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37 Christmas Cakes That Shine Brighter Than the Tree

When cutout cookies just won’t cut it, turn to these fanciful tortes, lazy-day snacking cakes, and festive multilayered showstoppers.
Blood OrangeRosemary Olive Oil Cake with caramel sauce being poured over and a plated slice.
Photograph by Doaa Elkady, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Gözde Eker

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.

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  • Christopher Testani
    3/37

    Bûche de Noël

    Also known as a yule log cake, this stunning Swiss roll is decorated like a fallen birch branch, complete with swirls of buttercream and cocoa-dusted meringue mushrooms.

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  • Photograph by Joe Lingeman, food styling by Shilpa Uskokovic, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua
    4/37

    Victoria Sponge Cake

    Named after Queen Victoria, this signature British cake features billowy whipped cream and tart raspberry jam sandwiched between plush vanilla sponge. Use a stencil to decorate the top with powdered sugar snowflakes, a snowman, or any winter wonderland scene you’d like.

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca
    7/37

    Anytime 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.

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kat Boytsova, prop styling by Gerri Williams
    8/37

    Sick Day Spice Cake

    Perfumed with cloves, black pepper, cinnamon, and vanilla, this simple spice cake isn’t just for sick days—it’s ideal for Christmas Day snacking.

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  • Photograph by Doaa Elkady, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Gözde Eker
    9/37

    Blood Orange–Rosemary Olive Oil Cake

    Blitz fresh rosemary with sugar to give this single-layer cake a bright, piney flavor. No need for frosting: Once the cake has cooled, smother it in a blood orange caramel sauce.

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  • Photograph by Yudi Ela Echevarria, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Sean Dooley, Special thanks to Frank's House
    10/37

    Coconut and Cardamom Cake

    Floral cardamon and nutty coconut take this simple, pillowy yellow cake to the next level.

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  • Photograph by Joe Lingeman, food styling by Shilpa Uskokovic, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua
    11/37

    Carrot Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Whip

    Who has time to grate carrots? Instead, blend them into your cake batter for a radiant orange sponge, jeweled with candied ginger and pineapples and topped with fluffy cream cheese whip.

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Suzie Myers
    12/37

    Pumpkin Spice Crumb Cake

    Our ideal New York-style crumb cake is nearly equal parts crumb and cake, so go ahead and pile on the brown sugar streusel.

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones
    15/37

    Tres Leches Cake

    This version of the Latin American classic actually uses four milks (plus a little dark rum) to give the cake a custard-like texture.

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  • Photograph by Christopher Testani, Food styling by Victoria Granof, prop styling by Alex Brannian
    16/37

    Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

    Want to turn dessert into a show? Flip your cake tableside to reveal a gorgeous mosaic of fruit and a caramelized brown sugar topping.

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  • Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk
    17/37

    Lemon-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.”

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  • Photograph by Eva Kolenko. Food styling by Susie Theodorou. Set design by Kira Corbin. On set producer: Jennifer Thomas.
    18/37

    Rum 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.

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  • Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by D’mytrek Brown, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime
    21/37

    Flourless 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.

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  • Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    22/37

    Chai Cake With Brown-Butter-Ghee Streusel

    Who needs Christmas cookies when you can make a spiced chai cake instead? After browning your butter, use the caramelized milk solids in your streusel for deep, toasty flavor.

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  • Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Susan Spungen 
    23/37

    Earl Grey Yogurt Cake

    Decidedly citrusy and bright, this Earl Grey-infused cake is best enjoyed alongside a cup of tea.

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  • Gentl & Hyers
    24/37

    Apple 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.

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  • Photo by Emma Fishman, Food styling by Pearl Jones
    25/37

    Double-Crumb Crumb Cake

    Crushed gingersnaps and grated fresh ginger bring sweet-spicy flavor to the crumb topping of this easy bake.

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  • Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    26/37

    Apple-Walnut Upside-Down Cake

    The best Christmas cake turns heads, but is sneakily easy to make. That’s certainly the case for this tender, nutty upside-down cake, where beautifully caramelized apple halves serve as built-in decoration.

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  • Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones
    27/37

    Sticky 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.

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley, Food Styling by Kendra Vaculin
    28/37

    Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cake

    Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t end a meal with ice cream. Homemade cookie crumbles meet layers of rich fudge and vanilla ice cream in this frozen classic.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    29/37

    Sour 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.

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  • Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Micah Morton
    30/37

    Spiced Chocolate-Pumpkin Cake With Pumpkin Glaze

    Chocolate cake meets pumpkin spice in this moist loaf cake, which features spices typically found in Mexican chocolate. A pinch of cayenne adds just the right amount of warmth.

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  • Danny Kim
    35/37

    The 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.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Chris Morocco, prop styling by Emily Eisen
    36/37

    Gluten-Free Carrot Cake

    This carrot cake might be made without wheat flour, but it’s got all the mix-ins: carrots, walnuts, raisins, you name it. Bake this masterpiece for Christmas, and your gluten-free relatives will thank you.

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Spending his formative childhood years in the production room of his parents’ barbecue sauce business, Rick has always been around culinary types (and smelled like vinegar). He spent a summer working on organic farms across Japan, made artisanal ice cream in Birmingham, researched the beginnings of catfish aquaculture in Alabama,... Read more
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