Recipe Roundup

23 Christmas Cakes That Bring the Holiday Cheer

Pop one of these cakes in the oven to make your tree-trimming experience even more festive.

By Julia Price Baron and The Editors of Epicurious

November 28, 2022

Peppermint chocolate cake with a slice taken out and set on a plate.

We love a freshly fallen snow and an overfilled stocking as much as the next person, but not even a roaring fire can touch the distinct holiday feeling these Christmas cakes give us. It’s time to bake fruitcakes bursting with currants and cranberries, orange zest and apricots. Or to dish out warm, spicy gingerbreads and cinnamon Bundt cakes. Don an ugly Christmas sweater while you dig into a glorious chocolate hazelnut mousse, or serenade your loved ones with peppermint ice cream cake carols and promises of sticky toffee pudding. Whatever tops your list this year—a laptop under the tree, a marriage proposal, an adorable puppy, world peace—we’re hoping you get it. As for us, here’s our wish list—all 23 cakes.

Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
1/23
Christmas Bombe with Spiced Cake and Chocolate-Brandy Glaze
We just had to kick off our list of Christmas cakes with this spectacular showstopper. Not a chocolate hound? Maybe the cream cheese mousse and brandy glaze will convince you.
Get This Recipe
Photo by Chris Court, Benjamin Dearnley, William Meppem, Con Poulos, Anson Smart
2/23
Christmas Cake
If sweet raisins, tart currants, rich dates, crunchy nuts, and cozy spices are your jam, this Christmas cake has got your number. (Plus, it makes for a festive gift, too!)
Get This Recipe

Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne
3/23
Cardamom-Pistachio Bûche de Noël
This bûche takes a classic Christmas sweet to the next level with a one-two punch of pistachio custard and cardamom sponge cake.
Get This Recipe
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
4/23
Dark Ginger Rye Cake With Yogurt and Honey
For those who love a spicy ginger treat, this cake strikes a beautiful balance. Sweet honey, moist yogurt, and rich molasses bring warmth to the coldest holiday.
Get This Recipe

Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks
5/23
French Spiced Bread
Spices and stone fruits help you ring in the holiday. Here, cinnamon and anise mingle with dried fruits to give your kitchen serious holiday vibes.
Get This Recipe
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks
6/23
Christmas Glazed Apple Cake
This German holiday dessert features chunky, juicy apples nestled between soft, buttery crust layers. Salivating yet?
Get This Recipe

Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
7/23
Black Cake
Don’t be deterred by the five days of rum-soaking this Caribbean fruitcake requires; it has a winter-long shelf life. But we bet you'll devour it much sooner.
Get This Recipe
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
8/23
Cranberry-Pistachio Baked Alaska
What’s better than a Baked Alaska? A cranberry, pistachio Baked Alaska! Taste the layers of crumbly cake, rich ice cream, refreshing sorbet, and toasted meringue in this textural treat.
Get This Recipe

Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
9/23
Double Chocolate Cake With Peppermint-Chocolate Frosting
Shhh! Don’t tell your guests that their new favorite chocolate peppermint dairy-free dessert contains mayo and applesauce. Or maybe you should—it might make them fall further in cake love.
Get This Recipe
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
10/23
Christmas Fruitcake
Raisin, cherry, currant, butter! We'll gladly take them all. This fruitcake is the epitome of Christmas, packed with more flavors than ornaments on the tree.
Get This Recipe

Photo by Gentl & Hyers
11/23
Apple Gingerbread Cake With Cream
Rich caramel and warm apples bring extra depth to this spicy gingerbread cake. Then drizzle not one, but two rounds of cream to truly gild the lily.
Get This Recipe
Photo by Renee Anjanette
12/23
Kransekake (Wreath Cake)
You say kransekake, we say kransekage. And your guests will be speechless. This glorious white marzipan confection tastes of orange, rosewater, and of course, almonds. Decorate it to look like a Christmas tree.
Get This Recipe

Photo by Romulo Yanes
13/23
Holiday Fruit-Filled Pound Cake
Still boozy—and just as delicious, this dense delicacy with orange zest, apricots, currants, apricots, raisins, and cranberries make is a relative cinch compared to most fruit cake recipes.
Get This Recipe
Photo by Laura Letinsky
14/23
Spiced Cranberry Bundt Cake
Want a fruit cake that’s not actually a fruit cake? This nutty and tart bundt recipe delivers. Chinese five-spice provides a deep flavor profile while the yogurt offers moist mellowing.
Get This Recipe

Julia Price Baron has been a creative director, writer, producer, and occasional filmmaker for over 15 years. She’s collaborated on projects for Food Network/Discovery+, CNN, Etsy, Universal, Spotify, Audible, Netflix, Nickelodeon, IFC, and Elle Decor among others. While she’s a one-pot kind of cook, she’s a passionate all-the-pots kind of ... Read More

Contributor

The Epicurious editorial team develops original recipes, and publishes stories about cooking better, faster, and more creatively, sustainably, and affordably. See our full masthead, here. ... Read More

The Complete Epicurious Cake Recipe Finder

Explore our cake recipes finder to find the cake that suits your schedule and your cravings. Click on a cake icon and read more!

Genevieve Yam

With This Easy Cake Method, You’ll Never Cream Butter and Sugar Together Again

The reverse-creaming technique is almost impossible to mess up—and it makes sure that you'll end up with a light, fluffy cake.

Genevieve Yam

A Pastry Chef’s Guide to Baking on a Budget

Nobody knows how to control costs like a professional chef. Here, the owner of Savannah’s Back in the Day Bakery breaks down how to bake without breaking the bank.

Cheryl Day