Christmas cakes come in all shapes and sizes, from Yule logs and towering layer cakes to antlered reindeer treats, to create a sweet holiday centerpiece.
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Yule Log
From the Recipe Creator:
This particular chocolate Yule log recipe has been a favorite Christmas dessert for my family. —Bernadette Colvin, Tomball, Texas
A Yule log cake, also called a Buche de Noel, is a rolled sponge cake shaped and decorated to resemble a wooden log. This fanciful dessert is a holiday baking tradition that dates back to 19th-century France, and it’s one of those Christmas cake ideas we can’t get enough of.
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Grinch Pound Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Slice into a loaf of this Grinch pound cake, and you'll find a giant heart—just like the Whos of Whoville eventually found in the Grinch. —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Red Velvet Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
It's just not Christmas at our house until this festive cake appears. This is different from other red velvets I’ve had; the icing is as light as snow. For quicker assembly, you can leave the layers untrimmed and simply frost the top and side of the cake with icing. —Kathryn Davison, Charlotte, North Carolina
A stunning red velvet cake topped with snowy white icing is the perfect holiday centerpiece. Make sure you have plenty of red food coloring on hand (we know it sees a lot of use this time of year!). To decorate, make it easy on yourself and top with small bottlebrush trees.
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Eggnog Tres Leches Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
When the holidays roll around, my family eagerly anticipates sampling this cake. Its rich eggnog flavor is delightful. —Jan Valdez, Chicago, Illinois
During the holidays, give a classic tres leches cake a seasonal makeover. This recipe uses eggnog in place of heavy cream. It’s one of our favorite eggnog desserts this time of year.
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Sticky Toffee Pudding
From the Recipe Creator:
The classic sticky toffee pudding is a traditional dessert in the United Kingdom. I love that I can just stay home and bake this cake version, featuring saucy butterscotch. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
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Dundee Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Hailing from Scotland, Dundee cake is laced with orange marmalade and raisins and baked at a low temperature for a long period of time. This recipe is fruitcake's simpler cousin. —Suzanne Podhaizer, St. Johnsbury, Vermont
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Mint Swirl Fudge Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Mint pairs with a silky, mild chocolate flavor for this colorful, beautiful cake that will be the talk of the holiday buffet. —Heidi Kelly, Norwood, Missouri
Creme de menthe gives this cake its signature color and flavor (use store-bought or make homemade creme de menthe). Guests will be pleasantly surprised to a see a minty ribbon when you slice into this Bundt cake.
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Baklava Cheesecake
From the Recipe Creator:
My unique baklava cheesecake makes a grand display for office parties and other special events. —Aryanna Gamble, New Orleans, Louisiana
The phyllo crust of this cheesecake gives the Christmas dessert a wonderful crunch. For a holiday look, garnish with rosemary sprigs and sugared cranberries.
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Upside-Down Fruitcake
From the Recipe Creator:
I get tired of people bad-mouthing fruitcake. It's one of my favorite holiday flavors and I look forward to it every year. This year, I decided to combine it with everyone's favorite: upside-down cake. Try to say no to this fruitcake—I dare you! —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Looking for Christmas cake ideas you’ve never seen before? This recipe turns a classic fruitcake on its head—literally. This cake is topped with plenty of holiday fruits and a good splash of bourbon (you could also use rum).
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Reindeer Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Whether you turn this cake into a reindeer or decorate it with your own creative vision, it’s a three-layer stunner that will command center stage at your next holiday get-together. Embrace your baking prowess! —Lauren Knoelke, Des Moines, Iowa
Who doesn’t love a cake that goes over the top—especially for the most festive holiday of the year? This reindeer cake uses melted chocolate for antlers and buttercream icing for all the piped details.
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Lane Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
I just love this southern-style dessert, and so do dinner guests. With pecans, cherries and raisins in the filling and topping, this version reminds me of a fruitcake—only so much better! —Mabel Parvi, Ridgefield, Washington
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Minted Chocolate Torte
From the Recipe Creator:
Our family has enjoyed this remarkable layered cake for years. It's a favorite for many occasions. —Barbara Humiston, Tampa, Florida
This torte (a cake with many thin layers) is a wonderful addition to any Christmas sweet spread. Topped with a fudgy frosting and crushed mint candies, how could anyone resist?
