353 holiday cake recipes

"A tall, impressive cake that showcases the flavors and smells of the holidays. A three-layer extravaganza with a touch of molasses and shredded apple to keep it moist. It fills the house with a fragrance that beats the most expensive holiday-scented candle. It will be talked about long after the party is over." Source: The Pastry Queen Christmas, by Rebecca Rather

Classic Bacardi rum bundt cake from a yellow cake mix and vanilla pudding base, soaked in buttery rum glaze and drizzled with chocolate. The legendary boozy holiday cake.

Three-layer mincemeat cake spiced with cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon, studded with nuts, and covered in homemade caramel frosting. A rich, festive holiday cake from scratch.

Jewelled fruitcake studded with candied cherries, pineapple, dried apricots, and pecans in a mincemeat batter with sweetened condensed milk. A festive holiday cake.

Bacardi rum cake bakes a yellow cake mix with vanilla pudding, dark rum, and chopped pecans, then soaks in a butter-rum glaze for a moist, boozy Bundt. Classic 1970s holiday cake.

Pineapple lemon fruit filling for Japanese fruitcake, cooked custard-style in a double boiler with toasted pecans. The signature Southern holiday cake glue.

Cranberry torte bundt cake loaded with dates, pecans, and fresh cranberries, soaked in a warm orange juice glaze. A dense, fruity holiday cake that improves overnight in the fridge.

Prune Armagnac gingerbread is a deeply spiced holiday cake loaded with brandy-soaked prunes, three forms of ginger, molasses, and a coffee kick. Served with crème fraîche.

Red and white peppermint cake made with white cake mix and crushed candy canes, topped with vanilla frosting and more peppermint. A festive holiday cake with cool minty crunch.

Vegan fruit cake packed with dried fruit, candied peel, orange rind, and almonds, leavened with a soy milk and vinegar reaction instead of eggs. A dense, dairy-free holiday cake baked low and slow.

Kentucky blackberry jam cake bakes a deeply spiced cake with blackberry jam, pineapple-soaked raisins, pecans, and warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Heirloom Southern holiday cake.

Friendship cake using yellow cake mix, vanilla pudding, brandied starter fruit, raisins, and pecans baked in a Bundt pan. The shortcut version of the gifted-starter holiday cake.

Velvety brandy sauce made in 5 minutes with butter, powdered sugar, and brandy extract. Drizzle over bread pudding, holiday cakes, or warm fruit desserts for an instant upgrade.

Lighter applesauce fruitcake with dates, raisins, walnuts, and candied fruit. No alcohol soak, no months of aging. Three loaves of moist holiday cake without the heaviness of traditional fruitcake.

Frosted date ring cake: spiced buttermilk-oat cake studded with dates and nuts, baked in a mold and finished with orange buttercream and candied cherries. Holiday cake with vintage charm.

Fruit cake cookies loaded with candied cherries, candied pineapple, white raisins, and pecans with brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Holiday baking in cookie form.