A delicious collection of showstopping Christmas cakes for your holiday spread! From easy cupcakes and single-layer cakes to spectacular layer cakes and roll cakes, this collection features classic flavors, festive twists, and lots of tips!
I know Christmas cookies are what everyone’s thinking as the holiday draws near. I make cookie boxes to gift every year, myself.
But it’s also just the most perfect time to bake something truly special.
Whether you’re planning a simple, cozy family dinner for Christmas, or hosting a holiday party, or just want a little sweet treat to enjoy with a cup of tea or mug of creamy hot chocolate, nothing sets the mood quite like a beautiful homemade cake.
Here, I’m sharing a curated list of 30 Christmas cakes and cupcakes to give you lots of sweet inspiration for the festive season. Plus, tips for baking cakes, decorating and presenting them for the holidays, and how to store them for the best flavor and freshness.
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Multi-layer cakes
A multi-layer cake is always a celebratory choice, especially if you’re looking to bake something special for guests, friends, and family during the holiday season.
From traditional Christmas cakes to showstoppers with festive flavors, I know you’ll love baking, sharing, and enjoying these layered cakes.
1. Red velvet cake
Red velvet cake
Super soft, moist, melt-in-your-mouth delicious with the perfect buttermilk flavor and velvety crumb! And then frosted with my absolutely favorite tangy cream cheese frosting!
Red velvet cake recipe
2. Cheesecake stuffed gingerbread cake
Gingerbread cake with hidden cheesecake layer
How do you make a holiday classic like gingerbread cake even better? With a hidden layer of delicious, rich, creamy cheesecake is how!This gingerbread cake is sweet, spicy, moist, fudgy, and so easy to make too.
Gingerbread cake recipe
3. Classic white cake
White cake
Classic white cake has no egg yolks and only uses egg whites, lending to that beautiful white color, perfect for snowy, festive season!This white cake has a deliciously moist crumb and it can be topped with an easy American vanilla buttercream or a fluffier vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream.
White cake recipe
4. White coconut cake (winter cake)
Coconut cake
Deliciously soft and full of coconut flavor, I make this with my classic white cake, paired with a lemon Swiss meringue buttercream frosting. The cake features desiccated coconut + coconut milk. Makes for a perfect winter wonderland cake!
White coconut cake recipe
5. Classic vanilla cake
Vanilla cake
Delightfully soft, buttery, classic vanilla cake is always perfect for making decorated Christmas cakes. And you can pair it with a buttery, fluffy buttercream of your choice. With all the tips for foolproof results, plus you can bake it as an 8 inch cake, or 9 in cake or, even as a sheet cake.
Vanilla cake recipe
6. Classic chocolate cake
Classic chocolate cake
An easy, foolproof chocolate cake recipe that's not too fudgy, perfectly moist, light and fluffy with a close, soft and sturdy crumb. Slathered in a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate buttercream frosting.
Chocolate cake recipe
7. Butter pecan cake with maple frosting
Bourbon butter pecan cake
Soft, moist, spiced butter pecan cake made with ground pecan in the cake batter, plus chopped pecans sprinkled throughout for a rich, buttery pecan flavor!And the brown butter maple frosting perfectly complements the butter pecan cake and makes it an absolute centerpiece Christmas dessert!
Butter pecan cake recipe
8. Mulled wine cake (sponge cake with wine frosting)
Mulled wine cake
Super light and delicious vanilla sponge cake brushed with mulled wine syrup, filled with fruits, and frosted with a fantastic wine flavored whipped cream frosting.This mulled wine cake is ALL the holiday cheer and flavor trapped in a slice of cake. A showstopping, celebratory holiday cake!
Mulled wine cake recipe
9. Ginger cardamom cake
Ginger cardamom cake with rose buttercream
A spectacular ginger cardamom cake with a light and buttery rose Swiss meringue buttercream with lovely spice and floral flavors.A uniquely delicious, warmly spiced, beautiful centerpiece cake for the holidays!
Ginger cardamom cake recipe
10. Carrot cake
Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting
Always a favorite for the holidays. Moist, packed with warming spices and carrot flavor, and frosted and filled with tangy cream cheese frosting. You can make it as a one layer sheet cake as well.
Carrot cake recipe
11. Devil’s food chocolate cake
Devil’s food cake
A truly, sinfully delicious chocolate cake. Moist, light, deeply chocolatey and rich, and just a little fudgy, this will fulfill ALL your chocolate cravings!
Devil’s food cake recipe
Cupcakes and single-layer cakes
These easy single-layer cakes and cupcakes are perfect for more intimate celebrations or family dinners or for some last minute baking with festive flavors.
12. Gingerbread cupcakes with eggnog filling
Gingerbread cupcakes
So soft and moist, with a perfect crumb and a great balance of flavor! Filled with an eggnog pastry cream filling and a fluffy cream cheese frosting.These Christmas cupcakes were extensively tested for the most deliciously festive flavor profile!