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Vanilla Ring Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Yes, the amount is correct—you add 2 tablespoons of vanilla to the batter. A friend who shared this recipe years ago loved the taste of vanilla and wanted this cake to taste just as good. I like to use Mexican vanilla in this recipe. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
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Spice Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Whenever I get a craving for a tasty old-fashioned treat, I make this cake. Great cooks in my family have been baking it for generations, and their families have been enjoying the wonderful spice flavor and rich frosting. —Nancy Duty, Jacksonville, Florida
Got a craving for classic, vintage desserts this holiday season? Get some Christmas cake ideas, including this spice cake, from Grandma’s recipe box. The cake is flavored with cinnamon, allspice, cloves and nutmeg. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and sage leaves for a truly seasonal look.
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Gingerbread Bundt Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This gorgeous gingerbread Bundt cake's light and airy yet moist texture has made me a true fan. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
The holidays are a great excuse to break out festive cake pans. Use a fun Bundt pan to create this gingerbread cake. The best part of this style of cake is that a dusting of confectioners’ sugar is all you need to decorate it.
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Cranberry Layer Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
I adapted a Bundt cake recipe to create this layer cake. Cranberries, walnuts and homemade frosting make it taste so delicious that you'd never guess it starts with a convenient cake mix. —Sandy Burkett, Galena, Ohio
This cake combines cranberry and orange, one of the season’s best flavor combos. In each slice you’ll also get the crunch of walnuts.
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Snowman Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
You can create this snowman without any special equipment. Kids and adults will smile when they see this cute cake. —Betsey Ross, Chebeague Island, Maine
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Coffee Cheesecake
From the Recipe Creator:
Coffee lovers will line up for this rich coffee cheesecake. It's creamy and just mildly sweet, which allows the coffee flavor to shine through. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
For an after-dinner pick-me-up, serve this coffee cheesecake. It’s rich yet not too sweet. And be sure to follow these steps to prevent your cheesecake from cracking.
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Limoncello Tiramisu
From the Recipe Creator:
We love everything about this wonderful dessert—from the light lemon flavor and creamy Mascarpone to the crunchy, crushed macaroon on top. We think you'll enjoy it too. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Eggnog Pound Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
When you're having company, this cake—served with a custard sauce and a dash of nutmeg—inspires oohs and aahs. —Audrey Kaalaas, Kirkland, Illinois
This cake starts with a package of yellow cake mix and then gets infused with plenty of flavor thanks to eggnog and a sprinkling of nutmeg. Serve slices with a spoonful of the velvety custard sauce.
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Black Forest Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
As far as I know, this cake recipe can be traced back to my German great-grandma. When I got married, my mother gave me a copy and I hope to someday pass it down to my children. —Stephanie Travis, Fallon, Nevada
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Gingerbread Roll Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This nicely seasoned gingerbread holds a sweet, creamy filling. This gingerbread Yule log is surprisingly light, so it's easy to indulge in a generous slice after a hearty meal. —Bernadette Colvin, Lexington, Kentucky
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Fruit Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This is my own fruitcake recipe, and it's a family favorite. I think it has just the right mix of nuts and fruit. —Allene Spence, Delbarton, West Virginia
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Brooklyn Blackout Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
If you love chocolate, you will LOVE this cake. I found this recipe when looking for a special cake to make for my chocolate-loving daughter-in-law's birthday. Be sure to give the pudding and the cake enough time to cool or the end results will be disappointing. —Donna Bardocz, Howell, Michigan
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Rich Cranberry Coffee Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
When our children come home for the holidays, I make sure to bake this cranberry coffee cake. I always use fresh berries in season, then put a few bags in the freezer for later on. That way, we can enjoy this moist cake any time we want! —Mildred Schwartzentruber, Tavistock, Ontario
Hosting a holiday brunch? You can still make a Christmas cake—just make it coffee cake! This recipe uses tart cranberries and rich cream cheese.
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Coconut Pound Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This cake is easy to make and is always a big hit. I like to serve it with ice cream for a double-dose treat! —Audrey Kaalaas, Kirkland, Illinois
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Pineapple Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This delicious cake is one of my own invention. It has been a huge hit among family and friends and even inspired fierce bidding at a local charity auction! —Greta Kirby, Carthage, Tennessee
While you can lean into seasonal flavors for Christmas cake ideas, you can also try something entirely different! This cake looks wonderfully wintry, but inside it’s full of pineapple and macadamia nut flavor.
