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55 Festive Cake Recipes Perfect For The Winter Holiday Season

Bake away your winter blues.

layered cannoli icebox cake
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

It's officially winter-coat-weather—and maybe even snowing—all across the country, so it is important to find new ways to stay warm. If you ask me, a slightly cracked oven door and fresh baked festive cakes are an effective and delicious way to keep the winter wonderland outside. So whether you're planning the dessert spread for your Christmas, Kwanzaa, or Hanukkah get-togethers (or simply just in need of a mid-week treat in February), these winter-friendly cake recipes will more than warm you up. As far as I'm concerned, one bite of our cranberry cake can instantly chase away any and all winter blues.

Winter brings snow days, ugly sweaters, but most importantly, cakes that I dream about the rest of the year. There's almost too many seasonal greats to count, like figgy pudding, fruitcake, bûche de noël (yule log cake), not to mention sticky toffee pudding and Battenberg cake. Try them all and you just might find yourself outshining everyone on Great British Baking Show this holiday season.

Here at Delish, we think it's no coincidence that the best citrus arrives in winter; the tart, zippy flavor of orange and lemon always carry us through 'til warmer temperatures creep back up. So why not add that bit of sunshine to your cakes? Our winter upgrade to a standard pineapple upside-down cake—our citrus upside-down cake—might just be your new year-round favorite. The same is absolutely true of our lemon meringue cheesecake, our cranberry mimosa breakfast cake, and our almost flourless chocolate-orange cake. They're instant day-brighteners and incredibly easy to whip up.

Get your hygge on all season long by cooking up all of our cozy winter recipes, including our favorite winter desserts, our top winter dinners, our best winter salads, and our fun winter cocktails.

1

Eggnog Poke Cake

eggnog poke cake
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

When it comes to holiday desserts, poke cakes take the cake (no pun intended). We have plenty of variations on this dessert hack, but this eggnog version is a festive favorite come the holiday season. If you can't get enough of the creamy winter cocktail, then get ready to meet your new favorite dessert.

Get the Eggnog Poke Cake recipe.

2

Cannoli Icebox Cake

layered cannoli icebox cake
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

With the not-too-sweet creamy filling inside a crispy shell, cannoli are a nearly perfect dessert. Making your own is a fun little project but a little time consuming, and frying the shells can be intimidating. This easy cake is a great alternative. The filling is similar: sweetened ricotta and orange zest combine with whipped cream to make the cake even lighter.

Get the Cannoli Icebox Cake recipe.

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3

Baklava Cheesecake

tarta de queso arabe con pistacho, nueces, miel, naranja y masa filo
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI ; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Baklava is already one of our not-too-sweet dessert faves, so turning it into a cheesecake felt like an obvious way to take things to the next level. To carry the nutty-honey of baklava flavor through the entire dessert, the creamy cheesecake center is blended with pistachio paste, honey, and orange zest, then topped with more nuts, and honey-butter brushed phyllo dough roses. Once it’s all baked and cooled, the whole thing is drizzled with honey syrup to create a sticky-sweet, creamy sensation.

Get the Baklava Cheesecake recipe.

4

Pull Apart Santa Cake

cupcakes decorated like santa
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Holly jolly and extremely delicious, these pull-apart cupcakes are the holiday showstopper that you’ve been looking for. To make this recipe as simple as possible, I used boxed cake mix so that you can focus on the decoration. Feel free to let your creative juices flow on this recipe! Turns out these pull-apart cupcakes are just as easy to put together into one Santa cake.

Get the Pull Apart Santa Cake recipe.

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5

Chocolate Bundt Cake

chocolate bundt cake
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

Calling all chocolate dessert lovers—this fudgy Bundt cake is really something special. We’re partial to covering it in a rich ganache and serving it after a nice dinner, but keep it plain and it can be the perfect indulgent Christmas brunch or midday pick-me-up.

Get the Chocolate Bundt Cake recipe.

6

Mini Black Forest Trifles

layered black forest trifles
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

A black forest cake can feel like a big task to make, but these mini trifles break down the components into a very approachable dessert. These trifles can come together quickly as far as desserts go, which make them great for last-minute guests or when you’re the host and already have so many other dishes planned.

Get the Mini Black Forest Trifles recipe.

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7

Gingerbread Cake

gingerbread cake
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Want your kitchen to smell like Christmas? Make gingerbread cake! Enjoy it warm or cold, for breakfast or after dinner, plain or topped with whipped cream, from a plate with a fork or straight out of your hand. No judgment here.

Get the Gingerbread Cake recipe.

8

Opera Cake

opera cake slices on plates with gold forks
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Opera cake is one of those baking projects that will make you feel like a pastry chef superstar. Coffee-soaked almond cake, coffee buttercream, and chocolate ganache are layered together to create a French masterpiece that’s equally stunning to look at and enjoy.

