37 Christmas Cakes That Shine Brighter Than the Tree
We’re happy to swap holiday cookies all season long, but come December 24, it’s time for Christmas cake. Because let’s be honest: After an opulent Christmas Eve dinner of slow-roasted beef and potatoes au gratin, a simple plate of shortbread can feel…anticlimactic. But Black Forest Cake with chocolate genoise, cherry preserves, and Swiss meringue buttercream? That’s a celebration showstopper.
But our favorite Christmas cake recipes extend beyond the dessert table. We’ve got laid-back loaf cakes to snack on during your afternoon movie marathon and gingerbread to pair with cocoa on Christmas morning (or those days following when you’re like, “…what are we supposed to do now?”). Whether you want to decorate a bûche de Nöel with meringue mushrooms or use the pumpkin purée leftover from Thanksgiving, we have a Christmas cake idea for you. So roll up your sleeves, put on an apron, and start baking up some holiday cheer.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman1/37Appalachian Apple Stack Cake
If you don’t want to mess with buttercream, this recipe is for you. With six layers of moist spice cake and apple butter (homemade or store-bought), Appalachian Apple Stack Cake is a true Southern stunner.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, prop styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi2/37Vegan Chocolate Cake With Chocolate-Orange Frosting
Inspired by a Terry’s Chocolate Orange, this cake channels the classic flavor combination with unsweetened cocoa powder and frozen orange juice concentrate. Using dairy-free butter makes it vegan—here are a few of our favorite brands.
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, food styling by Shilpa Uskokovic, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua4/37Victoria Sponge Cake
Photograph by Emma Fishman, Prop styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi5/37BA’s Best Cheesecake
Consider our favorite cheesecake recipe a blank canvas to live out your holiday dreams: Swap the graham crackers for a gingerbread or sugar cookie crust, top it with butterscotch-y caramelized white chocolate, or keep it plain and simple. There are no wrong options.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Gözde Eker6/37Baked Alaska With Pistachio Brittle and Raspberry Curd
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca7/37Anytime Almond Cake
This simple cake batter is easier to stir together than a box of store-bought cake mix. Its plush crumb and nutty sweetness play nicely with whatever fruits you have on hand—poached pears or ripe persimmon fit the season.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kat Boytsova, prop styling by Gerri Williams8/37Sick Day Spice Cake
Photograph by Doaa Elkady, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Gözde Eker9/37Blood Orange–Rosemary Olive Oil Cake
Photograph by Yudi Ela Echevarria, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Sean Dooley, Special thanks to Frank's House10/37Coconut and Cardamom Cake
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, food styling by Shilpa Uskokovic, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua11/37Carrot Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Whip
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Suzie Myers12/37Pumpkin Spice Crumb Cake
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Suzie Myers13/37Caramel Apple Snacking Cake
Grated apples keep this cake ultra-moist; this recipe calls for Granny Smiths, but you can swap in any of our favorite baking apples. Finish the cake with brown butter-caramel glaze and flaky sea salt for salty-sweet balance.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou and Natasha Pickowicz, prop styling by Rebecca Bartoshesky14/37Black Forest Layer Cake With Cherry Preserves
Layers of spongy chocolate genoise, tart cherry preserves, and silky Swiss meringue buttercream make this gorgeous cake absolutely unforgettable.
Photograph by Christopher Testani, Food styling by Victoria Granof, prop styling by Alex Brannian16/37Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk17/37Lemon-Elderflower Pound Cake
When you need just a little something to nibble alongside your next cup of eggnog, try this bright, floral cake delicately flavored with citrus and elderflower. Roasting your strawberries means they’ll always taste “in-season.”
Photograph by Eva Kolenko. Food styling by Susie Theodorou. Set design by Kira Corbin. On set producer: Jennifer Thomas.18/37Rum Cake With Sticky Maple Glaze and Coconut
Spiced rum in the batter and dark rum in the maple glaze give this cake a holiday-worthy kick. Top with toasted coconut flakes for piña colada vibes.