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Flourless Chocolate Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
One bite and you'll agree it's pure pleasure for confirmed chocoholics! A small slice of this rich, dense dessert goes a long way. Chocolate ganache on top takes it to the next level. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Contest-Winning Eggnog Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This impressive layered eggnog cake, perfect for holiday parties, will make you wish eggnog wasn't a seasonal ingredient. —Debra Frappolli, Wayne, New Jersey
This impressive layer cake uses eggnog in the cake and the frosting. Make sure you have a full carton of the best eggnog in your fridge before you start this recipe!
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Cranberry Christmas Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
The ruby cranberries in this recipe stay bright and beautiful, and their tartness is irresistible. I've made this cranberry Christmas cake many times to share. —Marilyn Paradis, Woodburn, Oregon
Who doesn’t love an easy Christmas dessert for a crowd, especially during the busy holiday season? This cake takes just minutes to prep and makes enough to serve a whole crowd—perfect for a packed holiday house.
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Cherry Chocolate Marble Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Cherries and chocolate are natural partners that make desserts such as this simply scrumptious! The marbled effect is easily achieved by layering the two contrasting batters. —Sandra Campbell, Chase Mills, New York
Chocolate-covered cherries pop up on treat platters this time of year. Transform these candies into a dessert to share with this marbled chocolate cake.
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Italian Cream Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Buttermilk makes every bite of this awesome Italian cream cheese cake recipe moist and flavorful. I rely on this recipe year-round. —Joyce Lutz, Centerview, Missouri
This time of year, many of us lean into cultural traditions. After serving up a delicious Feast of the Seven Fishes, serve up an Italian-inspired cake like this one.
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Ginger-Glazed Lemon Bundt
From the Recipe Creator:
Tangy ginger, tart lemon and puckery cranberries make this melt-in-your-mouth cake as crisp and gorgeous as autumn. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Citrus is at its peak in the winter months. Use plenty of lemons to flavor this cake—and then add ginger for extra zing.
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Holiday Snow Globe Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
I can change up the decorations on this cake depending on the holiday—or birthday. My daughter loves this Christmas version. —Marie Louise Ludwig, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Really want to show off your cake-decorating skills? This cake is it! Create holiday figures from fondant or cookies and then place a glass dome over the top. This will give it a snow globe effect.
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Mint Angel Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
One sight of this lovely cake will have guests saving room for dessert! For an easy garnish, sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
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Olive Oil Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
A good olive oil cake isn't overly sweet. It can just as easily be a breakfast treat or an afternoon snack or a dessert. —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
During the Christmas season, you’ll find yourself bombarded with sweets. After enjoying plenty of cookies (and a Christmas feast), serve up a treat that’s not overly sugary. This olive oil cake is a great Italian treat that’s flavored with plenty of almonds. It’s great after dinner or served alongside brunch.
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Chocolate Hazelnut Torte
From the Recipe Creator:
Most cake recipes feed a crowd. So we came up with this elegant little cake that serves six. That's enough for two … with just the right amount of leftovers! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
For those looking for cake ideas that are also small-batch Christmas desserts, try this recipe! It makes just enough cake to serve six. Plus, with plenty of chocolate flavor and hazelnuts, no one will be able to resist.
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Red Velvet Pound Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This delicious red velvet pound cake is the perfect combination of flavors. Make sure the cake has cooled before icing it; for extra crunch, sprinkle some roasted pecans on top. —Robin Smith, Old Fort, North Carolina
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Poteca Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Rock Springs is home to 56 nationalities, and this recipe showcases its Slavic heritage. It’s one of my favorite ethnic holiday treats. —Rachelle Stratton, Rock Springs, Wyoming
Poteca is a popular Slavic dessert. This nutty cake takes some time to make, so it’s often saved for special occasions like Christmas.
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White Fruitcake
From the Recipe Creator:
Years ago, when I attended Koloa Missionary Church in Hawaii, a friend gave me this recipe. Now I whip up at least 60 loaves for the holidays. —Eileen Sokolowski Flatt, Chandler, Arizona
What is a list of Christmas cake ideas without fruitcake? This white fruitcake is one of our top-rated recipes and pleases even those skeptical of this traditional treat.
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Peppermint Cheesecake
From the Recipe Creator:
People are thrilled when they see me coming with this rich, smooth cheesecake—it's always a crowd-pleaser. Not only does it look sensational, but it is so scrumptious. —Carrie Price, Ottawa, Illinois
Crushed Oreos form the foundation for this cheesecake. Paired with a creamy peppermint filling, this cake will have your guests lining up for a second slice!