Get the Opera Cake recipe.

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9

Biscoff Tres Leches

tres leches in a casserole dish with biscoff cookies
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

This perfect holiday treat takes two holiday classics in crisp, caramelly Biscoff cookies and the iconic Mexican tres leches cake, and combines them into a new instant favorite. This cake is the perfect combo of caramel and cream and comes together for what just may be your new holiday tradition.

Get the Biscoff Tres Leches recipe.

10

Bûche de Noël (Yule Log Cake)

dish, food, cuisine, swiss roll, yule log, dessert, buttercream, roulade, baked goods, ingredient,
Parker Feierbach

Bûche de Noël cakes are a French Christmas tradition dating back to the 19th century. Decorate it like a log, as is traditional, or try any other variety of frosting and topping combos—it's all about that gorgeous swirl, so anything else is a bonus.

Get the Bûche de Noël (Yule Log Cake) recipe.

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11

Candy Cane Cake

candy cane cake
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Get ready to dazzle your holiday guests with this stunning candy cane cake. This show-stopping holiday dessert features eight layers of moist, flavorful cake in festive red and white stripes, reminiscent of a classic candy cane. Each bite is a delightful blend of vanilla and peppermint, creating a perfect harmony of holiday flavors.

Get the Candy Cane Cake recipe.

12

Citrus Upside-Down Cake

citrus upside down cake
Lucy Schaeffer

We used slices from navel, blood orange, Cara Cara oranges, grapefruit, and lemons, but really any of your favorite wintery citrus can be used for this stunner of an upside-down cake.

Get the Citrus Upside-Down Cake recipe.

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13

Battenberg Cake

pink and white checked battenberg cake covered with marzipan
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDSERON

Want to feel like you’re on The Great British Bake Off? Make Battenberg cake. White- and pink-tinted slices of rich almond cake are brushed with apricot jam, artfully stacked, and covered with sweet almond marzipan for a cake that’s stunning and delicious enough to win the approval of Paul Hollywood any day of the week.

Get the Battenberg Cake recipe.

14

Sticky Toffee Pudding

sticky toffee pudding
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: HADLEY SUI

Traditionally a date-studded sponge cake topped with a rich toffee sauce, this is the perfect dessert for holiday meals or special occasions. It’s truly a dessert unlike any other and is best served still slightly warm out of the pan with extra toffee sauce drizzled on top.

Get the Sticky Toffee Pudding recipe.

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15

Espresso Martini Icebox Cake

layers of chocolate graham cracker, coffee chocolate ganache, and espresso whipped cream
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

My espresso martini icebox cake has layers of chocolate graham crackers, coffee chocolate ganache, and espresso whipped cream stacked in a loaf pan and chilled until set and sliceable. The top is decorated with cocoa powder and chocolate-covered espresso beans for an added crunch and a hint about the flavors hiding inside.

Get the Espresso Martini Icebox Cake recipe.

16

Fruitcake

glazed fruitcake
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Fruitcake is an iconic holiday dessert, and most of the time, it isn't getting the love it deserves. This is the one you should take the risk on. Freshly baked, fruitcake is delicious and studded with dry fruit and pecans and warmly spiced—we love it with a glaze, but feel free to skip!

Get the Fruitcake recipe.

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17

Red Velvet Cake

layered red velvet cake with cream cheese icing and pieces of cake
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Everyone should have a good red velvet cake recipe in their back pocket—and this is it. It has a decadent chocolate flavor and the creamiest cream cheese frosting, and the striking red color makes it unforgettable (and perfect for the holidays!).

Get the Red Velvet Cake recipe.

18

Christmas Tree Cake

christmas tree cake
Erik bernstein

Nine layers of breathtaking beauty! This Christmas tree cake is perfect for when you really want to show off this holiday season. We recommend using a homemade cake recipe, like our chocolate or yellow cakes, but boxed cake mix will work too.

Get the Christmas Tree Cake recipe.

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19

Mini No-Bake Gingerbread Icebox Cakes

mini no bake gingerbread icebox cakes
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

A classic icebox cake is just layers of chocolate cookies and whipped cream chilled for a few hours into harmony. Yet there is magic in that combination as the cookies soften and the cream firms, becoming way more than the sum of its parts. For this recipe, everything is scaled down to create individually sized icebox cakes using thin gingersnaps full of warm spices, cool cream, and adorable charm.

Get the Mini No-Bake Gingerbread Icebox Cakes recipe.

20

Baked Alaska

brownie base with chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream topped with toasted meringue
PHOTO: DOAA ELKADY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Baked Alaska is the classic, nostalgic dessert that we’re bringing back. Basically a glorified ice cream cake, this towering dessert will be the talk of any dinner party you serve it at (especially when you cut into it for the very first time—be prepared for ooh’s and aah’s).

Get the Baked Alaska recipe.

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