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Easy Christmas Sheet Cake with Festive Holiday Frosting
When the holiday season arrives, desserts are expected to be festive, delicious, and generous enough to feed a crowd. That is exactly where the Easy Christmas Sheet Cake with Festive Holiday Frosting shines. This recipe delivers classic vanilla cake flavor, soft and tender crumb, and a beautifully decorated frosting layer that instantly feels like Christmas—without requiring advanced baking skills or hours in the kitchen.
Sheet cakes are a holiday baker’s secret weapon. Unlike layered cakes, they are easy to prepare, bake evenly, and serve cleanly. They also provide a large surface area for decorating, making them perfect for seasonal designs, sprinkles, and creative frosting patterns. This Christmas sheet cake is designed to be approachable, reliable, and visually impressive, even for beginner bakers.
The cake itself is light, moist, and subtly sweet, acting as the perfect base for a rich yet fluffy buttercream frosting. The frosting is tinted in classic holiday tones—white, red, and green—and finished with festive sprinkles that add texture and visual appeal. The result is a dessert that looks celebratory but tastes familiar and comforting.
From an SEO and content perspective, easy Christmas desserts and sheet cake recipes perform exceptionally well during November and December. Many home bakers search for desserts that can feed a group without complicated steps, making this recipe especially attractive for families, potlucks, school events, and holiday parties.
This cake is also highly customizable. You can adjust colors, sprinkles, and piping styles to match your holiday theme, whether traditional, minimalist, or playful. It is equally suitable for Christmas Eve gatherings, office parties, or casual holiday dinners where you want a dependable crowd-pleaser.
Another advantage of this recipe is timing. Sheet cakes store well, frost easily, and can be made ahead, which is invaluable during the busy holiday season. The flavors actually improve slightly after resting, making this an ideal dessert to prepare in advance.
Whether you are a seasoned baker or simply need a stress-free holiday dessert, this Easy Christmas Sheet Cake delivers consistent results, festive presentation, and classic flavor every time.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
For the Festive Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk or heavy cream
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Red and green food coloring
Decoration
- Christmas sprinkles
- Optional sanding sugar or edible pearls
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Gradually add dry ingredients, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top evenly.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely in the pan before frosting.
- For the frosting, beat butter until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk until fluffy.
- Divide frosting into bowls and tint with food coloring as desired.
- Spread frosting evenly over cooled cake and decorate with sprinkles.
- Slice and serve.
Tips for a Perfect Christmas Sheet Cake
- Room-temperature ingredients matter: This ensures a smooth batter and even bake.
- Do not overmix: Mix just until combined to keep the cake tender.
- Cool completely before frosting: Warm cake will melt the frosting.
- Use an offset spatula: This helps create a smooth, professional finish.
Festive Variations and Custom Ideas
- Chocolate Version: Replace ½ cup flour with cocoa powder.
- Peppermint Cake: Add ½ tsp peppermint extract to the frosting.
- Sprinkle Patterns: Create stripes, wreath shapes, or borders with different colors.
- Holiday Message Cake: Pipe a simple greeting using contrasting frosting.
Serving Suggestions
This cake is ideal for:
- Christmas parties and potlucks
- School and office holiday events
- Family dinners and gatherings
- Holiday dessert tables alongside cookies and brownies
It pairs perfectly with coffee, hot chocolate, or warm spiced drinks.
Easy Christmas Sheet Cake with Festive Holiday Frosting
A soft vanilla sheet cake topped with fluffy festive frosting, perfect for Christmas gatherings.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease baking pan.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Add eggs and vanilla, then alternate milk and dry ingredients.
- Bake 30–35 minutes and cool completely.
- Prepare frosting and decorate cake.
Notes
Customize frosting colors and sprinkles to match your holiday theme.
Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions
- Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerate for up to 5 days; bring to room temperature before serving.
- Unfrosted cake can be frozen for up to 2 months.
Holiday Baking Context
Sheet cakes have long been a staple of American holiday baking due to their simplicity and scalability. This Christmas version reflects modern preferences for ease, visual appeal, and dependable results—making it a go-to dessert for busy holiday schedules.