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Gingerbread Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
The rich molasses and spice flavor of this old-time dessert is complemented with a buttery caramel sauce. —Joy Sparks, Muskegon, Michigan
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Chocolate Cake Roll with Praline Filling
From the Recipe Creator:
This showstopping cake roll was one of the first “complicated” recipes I ever attempted to prepare. I discovered it was easier to make than I’d thought—and worth every bit of effort! —Joan Carrico, Grand Junction, Colorado
Learning how to make a cake roll is so satisfying—and the results look impressive. This recipe pairs chocolate cake with a creamy frosting speckled with praline.
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Coconut Chiffon Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Toasted coconut adds visual appeal to this tall and impressive cake. With an airy texture and heavenly coconut-ginger flavor, it's a lovely end to meals throughout the year. —Fern Hancock, Pueblo, Colorado
Chiffon cakes have a very light texture, meaning almost everyone at the dinner table will be able to make room for a slice. Be sure to toast the coconut for color, crunch and flavor.
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Ginger-Walnut Tube Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband, Ken, loves this tube cake with its bits of crystallized ginger. Feel free to drizzle it with a lemony glaze. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey
Crystallized ginger adds crunch and zingy flavor to this pound cake. Be sure to save some extra tidbits to sprinkle over the top along with a simple glaze.
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White Christmas Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
“Wow!” is the reaction from family and guests when they see and taste this lovely three-layer beauty. White chocolate, coconut and pecans make it so delicious. You can bake the cake layers in advance and freeze them. Then assemble and decorate the cake the day of the party. —Nancy Reichert, Thomasville, Georgia
Dreaming of a white Christmas? You can get a bite of it with this cake: a fluffy white sponge filled with pecans and coconut. This layered confection is topped with a velvety cream cheese frosting.
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Brown Sugar Pound Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This tender pound cake is the first one I mastered. You'll want to eat the browned butter icing by the spoonful. —Shawn Barto, Winter Garden, Florida
This pound cake is so simple to make. The best part: The browned butter icing tastes just like pecan pralines.
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Sacher Torte
From the Recipe Creator:
Guests will be surprised to hear that this Sacher torte recipe starts with a convenient cake mix. Each bite features chocolate, almonds and apricots. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Sacher torte is a traditional Austrian dessert. While it’s served all year long, it’s particularly popular at Christmas. This version is simple to make at home; it starts with a chocolate cake mix!
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Plum Poppy Seed Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe uses plums and poppy seeds for the most traditional Polish version of this dessert, but you can also use nectarines or even apricots. One tip: Do not push the plums into the batter. Just let them sit on top. They will sink in a bit as they bake. —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
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Rum Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
We like a touch of rum for the holidays, and this orangy rum cake is decadent alone or with big swoops of whipped cream. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Get into the Christmas spirit(s) with this rum-soaked cake. For the holidays, be sure to break out a bottle of the good stuff.
Christmas Cakes FAQ
What cakes are popular at Christmas?
Festive cakes with decorative touches or garnishes that evoke the season, like snowy coconut, sugared cranberries and chocolate stars, are popular at Christmas. Yule logs, red and green cakes flavored with cranberries or mint, and red velvet are also great choices that fit in with holiday decor. Cakes scented with fall spices or rich with chocolate are cozy when it’s cold out.
What is the most traditional Christmas cake?
Love it or hate it, holiday fruitcakes are one of the most traditional Christmas desserts. Fruitcake is a dense cake loaded with dried fruits, nuts and spices. It’s classically spritzed with or soaked in a spirit, like brandy, to preserve and flavor it. It’s a rare example of a cake that improves over time. Like many classics, there are endless different fruitcake recipes with varying ingredients and spice blends, so if you think you don’t like it, you just may not have had the right one.
How long does a Christmas cake last?
How long a Christmas cake lasts depends entirely on the type of cake and its ingredients. Fruitcake, due largely to the alcohol that preserves it, can last for months. Light sponge cakes, like cake rolls, or butter-based layer cakes with dairy fillings will last in the refrigerator for about one week when well wrapped. Unfrosted cakes, like pound cakes and Bundts, can be stored at room temperature for three to seven days or frozen for six to eight months.
