The Festive Holiday Tree Cake Recipe Everyone Will Love

Sweet memories bloom with every slice of this festive holiday tree cake that captures the magic of seasonal celebrations.

Decorated with delicate frosting and sparkling sprinkles, the cake stands as a delightful centerpiece for winter gatherings.

Layers of rich, moist cake promise a delectable experience that warms hearts and brings smiles.

Each carefully crafted element tells a story of joy and togetherness.

Bakers of all skill levels can create this stunning dessert with simple techniques and readily available ingredients.

The result is a show-stopping treat that transforms any holiday moment into something extraordinary.

You’ll want to share every delicious bite with loved ones around the table.

Holiday Tree Cake Why Everyone Loves It

• This festive cake transforms baking into a delightful, speedy adventure that brings joy with minimal effort and maximum celebration.
• Perfect for family baking moments, kids can help sprinkle, decorate, and create magical holiday memories while learning basic cooking skills.
• Stunning enough for holiday parties, potlucks, or special gatherings, this cake doubles as a delicious dessert and eye-catching decoration that wows guests.
• Beginner bakers can confidently tackle this recipe with straightforward steps, basic ingredients, and foolproof techniques that guarantee a beautiful result every single time.

Ingredients for a Showstopper Holiday Tree Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: A key dry ingredient that provides structure to the holiday cake.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a tender cake texture.
• Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and provide richness to the cake.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures a moist and soft cake crumb.
• Buttermilk: Adds tanginess and helps create a tender cake texture.

• Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Help the cake rise and create a light, fluffy texture.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the cake.

• Vanilla Extract: Provides a warm, classic flavor to the cake.
• Sprinkles: Adds festive color and fun texture to the cake batter.

• Unsalted Butter: Creates a creamy, rich base for the frosting.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create a smooth frosting consistency.
• Milk: Helps adjust the frosting's texture and smoothness.
• Green Food Coloring: Allows for creating the holiday tree design on the cake.

• Candy Decorations: Adds festive embellishments to complete the holiday tree cake design.

Equipment for Holiday Tree Cake Fun

• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining dry and wet ingredients smoothly.
• Whisk: Essential for blending ingredients without lumps and creating a smooth batter.
• Half-sheet pan (18×13-inch): Ideal size for even cake baking and easy spreading.
• Electric mixer: Great for beating butter and creating fluffy, light frosting.
• Spatula: Helps fold in sprinkles and spread frosting evenly.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Precise measurements for accurate ingredient amounts.
• Cooling rack: Allows cake to cool completely without getting soggy.
• Piping bag: Perfect for creating detailed tree design with green frosting.

Holiday Tree Cake Step by Step Baking

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Fire up your oven to a toasty 350F.

Give your 18×13-inch half-sheet pan a quick spray of baking magic to prevent any sticky situations.

Step 2: Blend the Dry Foundations

In a mixing bowl, dance your whisk through the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until they’re perfectly mingled and lump-free.

Step 3: Create the Cake Mixture

Grab your mixer and whip sugar and eggs into a frothy cloud.

Pour in the oil and vanilla, creating a silky base.

Gently fold in the flour mixture and buttermilk, alternating between the two.

Sprinkle in colorful confetti sprinkles for extra cheer.

Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection

Pour the batter into your prepared pan, spreading it evenly.

Slide into the oven and bake for 20 minutes until the top turns a beautiful golden brown.

Let the cake cool completely – patience is key!

Give it at least an hour to settle.

Step 5: Whip Up the Frosting

Beat the butter until it’s light and fluffy like a cloud.

Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.

Whip until the frosting is light and dreamy.

Step 6: Transform into a Festive Masterpiece

Spread a smooth base layer of frosting across the cake.

Use green frosting to craft a stunning tree design.

Carefully place candy decorations to bring your holiday tree to life, following a creative pattern that makes the cake pop with festive joy.

Clever Tips for Holiday Tree Cake Success

• Toss sprinkles in a tablespoon of flour before adding to batter to distribute evenly and prevent sinking.
• Let buttermilk and eggs reach room temperature before mixing to create smoother, more tender cake crumb.
• Sift powdered sugar to eliminate lumps and create silky, smooth frosting that spreads easily.
• Use toothpick test by inserting into center – it should come out clean with minimal crumbs when cake is perfectly baked.
• Add a touch of almond extract to vanilla frosting for a more complex, sophisticated taste profile.

