Description
A warm, fragrant Christmas Spice Cake layered with creamy eggnog buttercream. Soft, spiced, and perfect for festive gatherings.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
1 cup unsalted butter (softened, cut into 1-inch pieces)
3 cups cake flour
3 tsp baking powder
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tsp rum flavoring
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tbsp vegetable or canola oil
3 eggs (room temperature)
2 tsp vanilla bean paste
1 cup eggnog
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp salt
For the Buttercream:
2 cups unsalted butter (softened)
6 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
4 tbsp milk
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp rum flavoring
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
2. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl.
3. In another bowl, mix eggnog, milk, oil, vanilla bean paste, rum flavoring, and eggs.
4. Gradually blend softened butter into the dry mixture until coarse crumbs form.
5. Add one-third of the wet mixture and beat gently, then add remaining wet mix until combined. Do not overmix.
6. Divide batter evenly between pans and bake 50–55 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
7. Cool cakes for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
8. For the buttercream, beat butter until fluffy. Add half the sugar, mix, then add milk and remaining sugar. Mix in vanilla, rum flavoring, nutmeg, and salt. Beat until smooth.
9. Frost the cooled cakes, layering buttercream between and around the sides. Optionally top with nutmeg or sugared cranberries.
Notes
Prep time: 20–30 minutes
Cook time: 50–55 minutes
Total time: 70–85 minutes
Skill level: Medium
Yields: Two 8-inch layers
Storage: Keep covered in a cool spot for freshness
Flavor: Warm spices with creamy eggnog frosting
Texture: Moist and tender crumb with fluffy buttercream
Substitutions:
– Cake flour: use 1 cup all-purpose flour minus 2 tbsp + 2 tbsp cornstarch.
– Eggnog: substitute ¾ cup milk + ¼ cup cream + ¼ tsp nutmeg per cup.
– Butter: replace with coconut oil in equal amount.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Easy & Decadent Christmas Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 6000–6500 (entire cake)
- Sugar: 800–850 g total
- Sodium: varies
- Fat: 300–350 g total
- Saturated Fat: high
- Unsaturated Fat: moderate
- Trans Fat: minimal
- Carbohydrates: 800–850 g total
- Fiber: low
- Protein: 50–60 g total
- Cholesterol: moderate