Easy Homemade Christmas Cake Recipies Ideas
9. Festive Christmas Candle Train Cake Recipe
This stunning Christmas cake is a show-stopping centerpiece featuring a red festive design, a toy train carrying presents, intricate snowflake details, and glowing candles on top. It’s perfect for the holiday season and is guaranteed to impress your family and friends. Let’s dive into the step-by-step recipe for this magical creation.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- All-purpose flour: 3 cups
- Baking powder: 2 tsp
- Salt: ½ tsp
- Unsalted butter: 1 cup (softened)
- Granulated sugar: 2 cups
- Eggs: 4 large
- Vanilla extract: 2 tsp
- Milk: 1 cup
- Red food coloring: 1–2 tsp (to achieve the vibrant red cake base)
For the Buttercream Frosting:
- Unsalted butter: 1 ½ cups (softened)
- Powdered sugar: 5 cups
- Vanilla extract: 1 tsp
- Milk or cream: 3–4 tbsp
- Red gel food coloring: To match the cake’s vibrant red color
For Decoration:
- Fondant:
- Red (for train and accents)
- Green (for holly leaves and gift boxes)
- Brown (for teddy bear and train tracks)
- White (for snowflakes and train details)
- Edible gold luster dust: For painting snowflakes and train accents
- Toy train molds or cutters: Optional for creating the train decorations
- Mini candles: 4 red candles for the topper (or battery-operated ones for safety)
- Green sprigs: Use artificial or edible fondant sprigs for foliage
- Gold or red ornaments: Non-edible decorations for the base (optional)
- Edible glue or water: For assembling fondant pieces
Step 1: Make the Cake
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium-sized bowl.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3–5 minutes).
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, alternating with milk.
- Add Food Coloring: Mix in the red food coloring until you achieve a deep, vibrant red batter.
- Bake: Divide the batter evenly between the pans and bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 2: Prepare the Buttercream Frosting
- Beat the Butter: In a large bowl, beat the butter until creamy.
- Add Powdered Sugar: Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, while mixing on low speed.
- Add Vanilla and Milk: Mix in the vanilla extract and add milk one tablespoon at a time until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.
- Color the Frosting: Add red gel food coloring to match the cake’s bold red tone. Mix until evenly colored.
Step 3: Assemble the Cake
- Trim and Layer: Level the cakes if necessary, then spread a layer of frosting between them.
- Crumb Coat: Apply a thin layer of frosting over the entire cake to seal in crumbs. Chill for 30 minutes.
- Final Frosting: Frost the cake with a smooth layer of red buttercream, ensuring even coverage.
Step 4: Decorate the Cake
Train Decoration
- Create the Train Base: Use red fondant to craft the train engine and cars. Shape rectangular and cylindrical pieces for the cars and wheels.
- Add Details: Use white and gold-painted fondant for the train windows, wheels, and railings. Attach all pieces with edible glue.
- Track: Roll out brown fondant into thin strips and form a circular track around the base of the cake.
Gift Boxes and Teddy Bear
- Gift Boxes:
- Roll fondant into small cubes (red, green, or white).
- Add gold fondant ribbons and bows for detailing.
- Place the presents in the train cars.
- Teddy Bear:
- Use brown fondant to shape the teddy bear’s head, body, arms, and legs.
- Add a red scarf and white fondant accents for paws and the face.
Snowflakes and Garland
- Snowflakes: Use a snowflake fondant cutter to create white snowflakes. Dust them with gold luster dust for a magical touch.
- Garland: Roll thin green fondant strips and drape them around the sides of the cake. Add red fondant berries for holly details.
Candles and Greenery
- Candle Placement: Secure four red candles on top of the cake using fondant or frosting as a base.
- Green Sprigs: Add edible green fondant sprigs or artificial foliage around the candles for a festive finish.
Step 5: Final Touches
- Assemble the Scene: Place the decorated train on the fondant track at the base. Position the teddy bear and gift boxes around the cake.
- Ornaments: Add non-edible ornaments or decorative baubles around the cake for extra flair.
- Light the Candles: For a dramatic reveal, light the candles just before serving (ensure safety precautions).
Tips for Success
- Work in Stages: Bake the cake and make the fondant decorations a day in advance to save time.
- Fondant Storage: Keep fondant pieces in an airtight container to prevent drying.
- Safety Note: If using real candles, ensure they don’t burn down to the cake. Battery-operated candles are a safe alternative.