Gingerbread cupcakes recipe
13. Santa cupcakes
Santa cupcakes (with frosting tutorial)
Gingerbread cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and a detailed frosting tutorial to make Santa cupcakes or snowman cupcakes!
Santa cupcakes
14. Vanilla cupcakes
Triple vanilla cupcakes
Always a crowd-favorite! Soft, moist delicious cupcakes, you can even make triple vanilla cupcakes with this recipe by drizzling a vanilla simple syrup over the cupcakes and then topping them with vanilla frosting!
Vanilla cupcakes recipe
15. Chocolate cupcakes
Easy, one bowl chocolate cupcakes
Rich, deep chocolate flavor, not too sweet, with an incredibly moist and soft crumb, all in a well-tested, foolproof, one bowl recipe. Chocolate cupcakes with a fluffy chocolate frosting are perfect for any celebratory occasion.
Chocolate cupcakes recipe
16. Butter cake
Butter cake
Almost like a pound cake, but more moist, light, and buttery. Perfectly sweet with a beautiful crumb. No frosting, nothing too complicated, just the most perfect tea time snack to enjoy with a cup of black tea or milk tea, or masala chai, or vanilla steamer, or creamy hot chocolate.
Butter cake recipe
17. Ribbon cake (swirled pastel cake)
Ribbon cake
Such a fun, pastel colored, swirled vanilla cake! Soft, light, buttery, and tastes absolutely delicious.A colorful, celebratory cake for the holidays, with an easy vanilla buttercream frosting.
Ribbon cake recipe
18. Fudgy one bowl chocolate sheet cake
Extra fudgy chocolate sheet cake
If chocolate is more your jam, this fudgiest chocolate sheet cake with creamy chocolate buttercream frosting will rock your world! Soft, moist, incredibly fudgy, all made in one bowl. You're welcome! 🙂
Fudgy chocolate cake recipe
19. Flourless chocolate torte
Flourless chocolate cake
This super easy and chocolatey, decadent, rich flourless chocolate torte is an absolutely elegant chocolate treat for special moments! It's so rich, a little goes a long way. Gluten free, can be made ahead of time, and freezes well too.
Chocolate torte recipe
Swiss roll cakes
Roll cakes are probably my favorite holiday cakes to bake.
Incredibly soft, light, moist sponge cakes with delicious fillings, or go all out for a true showstopper like a yule log cake (Bûche De Noël), these are such a fantastic addition to your holiday spread.
20. Chocolate roll
Chocolate Swiss roll
Soft, light, fluffy sponge cake that is not dense or dry at all, with perfect sweetness and deep chocolate flavor. And I use my easy (faux) chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream as the filling.This is one of my most-requested chocolate cakes! Always a crowd-favorite.
Chocolate roll cake recipe
21. Yule log cake
Bûche de Noël
Probably the most spectacular Christmas cake you can make as a centerpiece dessert. Made with my light and fluffy chocolate Swiss roll cake, I show you different variations and decorations you can make with it too.Tempered chocolate shards and meringue mushrooms will absolutely take this to the next level!
Yule log cake recipe
22. Vanilla roll
Vanilla Swiss roll
The best vanilla Swiss roll cake (aka genoise roulade). This is a well-tested recipe for a much loved, soft, moist, light vanilla roll with stabilized chantilly cream (whipped cream) as a filling for a light and not too sweet dessert.
Vanilla roll cake recipe
23. Pumpkin roll
Pumpkin Swiss roll
If you're looking for the perfect pumpkin treat for the holidays, then look no further.Unlike other pumpkin roll cakes out there, this one's made with a pumpkin flavored genoise sponge cake. The result is the most light, fluffy, airy pumpkin roll cake that is not dense or sticky or too sweet at all! Filled with a whipped cream cheese filling that is just as light and fluffy.
Pumpkin roll cake recipe
Pound cakes and bundt cakes
These always make for classic, easy Christmas cakes, they are beautiful to serve and perfect for crowd.
Rich, moist, textures and delicious glazes and toppings, these are so versatile for holiday gatherings and celebrations.
24. Classic pound cake
Classic pound cake
The perfect pound cake is dense but soft, rich, buttery, and moist, and is easy to make.And it makes for a beautiful cake canvas for the holidays! Top it with fresh fruits, fruit curds, whipped cream, sauces, fruit pastes, nut pastes, praline, glazes, even ice cream… whatever strikes your fancy!
Pound cake recipe
25. Eggnog pound cake
Eggnog pound cake
Everything you love about holiday-favorite eggnog in pound cake form!Moist, dense, still soft, topped with an eggnog glaze, simple to make, and perfect for Christmas. You can make mini loaves too.
Eggnog pound cake recipe
26. Glazed chocolate bundt cake
Chocolate bundt cake
A glazed chocolate bundt cake with chocolate ganache that is super chocolatey, moist, easy to make, and a total show stopper!And you can make it all in one bowl. Easy peasy. This is just about the perfect holiday treat for all the chocolate lovers in your family!
