Nothing says Christmas like a cake that fills the house with the smell of cinnamon, dried fruit, and buttery sweetness. Whether your family loves rich fruitcake, snowy coconut layers, or a spiced ginger treat, these Christmas cakes will be the centerpiece of your holiday table.
1. Classic British Fruitcake
Rich, boozy, and timeless.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups mixed dried fruit
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup brandy
Process:
- Soak fruit in brandy overnight.
- Cream butter and sugar, then mix in eggs.
- Fold in flour and fruit mixture.
- Bake slow and low until firm.
Make it Unique: Swap brandy for spiced rum or top with marzipan and royal icing.
2. German Stollen Cake
Sweet bread loaded with fruit and nuts.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups flour
- 1 cup raisins
- ½ cup almonds
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- Marzipan log
- Powdered sugar
Process:
- Mix dough with raisins and almonds.
- Shape around marzipan and bake until golden.
- Coat with melted butter and powdered sugar.
Make it Unique: Add cranberries or glaze with rum butter.
3. Italian Panettone
Fluffy, sweet bread from Milan.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups flour
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup candied orange peel
- Yeast
Process:
- Prepare sweet dough and let rise.
- Fold in fruits and peel.
- Bake in tall mold until golden.
Make it Unique: Add chocolate chips or a lemon glaze.
4. Jamaican Black Cake
Moist, spiced, and packed with rum-soaked fruit.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups dried fruit
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup butter
- 4 eggs
- Dark rum
- Spices (nutmeg, cinnamon)
Process:
- Soak fruit in rum for days.
- Cream butter, sugar, and eggs.
- Fold in flour, spices, and fruit mix.
- Bake slow until rich and dark.
Make it Unique: Serve with a splash of rum syrup on top.
5. Gingerbread Cake
Warm and fragrant with holiday spices.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup molasses
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 egg
Process:
- Mix butter, sugar, and molasses.
- Stir in dry ingredients and egg.
- Bake until fluffy and spiced.
Make it Unique: Add orange zest or a lemon glaze drizzle.
6. Scottish Dundee Cake
Nutty, buttery, and proudly Scottish.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup raisins
- Zest of 1 orange
- Whole almonds
Process:
- Cream butter and sugar, add eggs.
- Fold in flour, raisins, and zest.
- Top with almonds and bake.
Make it Unique: Add a splash of whisky or candied peel.
7. Victorian Sponge Christmas Cake
Simple, airy, and festive.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Jam & whipped cream
Process:
- Whip butter, sugar, and eggs.
- Fold in flour and baking powder.
- Bake two layers, then sandwich with jam and cream.
Make it Unique: Add a hint of brandy cream or cranberry jam.
8. Red Velvet Christmas Cake
A modern favorite with a holiday twist.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup butter
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp cocoa
- Red food coloring
- Cream cheese frosting
Process:
- Mix butter, sugar, and eggs.
- Add flour, cocoa, and buttermilk.
- Bake, cool, and frost with cream cheese.
Make it Unique: Add crushed candy canes on top.
9. Snowy Coconut Cake
Fluffy, snowy, and sweet.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 2 eggs
- Shredded coconut
- Whipped cream frosting
Process:
- Mix butter, sugar, and eggs.
- Add flour and coconut milk.
- Frost with whipped cream and coat in coconut.
Make it Unique: Add pineapple filling for a tropical twist.
10. Yule Log (Bûche de Noël)
A showstopper that looks like a winter log.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup cocoa
- Whipped cream filling
- Chocolate ganache
Process:
- Bake thin chocolate sponge.
- Spread cream, roll, and chill.
- Frost with ganache and decorate.
Make it Unique: Add chestnut cream filling or espresso glaze.
Wrap-Up
These cakes bring together tradition, warmth, and the joy of Christmas gatherings. Whether you’re baking a rich fruitcake for tradition or a snowy coconut cake for fun, each recipe adds a little magic to your holiday table. Pick one or try a few — your family will remember them long after the last slice is gone.
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