20 Beautiful Christmas Cakes to Make for the Holidays

01 of 20

Classic Chocolate Yule Log

The Spruce

The festive classic chocolate yule log, called a buche de Noel by the French, is a true classic for Christmas and Boxing Day. It might not be the easiest dessert to make, but the results are worth it. A rich, decadent Swiss roll is filled with vanilla-flavored whipped cream, fashioned into a log that's topped with icing sugar, chocolate shavings, and your choice of Christmas-themed toppings (try these cute meringue mushrooms!).
02 of 20

Tiramisu Cake

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Create a beautiful cake boasting the flavors of classic Italian tiramisu with this clever dessert that starts with a boxed angel cake mix. Add strong, brewed black coffee, cream cheese, coffee liqueur, an easy frosting made with frozen whipped topping, and finish this delicious tiramisu cake with a fudgy chocolate glaze.
03 of 20

Turtle Cheesecake

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

With its combination of sweet chocolate, crunchy pecans, and gooey caramel, turtle candy is a favorite stocking stuffer at Christmas time. This divinely decadent turtle cheesecake recreates these flavors by nestling them inside a classic graham cracker crust to form a Christmas dessert that is sure to be a hit.
04 of 20

Red Velvet Cake

from_my_point_of_view / Getty Images

Red velvet cake makes a gorgeous visual statement on your holiday table. This classic recipe produces a dense, yet moist chocolate cake with a deep red color that contrasts strikingly against a luscious white cream cheese frosting.

Continue to 5 of 20 below.
05 of 20

Neapolitan Ice Cream Cake

Leah Maroney

This stunning ice cream cake is a guaranteed show-stopper. With a homemade brownie base topped with store-bought ice creams, its impressive looks belie its ease of preparation, guaranteed to impress, while saving time during the busy holiday season.
06 of 20

Peppermint Bark Cheesecake

The Spruce / Leah Maroney

Use store-bought or homemade peppermint bark in the cream cheese filling for this Christmas-ready peppermint bark cheesecake. The scrumptious creamy filling provides a delightful contrast to the crunchy chocolate cookie crust.
07 of 20

Chocolate Candy Cane Cake

The Spruce / Elizabeth LaBau

Chocolate-mint lovers, this chocolate candy cane cake is made for you! Three tender layers of chocolate cake are surrounded by peppermint buttercream, then enrobed in mint frosting. A sprinkling of chocolate curls and some mini candy canes adorn the top for a showstopping effect on your holiday dessert table.
08 of 20

Christmas Tree Cupcakes

The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

For a fun twist, make Christmas tree cupcakes. The chocolate batter includes sour cream and buttermilk, along with a hint of coffee, so they're flavorful and moist. Show off your piping skills with the green frosting and add sprinkles to finish the festive dessert. To continue the Christmas tree theme, display them in a pyramid using cake stands.

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09 of 20

Lemon Mascarpone Layer Cake

Andrews McMeel

Part holiday trifle, part layer cake, this lovely lemon mascarpone layer cake has something for everyone to love and makes a stunning presentation at the table. Layers of lemon sponge cake are soaked in zesty, sweetened lemon syrup, with delicious citrus and mascarpone cream in between.
10 of 20

Black Forest Chocolate Cake

Getty Images

German black forest chocolate cake makes a special treat at holiday time. The chocolate cake layers are infused with berry liqueur, then assembled with cherry filling and whipped cream frosting. The whole thing is topped with white and dark chocolate curls and maraschino cherries for a spectacular presentation.
11 of 20

Sock-It-to-Me Bundt Cake

The Spruce

Besides its cute name, this sock-it-to-me bundt cake has a sweet and tangy flavor from sour cream and cinnamon in the batter, plus great crunch from chopped pecans. Bake it in a bundt pan and finish it with a simple, sweet vanilla glaze. For an extra special touch, top with sugared cranberries while the icing is still sticky.
12 of 20

Eggnog White Chocolate Cheesecake

Ailsa von Dobeneck

Do the holidays make you crave creamy eggnog? If so, prepare to swoon for your new favorite Christmas eggnog white chocolate cheesecake. The cream cheese and sour cream filling are flavored with dark rum, white chocolate chips, vanilla, and holiday spices and nestled into a spicy gingersnap crust for eggnog flavor in every bite.

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13 of 20

Italian Wedding Cake

Kristina Vanni

Don't let the name of this cake fool you—the moist cake topped with white icing and coconut flakes looks like a winter wonderland, making it perfect for Christmas. Italian wedding cake is even better made the day before, so prep it ahead of time.
14 of 20

Pistachio Layer Cake

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

This pretty pistachio layer cake with fluffy whipped cream frosting is unique, and utterly delicious. The combination of pistachio nuts and pistachio pudding in the cake batter delivers loads of nutty flavor and the frosting is so light and dreamy, you'll want to eat it with a spoon. Serve it all year-round, from holiday parties to springtime celebrations.
15 of 20

French Opera Cake

The Spruce Eats

The classic French opera cake is always sure to turn heads. Layers of light almond sponge cake, coffee buttercream, and dark chocolate ganache combine to form a spectacular dessert you will be proud to serve to your foodie friends. It does take some effort to create the different layers, but the result is an impressive Instagram-worthy dessert.
16 of 20

Fig Preserves Cake With Caramel Glaze

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

This fig preserves cake with caramel glaze is an elegant dessert to serve at holiday time or as an afternoon treat with a cup of tea. It can be made at any time of year, since it makes use of fig jam in the batter instead of fresh fruit. The cake includes chopped pecans for surprise crunch and tastes special with the included recipe for caramel glaze.

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17 of 20

Traditional Christmas Fruitcake

The Spruce

The traditional brandy-soaked traditional Christmas fruitcake will always be the most classic cake for British Christmas celebrations. Whether you're laying on a Dickens-style holiday spread, or want to gift this dense cake studded with dried fruits to family and friends, use this recipe for a spiced, brandy-soaked cake.
18 of 20

Butter Pecan Layer Cake

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Plenty of toasted pecans go into the batter for this easy butter pecan layer cake. Two layers are filled and frosted with a buttery pecan frosting. Sprinkle extra toasted pecans over top for decoration and enjoy the rave reviews you are sure to receive from guests.
19 of 20

Cupcake Wreath

The Spruce / Teena Agnel

This dessert is truly a sum of its part. A cupcake wreath is a fun and festive idea for Christmas parties and makes a showstopping contribution to holiday potlucks. It doubles as a centerpiece and makes a great option for holiday gatherings with children as every part of the wreath is edible, from the frosting leaves to the candy berries—even the cute pine cones on top!
20 of 20

Easy Orange Liqueur Cake

Miki Duisterhof / Getty Images

Fresh orange juice and zest, orange liqueur and chopped pecans add excitement to a yellow cake mix in this simply delicious easy orange liqueur cake recipe. Decorate the cake with candied citrus peel, if you like for an elegant presentation.