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–+ servings
Christmas spiced cake

Christmas Spiced Cake

This moist and flavorful Christmas spiced cake is the ultimate holiday dessert! Filled with warm spices, creamy frosting, and festive garnishes, this Christmas spiced cake is perfect for Christmas dinner, holiday parties, or cozy family gatherings.
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Course Dessert
Servings 12 Servings

Ingredients
  

For the Cake:

  • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¾ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ginger
  • Pinch of nutmeg
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ cup buttermilk or make your own by adding 1 ½ tsp vinegar to regular milk
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil

For the Frosting:

  • 4 oz cream cheese room temperature
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar

For Garnish:

  • Cinnamon sticks
  • Dried oranges

Instructions
 

Step 1: Preheat & Prepare

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F. Butter a cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients

  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together vegetable oil, buttermilk, vanilla extract, eggs, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. These spices bring that signature holiday flavor that makes this Christmas spiced cake irresistible.

Step 3: Add the Sugars

  • Stir in the granulated and brown sugar until well combined. The combination of the two sugars adds both sweetness and depth of flavor.

Step 4: Incorporate Dry Ingredients

  • Fold in the flour and baking powder, mixing gently until the batter is smooth and lump-free.

Step 5: Bake

  • Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The warm, spiced aroma will fill your kitchen—setting the holiday mood before the first bite is even taken.

Step 6: Cool & Chill

  • Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove it, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. This step makes the Christmas spiced cake easier to frost and helps the flavors develop even more.

Step 7: Prepare the Frosting

  • Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla extract, then gradually mix in powdered sugar. Whip for 3 minutes until fluffy and spreadable.

Step 8: Assemble the Cake

  • Spread the frosting evenly across the chilled cake. The tangy cream cheese frosting balances the warm spices perfectly.

Step 9: Garnish

  • Top your cake with cinnamon sticks and dried oranges for a rustic holiday presentation. You can also add sugared cranberries or a dusting of powdered sugar for extra festive flair.

Step 10: Serve & Enjoy

  • Slice and serve. This Christmas spiced cake yields 10–12 servings, making it perfect for family gatherings or parties.
Keyword cake, christmas cake, christmas recipes, easy dessert, fall dessert, fall recipes, holiday cake, single layer cake, spiced cake
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