Chocolate bundt cake recipe
27. Breudher cake
Sri Lankan breudher cake
A Sri Lankan classic. This festive yeasted cake is enriched with eggs and butter and studded with raisins. It's light, moist, with just a hint of sweetness and richness.And then paired with a fruity glaze for a stunning and delicious holiday treat.
Breudher cake recipe
Other Christmas showstoppers
28. Pavlova
Perfect pavlova
Growing up in New Zealand and Australia, no Christmas was complete without a centerpiece pavlova topped with fresh fruit. An exquisite meringue dessert with a crisp outer shell, a melt-in-your-mouth soft, airy, fluffy marshmallow center, and topped with delicious fresh fruits of your choice!
Pavlova recipe
29. Chocolate crepe cake
Salted caramel chocolate crepe cake
A spectacular no bake dessert for the holidays. Made with layers of deliciously soft chocolate crepes, with a creamy but light salted caramel diplomat cream in between.
Chocolate crepe cake recipe
30. No bake chocolate cookie cake
Sri Lankan chocolate biscuit pudding
Another Sri Lankan classic and no bake treat to round out this collection. Alternating layers of milk-soaked Maria cookies and soft, creamy chocolate buttercream are all you need for this deceptively delicious, decadent dessert!
Chocolate biscuit pudding (cookie cake) recipe
Frostings and fillings
Frostings and fillings are the finishing touches that bring these Christmas cakes and cupcakes to life.
Whether you’re swirling a silky buttercream on top of a gingerbread cupcake or adding a tangy cream cheese frosting to a spiced holiday cake or drizzling a shiny glaze over a festive bundt, the right topping adds a bit of je ne sais quoi to each of these Christmas desserts!
Frostings
Fillings
Check out my creamy frosting recipes archive for more options.
My best tips for cake success
General recipe and ingredient tips
- Always read the recipe fully before starting, and follow the recipe exactly.
- Do not make significant substitutions. If you must, it’s best to test the recipe WITH the substitution you want as a test run well in advance to see if it works, OR find a different recipe.
- Measure all the ingredients by weight for consistent, accurate results.
- If a cake calls for butter, softened butter (at room temperature) is preferable. The butter will cream better at this temperature.
- All ingredients should be at room temperature, unless the recipe states otherwise. This ensures that all ingredients mix together homogeneously.
Cake batter tips
- Follow signs and indications for each step of the recipe if provided. For example, creaming butter and sugar together. In colder environments, this could take longer than in warm environments. So instead of going strictly by baking time, look for signs of the butter mixture being light, fluffy, and pale in color after whipping.
- Do not substitute baking powder and baking soda with one another. They do not behave the same way in a recipe, as explained in this article on baking powder vs baking soda.
- Sift or whisk dry ingredients. Sifting will remove lumps and help evenly distribute leaveners such as baking powder or baking soda in the flour, and eventually in the cake batter.
- A cake batter should NEVER be over-mixed when mixing in flour. If you’re too heavy handed when incorporating the flour into the cake batter, this will result in a gluey, heavy cake that will have uneven tunnel-like holes in the cake (because of too much gluten). Fold in the flour by hand to prevent overmixing.
Cake pan tips
- Do not substitute a metal pan with a glass pan. Glass conducts heat differently and will not yield the same results.
- If changing cake pan sizes, the cake height will change and the bake times will also change. See my cake pan conversion chart for more helpful tips.
- Prepare the cake pans as per the recipe. I prefer to line the bottom with parchment paper and grease and dust the sides for a quick and easy release.
- When baking cake layers, divide the cake batter evenly by weight into separate cake pans. Alternatively, use an ice cream scoop to divide the batter evenly between cake pans.
Baking tips
- Preheat the oven. Ideally, preheat the oven for at least 10 – 15 minutes before placing cakes inside to bake. Do not put your cakes inside a cold oven or partially preheated oven.
- Most cakes are done when the surface of the cake springs back when gently pressed, or when a toothpick inserted into the middle comes with just a few dry crumbs attached (ideally), or comes out clean. Fudgy cakes are the exception for this.
- Some cakes will pull away slightly from the sides of the cake pan.
After baking tips
- Once baked, let the cake layers cool just enough to be able to flip the cake out of the pan while still warm.
- Let the cake cool fully on a wire rack. If the cake cools down in the cake pan, condensation can make the cake soggy on the surface.
- Once the cakes are completely cooled, you can wrap and store them for later.
- TIP – If you overbaked your cake and it seems dry, wrap the cake with plastic wrap while it’s warm. The condensation can reintroduce some moisture into the cake.
Make-ahead and storage tips
- Unfrosted cake layers can be wrapped with plastic wrap (really well) and frozen for about 2 months. I also prefer to wrap these layers individually. Keeping the cake layers in a freezer bag, or wrapping with foil can prevent freezer burn.
- Buttercream can be stored in the freezer as well. However, once the frosting is thawed, it needs to be re-whipped to get the same consistency.
- A cake that is completely covered by frosting or ganache (i.e. not a naked cake or unfrosted cake), will not dry out too quickly. A frosted cake can be left out at room temperature overnight, or in the fridge for longer (up to about 3 days) if needed.
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