This festive candle-train cake is sure to enchant your guests and make your Christmas celebration unforgettable. Happy baking and decorating! 🎄🚂
Snowman and Reindeer Christmas Cake Recipe
This cheerful Christmas cake features a festive winter wonderland with a jolly snowman, an adorable reindeer, decorated Christmas trees, and a smiling Santa in the snow. It’s the ultimate showstopper for your holiday celebrations! Here’s how to create this enchanting cake step by step.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- All-purpose flour: 3 cups
- Baking powder: 2 tsp
- Salt: ½ tsp
- Unsalted butter: 1 cup (softened)
- Granulated sugar: 2 cups
- Eggs: 4 large
- Vanilla extract: 2 tsp
- Milk: 1 cup
For the Frosting:
- Unsalted butter: 1 ½ cups (softened)
- Powdered sugar: 5 cups
- Vanilla extract: 1 tsp
- Milk or cream: 3–4 tbsp
- Light blue gel food coloring: For the frosty sky effect
For Decoration:
- Fondant:
- White (for the base and snowman)
- Red, green, and black (for accents, trees, and scarves)
- Brown (for the reindeer)
- Orange (for the snowman’s carrot nose)
- Edible glue or water: For sticking fondant decorations
- Green buttercream: For piped Christmas trees
- Sprinkles and edible pearls: For ornaments and snow
- Edible gold star toppers: For the trees
Step 1: Make the Cake
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (about 3–5 minutes).
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with milk. Mix until just combined.
- Bake: Divide the batter evenly into the pans and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 2: Prepare the Buttercream Frosting
- Beat the Butter: In a large bowl, beat the butter until smooth and creamy.
- Add Powdered Sugar: Gradually add powdered sugar, beating on low speed.
- Add Vanilla and Milk: Mix in vanilla extract and add milk, one tablespoon at a time, until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.
- Color the Frosting: Add a few drops of light blue gel food coloring to create the frosty sky background. Mix until evenly colored.
Step 3: Assemble the Cake
- Trim and Layer: Level the cakes if necessary. Spread a layer of frosting between the two cakes to sandwich them together.
- Crumb Coat: Apply a thin layer of frosting over the entire cake to seal in crumbs. Chill for 30 minutes.
- Final Frosting Layer: Smoothly frost the cake with the light blue buttercream for the sky effect.
Step 4: Decorate the Cake
Snowy Base and Hills
- Roll out white fondant to cover the top and sides of the cake for the snowy ground.
- Add additional white fondant pieces to create rolling snowdrifts and hills around the sides of the cake. Attach them with edible glue or water.
Snowman
- Body and Head: Roll two white fondant balls (one larger for the body and one smaller for the head). Stack them using a toothpick or edible glue for support.
- Details:
- Add black fondant eyes, buttons, and arms.
- Shape an orange fondant carrot nose and attach it to the face.
- Roll a red fondant scarf and black fondant hat to dress up your snowman.
Reindeer
- Body: Roll brown fondant into a rounded oval for the body and a smaller oval for the head.
- Legs and Ears: Use smaller pieces of brown fondant for the legs and ears.
- Details: Add a red fondant nose, black fondant hooves, and white fondant for the belly and eyes. Craft antlers using thin rolled brown fondant.
Christmas Trees
- Fondant Option: Use green fondant to craft cone-shaped trees. Decorate with tiny red fondant balls, sprinkles, and an edible gold star on top.
- Buttercream Option: Pipe green buttercream swirls in a cone shape to create textured trees. Add sprinkles as ornaments and a gold star topper.
Santa and Other Details
- Santa Face: Roll out fondant to create Santa’s face, hat, and rosy cheeks. Add a big smile and attach it to the side of the cake.
- Wreaths and Snowflakes: Use green fondant to make wreaths and white fondant with snowflake cutters for additional decorations. Attach them around the sides of the cake.
- Snow: Sprinkle edible pearls and white sugar sprinkles over the entire cake for a snowy finish.
Step 5: Assemble the Scene
- Place the snowman and reindeer on top of the cake, positioning them on the fondant snowdrifts.
- Arrange Christmas trees and smaller decorations around the top and sides.
- Add finishing touches, like holly leaves, ornaments, or candy canes, for extra holiday cheer.
Tips for Success
- Plan Ahead: Make fondant decorations a day in advance to save time.
- Use Tools: Snowflake cutters, leaf cutters, and modeling tools make shaping fondant easier.
- Support Structures: Use toothpicks or edible supports to keep larger decorations like the snowman upright.
This festive snowman and reindeer cake is the perfect centerpiece for your holiday table. Happy baking and decorating—let the Christmas magic come to life! 🎄⛄🦌
Winter Wonderland Christmas Cake Recipe
This elegant Winter Wonderland cake is a magical centerpiece for the holidays, featuring shimmering snowflakes, glittery trees, and an ethereal icy pathway. With a white and gold theme, it’s the perfect cake to impress at any festive gathering. Here’s how you can create this stunning masterpiece!