Photo by Oriana Koren, food styling by Lillian Kang, prop styling by Jillian Knox19/37Cinnamon-Roll Pound Cake
Drizzle cream cheese icing over a cinnamon-spiced pound cake to make it look and taste like a tray of freshly baked cinnamon rolls. Enjoy while opening presents by the Christmas tree.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown20/37No-Mixer Vanilla Cake With Tangy Cream Cheese Frosting
Decorate this plush, no-mixer-required white cake with your choice of seasonal garnishes: snowflake-shaped sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or sugared cranberries all make excellent choices.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by D’mytrek Brown, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime21/37Flourless Chocolate Cake With Café de Olla Ganache
Since this loaf cake is made with almond flour, it’s naturally gluten-free. Spice the chocolate ganache on top with ground coffee, piloncillo, and cinnamon to channel the flavors of café de olla.
Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich22/37Chai Cake With Brown-Butter-Ghee Streusel
Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Susan Spungen23/37Earl Grey Yogurt Cake
Decidedly citrusy and bright, this Earl Grey-infused cake is best enjoyed alongside a cup of tea.
Gentl & Hyers24/37Apple Gingerbread Cake With Cream
You’ve heard of gingerbread and applesauce? This elevated version of the classic pairing sees paper-thin slices of caramelized apples gilding a robust and rich gingerbread cake. It’d make a stunning grand finale for your Christmas dinner, but it’s also delicious with a dollop of yogurt for breakfast.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones27/37Sticky Toffee Date Cake
Ever dreamed about having sticky toffee pudding in Bundt cake form? You will now. Drizzle a molasses-y dark brown sugar cake with salted toffee sauce, then top with torn dates for a chewy bite.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley, Food Styling by Kendra Vaculin28/37Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cake
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell29/37Sour Cream Coffee Cake
This coffee cake is just as good with your morning cup as it is with a mug of hot chocolate while waiting up for Santa. Slice into the Bundt cake to find a crunchy layer of roasted pecans rippling through the middle.
Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Micah Morton30/37Spiced Chocolate-Pumpkin Cake With Pumpkin Glaze
Danny Kim31/37Cranberry and Cornmeal Upside-Down Cake
Nothing hits quite like cake for breakfast, especially the morning after your Christmas party. Pour cranberries into a cast-iron pan, then spread the cake batter on top for an upside-down cake with major holiday spirit. The tart, Rudolph’s-nose-red top is as glossy as our best cranberry sauce.
Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott32/37Dark Ginger Rye Cake with Yogurt and Honey
This well-spiced gingerbread cake is as moist and dense as a square of fudge, but it’s brightened by the delicate, floral notes of honey and fresh ginger.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Shuai Wang, Prop Styling by Megan Forbes and Christina Hussey33/37Miso and Maple Pecan-Butter Mochi Cake
A mash-up of Southern pecan pie and chewy Hawaiian butter mochi, this cake is equal parts nutty, rich, and bouncy. Serve it hot and watch a scoop of vanilla ice cream melt on top.
Photo by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou34/37Apple Cider Doughnut Loaf Cake
So many Christmas cake recipes err on the side of extravagance—not this one. It tastes like the best farmstand doughnut and pairs perfectly with a mug of hot cider.
Danny Kim35/37The Obsessivore’s Fruitcake
Like a traditional holiday fruitcake, this one is chock full of dried fruit—think candied ginger or pineapple, cranberries, or raisins. But unlike classic renditions, this one is slathered with pistachio filling and rolled into a spiral. The resulting roll cake is far less dense than its namesake.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Chris Morocco, prop styling by Emily Eisen36/37Gluten-Free Carrot Cake
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Judy Mancini37/37Blackout Cake
With chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, and chocolate frosting, this is, without a doubt, the richest, most chocolaty cake we’ve ever made. It’s the perfect Christmas cake idea for a family of bonbon enthusiasts.