How to Make a Holiday Cake

The holidays! Time for fun, family, and yummy food. What's better than a holiday cake you made yourself? Think it's too hard? Nope! With a little help, you can bake a cake that will wow everyone. This guide shows you how. Let's bake!

Picking the Perfect Cake

First things first: What kind of cake should you make? So many choices! Maybe a Christmas fruitcake? Or a fancy New Year's chocolate cake? Here’s what to think about:

How good are you at baking? New to this? Start easy. A pro? Go wild!
What do you like? Rich cakes? Light cakes? Pick flavors you love.
What holiday is it? Chocolate for Christmas? Lemon for Easter? Think about the holiday.
Does anyone have allergies? Gluten-free? Nut allergies? No problem! There are tons of recipes.

Need ideas? Here are some popular cakes:

Christmas: Fruitcake, gingerbread, chocolate peppermint, Yule log.
Thanksgiving: Pumpkin spice, apple cider, pecan pie cake.
Easter: Carrot cake, lemon cake, hummingbird cake.
New Year's Eve: Champagne cake, chocolate mousse, red velvet.

Got a recipe? Great! Read it carefully. Get all your stuff ready before you start.

What You Need to Bake

Good tools make baking easier. Here’s what you’ll want:

Bowls: At least two. One for dry stuff, one for wet.
Measuring Cups and Spoons:Important! Baking is science.
Mixer: Stand mixer or hand mixer. Makes things easy!
Cake Pans: Round? Square? Bundt? Pick what your recipe says.
Parchment Paper: Stops the cake from sticking. Yay!
Offset Spatula: For smooth frosting.
Wire Rack: For cooling the cake.
Sifter: For making flour light and fluffy.

Good Ingredients Matter

Your cake will only be as good as what you put in it. Use fresh stuff!

Flour: All-purpose is usually best. Make sure it’s not old.
Sugar: Granulated is normal. Some recipes use powdered or brown sugar.
Butter: Unsalted is best. You can control the salt.
Eggs: Large and at room temperature. They mix better!
Milk: Whole milk or buttermilk. Check the recipe.
Baking Powder/Soda: Makes the cake rise. Make sure they aren't expired!
Vanilla Extract: Use the real stuff. Tastes better.
Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, etc. Fresh spices = more flavor.

Let's Bake That Cake!

Okay, you're ready! Let's do this:

Heat the oven: Do it before you start mixing.
Prep the pans: Grease them or use parchment paper. No sticking!
Cream butter and sugar: Mix until light and fluffy. This makes the cake rise.
Add eggs: One at a time. Mix well.
Mix dry stuff: Flour, baking powder, etc. in a separate bowl.
Mix wet and dry: Slowly add the dry stuff to the wet stuff. Don't overmix!
Pour into pans: Evenly!
Bake it: Check the recipe for time. Use a toothpick to check if it's done.
Cool: Let it cool in the pan for a bit, then put it on a wire rack.

Baking Secrets

Want a perfect cake? Try these:

Room Temperature: Ingredients mix better when they're not cold.
Measure Right: Baking is a science!
Don't Overmix: Makes the cake tough.
Leave the Oven Closed: Don't peek too much!
Check If It's Done: Toothpick is your friend.
Cool It: Let the cake cool completely before frosting.

Frosting Time!

Cake is cool? Time to frost! This is where you get to be creative.

Pick a Frosting: Buttercream? Cream cheese? Chocolate? Pick one that tastes good with your cake.

Frosting Tricks: Use a spatula to spread the frosting. Make it smooth! You can also use piping bags for fancy stuff.

Decorating Ideas:

Sprinkles: Easy and fun.
Edible Glitter: Makes it sparkle!
Candies: M&Ms, candy canes... get creative!
Fresh Fruit: Berries look great.
Chocolate Shavings: Fancy!
Fondant: Make little shapes like snowflakes.

Cake Ideas to Try

Need some recipe ideas? Here you go!

Classic Christmas Fruitcake

Lots of dried fruit and nuts. Some people love it, some hate it. But a good one is really good.

Gingerbread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Warm spices! Cream cheese frosting is the best.

Chocolate Peppermint Cake

Chocolate + peppermint = awesome.

Pumpkin Spice Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Perfect for Thanksgiving! Maple frosting is delicious.

Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Red and tangy! A classic.

Keep That Cake Fresh

Want your cake to last? Here's how:

No frosting? Wrap it tight and keep it at room temperature for up to three days. Frosting? Put it in the fridge. Take it out before serving so it's not too cold.