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- All-purpose flour: 3 cups
- Baking powder: 2 tsp
- Salt: ½ tsp
- Unsalted butter: 1 cup (softened)
- Granulated sugar: 2 cups
- Eggs: 4 large
- Vanilla extract: 2 tsp
- Milk: 1 cup
For the Buttercream Frosting:
- Unsalted butter: 1 ½ cups (softened)
- Powdered sugar: 5 cups
- Vanilla extract: 1 tsp
- Milk or cream: 3–4 tbsp
- White food coloring: Optional for a pure white finish
For Decoration:
- White fondant: For the cake covering and base details
- Gold and silver edible luster dust: For trees and snowflakes
- Edible glitter: For a shimmering effect on the snow
- Sugar pearls and edible beads: To scatter across the cake
- Clear isomalt or sugar lollipops: For the transparent snow globes
- Snowflake lollipop molds: Optional for intricate snowflakes
- White chocolate or fondant deer: To create the reindeer figurine
- Cone-shaped molds or styrofoam cones: For making trees
- Piping gel or edible glue: To stick decorations
Step 1: Make the Cake
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3–5 minutes).
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with milk. Mix until just combined.
- Bake: Divide the batter evenly into the pans and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 2: Prepare the Buttercream Frosting
- Beat the Butter: In a large bowl, beat the butter until smooth and creamy.
- Add Powdered Sugar: Gradually add powdered sugar, beating on low speed.
- Add Vanilla and Milk: Mix in the vanilla extract and add milk, one tablespoon at a time, until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.
- Optional: Add white food coloring for a brighter, snowy appearance.
Step 3: Assemble the Cake
- Trim and Layer: Level the cakes if necessary. Spread a layer of buttercream between the two cakes.
- Crumb Coat: Apply a thin layer of frosting over the entire cake to seal in crumbs. Chill for 30 minutes.
- Final Frosting Layer: Cover the cake with a smooth layer of buttercream or fondant for a clean, polished look.
Step 4: Decorate the Cake
Snowy Base
- Roll out white fondant and drape it over the cake for a smooth, snowy finish. Trim off the excess fondant around the base.
- Add texture to the fondant with a dry brush to mimic snowdrifts.
Pathway
- Create the shimmering pathway using edible silver glitter or luster dust. Brush it on in a winding pattern across the top and down the side of the cake.
Trees
- Use cone-shaped molds or styrofoam cones as a base. Cover them with white fondant or brush edible glue on the cones and roll them in gold and silver sprinkles for a glittery effect.
- Arrange the trees on top of the cake and at the base for a layered winter scene.
Snowflakes and Ornaments
- Create intricate snowflakes using fondant or isomalt in snowflake molds. Dust them with gold and silver luster dust for a metallic effect.
- Attach the snowflakes to lollipop sticks to create height and dimension.
- Scatter sugar pearls and edible beads across the cake for added sparkle.
Reindeer Figurine
- Melt white chocolate and pour it into a reindeer-shaped mold, or shape a reindeer using white fondant.
- Brush the reindeer with a light coating of luster dust for a pearlescent finish.
- Place the reindeer on the side of the cake or near the trees for a magical touch.
Snow Globes
- Use clear isomalt or sugar to create transparent lollipop spheres. Add edible glitter or snowflake designs inside for a snow globe effect.
- Position the snow globes on top of the cake using lollipop sticks.
Step 5: Final Touches
- Scatter Details: Add small fondant or buttercream trees, tiny snowflakes, and more sugar pearls around the base of the cake for a cohesive design.
- Glitter Finish: Lightly dust the entire cake with edible glitter for a sparkling, frosty look.
- Place the Cake: Set the cake on a glass or mirrored cake stand to reflect the shimmer and amplify the wintry elegance.
Tips for Success
- Plan Ahead: Make the fondant decorations and isomalt snow globes a day in advance.
- Use Isomalt Safely: If making isomalt decorations, wear gloves and handle hot sugar carefully.
- Avoid Humidity: Keep the cake in a cool, dry place to prevent fondant sweating or glitter melting.
This Winter Wonderland cake is a breathtaking centerpiece that will leave everyone in awe. With its dazzling decorations and festive details, it’s perfect for creating magical holiday memories. Happy baking! 🎄✨
- How many weeks before Christmas should you make a Christmas cake?
Ideally, make it 8–12 weeks before Christmas to allow the flavors to develop properly. This means baking in late September or October. - Can I use Cointreau instead of brandy in a Christmas cake?
Yes, Cointreau works well as a flavorful alternative to brandy, adding a citrusy touch to the cake. - How long should you leave a Christmas cake before marzipan?
Leave the cake at least 1 week before applying marzipan, allowing the surface to settle after feeding. - Is October too early to make a Christmas cake?
Not at all! October is the perfect time to bake it, ensuring it matures well by Christmas. - What alcohol is good for Christmas cake?
Brandy, rum, whisky, sherry, or even flavored liqueurs like amaretto or Cointreau can be used. - How often should I feed a Christmas cake?
Feed it every 1-2 weeks with about 1-2 tablespoons of alcohol to keep it moist and flavorful. - How to keep a Christmas cake moist?
Wrap the cake in parchment paper and foil, store it in an airtight container, and feed it alcohol periodically. - How do you feed Christmas cake without alcohol?
Use fruit juice like orange or apple juice instead. Be sure to feed it more frequently, as juice evaporates quicker than alcohol.