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk and sour cream until fully incorporated. Then, in the same bowl whisk flour, baking soda, and baking powder and incorporate with a spatula.

Next, divide the batter evenly among pans and smooth tops. Bake for 14 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove and let cool completely on wire racks.

2. Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

First, beat the butter until creamy. Then, add the powdered sugar gradually and beat until fluffy.

Next you’re going to mix in the cream cheese and vanilla. Beat until smooth and thick.

Tip: Chill the frosting 20–30 minutes if it feels too soft for layering.

3. Make the Green Buttercream for Trees

Beat butter until pale and fluffy. Then, add the powdered sugar (gradually). Mixing until smooth.

Next, mix in green food coloring until you reach your desired tree shade.

Finally, transfer to a piping bag fitted with a star tip (like Wilton 1M or 2D). I like this set that comes with multiple tips and the piping bags.

4. Assemble the Cake

Place one cake layer onto a serving plate. Then, spread a layer of cream cheese frosting on top. Next comes a thin layer of cranberry jam.

Repeat with the second cake layer, frosting, and jam. And then top with the final cake layer.

Apply a thin crumb coat of cream cheese frosting all over the cake. Chill for 20 minutes. Then frost the cake smoothly with the remaining cream cheese frosting.

5. Decorate with Christmas Trees

Place sugar cones upside down on parchment paper. Then, pipe green buttercream in small star-like motions to cover each cone, creating a tree effect.

Next, transfer the trees to the cake, arranging them on top and around the sides. Then, decorate the completed trees with pomegranate seeds as ornaments. Add rosemary sprigs around or on top of the cake

Lastly, lightly dust powdered sugar over the whole cake for a snowy look and it’s ready to serve.

Notes about making this Christmas Cake

Make-ahead option

Bake cake layers the day before, wrap well, and store at room temperature. You can also freeze them for longer storage.

Stability tip

Chill the cream cheese frosting for 20–30 minutes if it feels too soft. Then, it will spread more easily.

Decoration shortcut

If you’re short on time, decorate only 3–4 sugar cone trees and cluster them on top of the cake for a simple forest effect.

Balance of flavors

The tart cranberry jam cuts through the richness of the cream cheese frosting, so don’t skip it.

Transporting the Cake

If you need to move the cake, decorate the trees separately and place them on the cake at the final destination to avoid shifting.

FAQ

Can I use store-bought cranberry jam?

Yes, but if you have time, homemade cranberry jam will give the cake a fresher, more festive flavor.

How long does the cake last?

Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Can I freeze the cake layers?

Yes. Wrap cooled cake layers in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before assembling.

Can I use a different frosting instead of cream cheese?

Yes! A classic American buttercream or Swiss meringue buttercream works well if you prefer a sweeter or more stable option.

Can I make this cake gluten-free?

Yes. Replace the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. The texture will be slightly different but still delicious.

What size pans can I use instead of 8-inch?

You can use two 9-inch pans instead of three 8-inch pans. Adjust baking time by adding 3–5 minutes

How do I get vibrant green buttercream?

Use gel food coloring instead of liquid—it gives a richer color without thinning the buttercream.

Can I freeze the decorated cake?

It’s not recommended because the buttercream trees and decorations may lose their shape. Instead, freeze only the cake layers ahead of time.

Christmas Cake

Brittni

A Christmas cake that doubles as a holiday centerpiece? Why not?! If you’re thinking ahead to the holidays, and all the baking that is about to happen, this cute little cake might be the one to add to your seasonal repertoire. Soft, buttery layers, stacked with tangy cream cheese frosting and cranberry jam for that perfect mix of sweet and tart. Everything you want in a holiday dessert.

Cake Ingredients (3 layers)

213 g 1⅔ cups all-purpose flour
150 g ¾ cup granulated sugar
1 g ¼ tsp baking soda + 3 g (1 tsp) baking powder
176 g ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature (it should be very soft)
3 large eggs room temperature
115 g ½ cup sour cream
15 mL 1 tbsp vanilla extract
125 mL ½ cup whole milk

Cream Cheese Frosting (filling & crumb coat)

300 g unsalted butter room temperature
300 g powdered sugar sifted
600 g cream cheese softened
1 tsp vanilla extract

Tree Buttercream (decorating the cones)

150 g unsalted butter room temperature
200 g powdered sugar sifted
1 tsp vanilla extract
Green gel food coloring

Assembly & Decoration

About 1 cup cranberry jam store-bought or homemade
6 –8 sugar cones
Pomegranate seeds
Fresh rosemary sprigs
Powdered sugar for dusting

Bake the Christmas Cake Layers

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans.
In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk and sour cream until fully incorporated. Then, in the same bowl whisk flour, baking soda, and baking powder and incorporate with a spatula.
Next, divide the batter evenly among pans and smooth tops. Bake for 14 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove and let cool completely on wire racks.

Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

First, beat the butter until creamy. Then, add the powdered sugar gradually and beat until fluffy.
Next you’re going to mix in the cream cheese and vanilla. Beat until smooth and thick.
Tip: Chill the frosting 20–30 minutes if it feels too soft for layering.

Make the Green Buttercream for Trees

Beat butter until pale and fluffy. Then, add the powdered sugar (gradually). Mixing until smooth.
Next, mix in green food coloring until you reach your desired tree shade.
Finally, transfer to a piping bag fitted with a star tip (like Wilton 1M or 2D). I like this set that comes with multiple tips and the piping bags.

Christmas cake recipe appears here to highlight key ideas for readers.