Holiday Tree Cake Decorating Ideas

• Gluten-Free Holiday Tree Cake: Replace wheat flour with almond or gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, ensuring same measurement for soft texture.
• Vegan Winter Celebration Cake: Substitute eggs with mashed banana or applesauce, use plant-based milk instead of buttermilk, swap butter for coconut oil in frosting.
• Low-Sugar Festive Dessert: Reduce sugar content by using stevia or monk fruit sweetener, incorporate sugar-free sprinkles, create lighter frosting with Greek yogurt and reduced powdered sugar.
• Dairy-Free Holiday Treat: Replace buttermilk with coconut milk, use dairy-free margarine for frosting, select plant-based decorative candies for allergen-friendly version.

Serving Suggestions for Holiday Tree Cake

• Festive Party Centerpiece: Create a stunning holiday table focal point by positioning the cake on a decorative cake stand surrounded by pinecones, small ornaments, and twinkling battery-operated lights.
• Gifting Delight: Slice cake into perfect squares, wrap individually in clear cellophane with festive ribbons for charming homemade holiday gifts that spread sweet cheer to neighbors and friends.
• Kids' Baking Adventure: Invite children to help decorate the cake by adding sprinkles, candy decorations, or creating their own unique tree design, turning baking into a fun family activity.
• Beverage Pairing: Serve alongside warm hot chocolate, peppermint mocha, or creamy eggnog to complement the cake's sweet and festive flavor profile.

Keeping Holiday Tree Cake Moist and Fresh

• Store covered cake in airtight container for up to 5 days. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap to prevent drying and maintain moisture.
• Carefully wrap completely cooled cake in two layers of plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for maximum 3 weeks. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before serving.
• Cut individual cake slices, wrap separately in plastic wrap and place in freezer-safe container. Store up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30-45 minutes.
• Warm refrigerated cake slices in microwave for 15-20 seconds. For frozen slices, thaw first, then warm gently to prevent texture changes. Avoid overheating to maintain cake's soft texture.

FAQs

• What kind of sprinkles work best in this cake recipe?

Nonpareils or rainbow jimmies are perfect because they add color and fun without bleeding into the batter during mixing.

• Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?

Yes, but add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to regular milk and let sit for 5 minutes to create a buttermilk substitute with similar tangy properties.

• How do I prevent my cake from sticking to the pan?

Use baking spray with flour or thoroughly grease the pan with butter and dust with flour to ensure easy cake removal.

• What green food coloring is recommended for the tree design?

Gel food coloring works best because it provides vibrant color without thinning the frosting’s consistency and creates more intense green shades.

Holiday Tree Cake Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Classic holiday tree cake combines festive layers of green-tinted sponge with peppermint buttercream. Decorative pine-shaped design and white chocolate garnish make this dessert a cheerful centerpiece for winter celebrations.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cake Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients:

• 2 3/4 cups (340 grams) all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar

Wet Ingredients:

• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) buttermilk, room temperature
• 1/2 cup holiday sprinkles (red, green, and white)

Frosting and Decorations:

• 1 1/2 cups (340 grams) salted butter (3 sticks), room temperature
• 1 1/2 pounds (680 grams) powdered sugar (6 cups)
• 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• Forest green gel food coloring
• Blue gel food coloring (optional)
• 5 brown mini candy-coated chocolates
• 2 tablespoons holiday sprinkles
• 30 yellow mini candy-coated chocolates
• 40 red mini candy-coated chocolates
• 1 (6-inch) piece red sour candy belt

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Prepare the baking surface by coating an 18×13-inch half-sheet pan with non-stick spray at 350°F oven temperature.
2. Combine dry ingredients thoroughly, ensuring even distribution of flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Create a smooth batter by whisking sugar and eggs until foamy, then incorporate oil and vanilla extract. Gradually blend flour mixture and buttermilk, gently folding in colorful sprinkles for festive texture.
4. Transfer batter to prepared pan, baking for approximately 20 minutes until golden brown. Allow cake to cool completely for at least one hour at room temperature.
5. Craft frosting by whipping butter until light and airy, then gradually integrating powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix until achieving a smooth, spreadable consistency.
6. Apply base frosting evenly across cake surface. Utilize green frosting to construct a detailed tree design, strategically placing candy decorations to enhance the holiday-themed aesthetic.

Notes

• Customize the cake’s flavor by swapping vanilla extract with almond or peppermint extract for a festive twist.
• Use room temperature ingredients like eggs and buttermilk to ensure smooth, even mixing and better cake texture.
• Fold sprinkles gently into the batter to prevent color bleeding and maintain their vibrant appearance.
• Create a gluten-free version by substituting all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend for equally delicious results.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 575
• Sugar: 61 g
• Sodium: 180 mg
• Fat: 29 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 70 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg