60 Best Christmas Cakes for the Sweetest Holiday Yet
Fill your dessert table with lots of festive flavors.
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Cookies tend to get all the recognition during the holidays, but there are other Christmas desserts that are worthy of your attention, too. Enter: these Christmas cake recipes! After all, what better way to end a sweet celebration by making it, well, even sweeter? These cakes made from scratch come in all shapes and sizes, whether you're making a festive sheet cake, Bundt cake, layered cake, or even a fancy yule log cake.
Here, you’ll find tons of Christmas cakes that will wow your family, friends, and other guests. Each one is filled with holiday flavors—including peppermint, gingerbread, cranberry, and even a cake that tastes just like pecan pie. Plus, there are sweet ideas featuring chocolate, caramel, and coconut. We've also included a fruit cake for you traditionalists out there. When it comes to Christmas cakes, the options for flavors really are endless.
And if decorating a cake stresses you out, don't worry! You don't have to be a pro baker to make Ree Drummond's simple chocolate sheet cake or her mother-in-law's recipe for a Christmas rum cake. Sometimes all you need are some Christmas sprinkles and voila―it's a holiday masterpiece! But whichever you choose, just be sure to save a slice for Santa to enjoy, too. He'll probably be so grateful to see something other than cookies when he comes down the chimney. 😉
Candy Cane Cake
It doesn't get much more festive that this gorgeous cake! And guess what? You can spend a little more time decorating because you can use a boxed cake mix to save time baking.
Get Ree's Candy Cane Cake recipe.
Christmas Sheet Cake
This holly jolly sheet cake looks super impressive, but it's actually quite simple to make. The decorations are buttercream, sprinkles, and some store-bought candy atop a festive vanilla confetti cake.
Get the Christmas Sheet Cake recipe.
Christmas Cranberry Cake
This vanilla cake is studded with whole cranberries for sweet-tart flavor. The tangy cream cheese frosting and sugared cranberries make it even more festive for the holidays.
Get the Christmas Cranberry Cake recipe.
Peppermint Cheesecake
We didn't think a classic creamy cheesecake could get better, but Ree taught us otherwise. Make a chocolate crust, top it with ganache, and sprinkle on some crushed candies. There's also peppermint perfuming the cake layer itself.
Get Ree's Peppermint Cheesecake recipe.
Chocolate Bundt Cake
It's always the right time for a decadent chocolate Bundt cake. Top the layer of ganache with some festive sprinkles, and you've got yourself a very merry holiday version.
Get the Chocolate Bundt Cake recipe.
Gingerbread Cake
If you love gingerbread cookies, this cake is for you. It's got the same warm spices, but it also has a fluffy lemon cream cheese frosting that's out of this world.
Get the Gingerbread Cake recipe.
Christmas Rum Cake
This cake is a tradition at the Drummond family Christmas thanks to Ladd's mom. It's simple, festive, and soaked in rum—what could be better than that? It's like a cocktail and dessert in one!
Get Ree's Christmas Rum Cake recipe.
Chocolate Yule Log Cake
This chocolate yule log cake will definitely be the star of the show, and it's easier to make than you think! Simply use a fork to create the bark-like texture.
Get Ree's Chocolate Yule Log Cake recipe.
Eggnog Cake
The creamy and spiced flavors of spiked eggnog shine through in this simple Christmas Bundt. It's the perfect holiday centerpiece that anyone can make.
Get the Eggnog Cake recipe.
Chocolate Peppermint Sheet Cake
An easy yet delicious sheet cake gets a holiday kick thanks to peppermint. There's extract in the chocolate cake itself and then, of course, it gets a sprinkle of crushed candy on top to decorate.
Get Ree's Chocolate Peppermint Sheet Cake recipe.
Fruitcake
This boozy loaf-style cake is a dessert and present all in one! The recipe makes two fruit cakes so you can wrap one up as a DIY Christmas food gift for your loved ones.
Get the Fruitcake recipe.
Chocolate Raspberry Cake
A towering layer cake is impressive as it is. But make it extra decadent by sprinkling chocolate curls on top, and you've got yourself a most magnificent Christmas dessert!
Get the Chocolate Raspberry Cake recipe.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Don't let the name fool you: The pudding in this case is a very moist, sweet date cake smothered in toffee sauce. It's a traditional dessert for Christmas in England, so why not give it a go on this side of the ocean?
Get the Sticky Toffee Pudding recipe.
Red Velvet Mug Cake
Need a last-minute idea that's still super festively colored? Go with red velvet cake made in a mug. You get the same great flavor and even the cream cheese frosting, but it only takes ten minutes.
Get Ree's Red Velvet Mug Cake recipe.
Oreo Cheesecake
A slice of pure decadence if just what you need on Christmas. And let's face it, Oreos are an irresistible crowdpleaser. So why not make them even more delicious by turning them into a creamy cheesecake?
Get the Oreo Cheesecake recipe.
Flourless Chocolate Cake
A cake without flour? It's possible! The result is a super moist, dense, and extremely fudgy cake. All you need is a sprinkle of powdered sugar on top. Bonus: It's great for those with gluten allergies.
Get Ree's Flourless Chocolate Cake recipe.
Salted Caramel Bundt Cake
Salted caramel is good any time of year. But there's something about the holidays that bring out your need for everything salty and sweet.
Get Ree's Salted Caramel Bundt Cake recipe.
Maple Cheesecake
There's always room for multiple cheesecake flavors! Here, you'll get a double dose of the good stuff: There's maple syrup in both the cheesecake itself and the sweet sauce served on the side.
Get Ree's Maple Cheesecake recipe.
Chocolate Lava Cake
Individual ooey gooey chocolate cakes will make your guests melt with happiness! A scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce sends these simple cakes over the top.
Lemon Loaf
Citrus reigns supreme in the wintertime, so why not give your Christmas menu a zesty burst with a lemon loaf? A slice of this not only makes a delicious dessert, but a breakfast treat, too!
Get Ree's Lemon Loaf recipe.
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