353 holiday cake recipes

A showpiece Christmas coconut layer cake with tutti-frutti filling loaded with pecans, candied cherries, golden raisins, and coconut, then frosted with almond whipped cream. Holiday baking at its finest.

A three-layer Christmas cream cake with coconut and walnuts in a buttermilk batter, frosted with cream cheese icing studded with chopped maraschino cherries. Southern holiday baking at its prettiest.

Panforte is the dense, chewy Sienese Christmas cake packed with toasted hazelnuts and almonds, dates, cherries, cocoa, and warm spices, bound by hot honey caramel. A traditional Italian holiday confection.

Three-layer toasted coconut cake with a buttermilk crumb, coconut and vanilla extract, and a cream cheese frosting loaded with toasted coconut. A classic Southern bake for birthdays and holidays.

Victorian jewels mini fruitcakes: brandy-soaked candied fruit, raisins, and walnuts baked into tender two-bite cakes. A glossy jelly glaze gives each one its jewel-box shine. Holiday gifting star.

Mother's fruit cake is a brandy-soaked holiday classic with cherries, apricots, pineapple, peel, raisins, and currants bound in a spiced chocolate-scented batter. Baked slow and aged for two months.

Chocolate and chestnut layer cake with a tender olive oil and white wine sponge, a smooth sweetened chestnut cream filling, and glossy dark chocolate ganache. An elegant autumn and holiday dessert.

Moist bundt cake spiked with apple schnapps, applesauce, and warm spices. Raisins and nuts add texture. Beat for 4 minutes total for ultra-tender crumb. Great for fall gatherings or holiday gifting.

A brown sugar loaf cake studded with candied citron and chopped nuts, topped with a nutmeg cream frosting. Warmly spiced with nutmeg throughout, this vintage gem belongs on every holiday baking list.

Old-fashioned fruitcake packed with dates, candied pineapple, candied cherries, and a full pound of pecans. Baked low and slow for a dense, jewel-toned holiday loaf that's more fruit than cake.

Dense fruitcake layered with applesauce batter, citron, and nuts. Molasses and warm spices add depth. This slow-baked cake takes 2 hours at low heat for proper moisture and texture. A holiday classic.

Pumpkin bars built on a spice cake mix shortcut: a press-in crust topped with a pumpkin custard layer, finished with chopped pecans. Thirty-two festive holiday bars from one box of mix.

This is a great cake to serve with hot spicy cider. It is moist, fruity and sparkled with spices. It is an especially fine choice as a gift fromyour kitchen during the holiday times.

White chocolate orange buttercream for a holiday Buche de Noel, made with egg yolks, half-and-half, and Grand Marnier. Part 1 of a stunning Christmas log cake topped with toasted almonds and cranberries.

Buttery rolled sugar cookies with lemon zest and vanilla, made with cake flour for a melt-in-your-mouth tender crumb. A classic cut-out cookie recipe that's ideal for decorating and holiday baking.

Torta: a rich, golden anise-scented yeast cake made with egg yolks and butter, brushed with melted butter and topped with grated cheese and sugar. An Old-World Mediterranean sweet bread for holidays and celebrations.