Christmas Cake is a moist white sheet cake studded with red and green sprinkles and finished with a silky vanilla cream cheese frosting. This festive dessert is ideal for holiday gatherings and easily feeds a crowd.
Festive, Delicious Christmas Cake
This Funfetti-style Christmas Cake brings a classic vanilla flavor and a tender, moist crumb that pairs perfectly with a tangy cream cheese frosting. It looks and tastes like a bakery treat, but is simple to prepare at home by elevating a boxed cake mix with a few pantry staples.
The method is straightforward: combine the cake mix with a bit of flour and instant pudding for structure and extra moistness, add dairy and egg whites for richness and lift, bake, then finish with a smooth cream cheese frosting and festive sprinkles. With about 20 minutes of hands-on prep, it’s a quick way to bring a cheerful dessert to the holiday table.
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Rebecca’s Recipe Review
Taste: Clean vanilla notes amplified by tangy cream cheese frosting.
Texture: Moist and tender cake covered with a smooth, creamy frosting.
Ease: 3/10 — mostly quick with a few simple steps.
Pros: Makes a large sheet cake that feeds many.
Cons: A specialty Princess emulsion adds extra flavor but can be hard to find; vanilla or almond extract are easy substitutes.
Would I Make This Again? Yes.
Christmas Cake Ingredients
This recipe uses a mix of pantry staples and a few refrigerated items alongside one boxed cake mix. The pudding mix and a touch of flour help create a moist, tender crumb.
Key components include a holiday Funfetti cake mix, unprepared white chocolate instant pudding, all-purpose flour, sugar, egg whites, sour cream, whole milk, and an optional Princess flavor emulsion (or vanilla/almond extract).
The frosting combines unsalted butter, cream cheese, vanilla, and powdered sugar, and the finished cake is decorated with festive sprinkles.
Princess Flavor Emulsion
Princess flavor emulsion offers a unique, concentrated flavor that enhances the vanilla notes in this cake, creating a sweeter, more distinct profile. It can often be found at large retail stores or craft stores; if unavailable, substitute 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract for similar results.
Made this with my 6 year old — she loved helping and the cake was moist and delicious.
– Mark
How To Make Christmas Funfetti Cake
- Preheat the oven to 325°F and grease a 9×13-inch pan.
- Whisk the boxed cake mix, white chocolate instant pudding (unprepared), all-purpose flour, and granulated sugar together in a large bowl.
- Beat in the flavor emulsion (or extract), whole milk, sour cream, and room-temperature egg whites until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 28–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan before frosting.
- To make the frosting, cream softened butter and cream cheese together, then add vanilla and powdered sugar one cup at a time. Beat on low until incorporated, then increase speed and beat until silky smooth.
- Spread the frosting over the cooled cake and decorate with holiday sprinkles.
Rebecca’s Tips
- Do not prepare the instant pudding with milk — add the dry pudding mix to the batter as directed in the recipe.
- For more color, use gel food coloring in the batter to create a vibrant holiday cake.
- Other compatible pudding flavors include vanilla or cheesecake — use a 3.5 oz box.
Storage Instructions For This Christmas Sheet Cake
Wrap leftover cake tightly in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and refrigerate. The cake will keep for up to 5 days.
More Sweet and Tasty Christmas Desserts to Try
- Shortbread Christmas Crack — easy, sweet-and-salty bars.
- Christmas Tree Cake Dip — a festive dessert dip made with mini holiday cakes.
- Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies — fun to decorate with kids.
- Meringue Christmas Trees — light, crispy cookies and pops ready in about 20 minutes.
- Easy Christmas Funfetti Bread — a tender quick bread studded with sprinkles and a sweet glaze.
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Christmas Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 (15 oz.) box Pillsbury Holiday Funfetti cake mix
- 1 (3.5 oz.) box white chocolate instant pudding mix, unprepared
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon Princess flavor emulsion or 1 tsp vanilla or ½ tsp almond extract
- 1½ cups whole milk
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 4 large egg whites, room temperature
Cream Cheese Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 325°F and grease a 9×13-inch cake pan with butter.
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In a large bowl or stand mixer, whisk together the cake mix, dry pudding mix, flour, and sugar.
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Beat in the flavor emulsion (or extract), milk, sour cream, and egg whites until just combined.
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Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 28–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
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Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan before frosting.
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Make the frosting by creaming butter and cream cheese together 2–3 minutes, then add vanilla and powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing on low until incorporated. Increase speed and beat until silky smooth.
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Spread the frosting over the cooled cake and top with sprinkles.
Notes
- How To Store: Wrap leftovers tightly and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Princess Flavor Emulsion: If unavailable, substitute 1 tsp vanilla extract or ½ tsp almond extract.
- Pudding Mix: Add the white chocolate instant pudding to the dry ingredients unprepared.
- Color: Use gel food coloring for vibrant frosting or batter when desired.
- Alternate Puddings: Vanilla or cheesecake instant pudding (3.5 oz) can be used in place of white chocolate.
Nutrition
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Recipe adapted from Design Eat Repeat.