Easy Christmas Sheet Cake with Festive Holiday Frosting: The Ultimate Crowd-Pleasing Holiday Dessert
If you love holiday baking but don’t love the stress that often comes with labor-intensive recipes, this Easy Christmas Sheet Cake with Festive Holiday Frosting is about to become your new holiday tradition. It’s the perfect marriage of simplicity and seasonal magic — a soft, tender vanilla cake baked in one large pan, slathered with ultra-creamy holiday buttercream, and topped with cheerful decorations to make it instantly Christmas-ready.
This recipe delivers the best of both worlds: it’s simple enough for a weeknight family treat yet festive enough to steal the spotlight on the dessert table at your Christmas party, school event, cookie exchange, or holiday potluck. Whether you’re hosting a crowd or just baking for fun at home, a sheet cake always guarantees ease of preparation, consistent results, and plenty of servings — making it the unsung hero of holiday desserts.
In this article, you’ll get a complete, SEO-optimized deep dive into ingredients, techniques, helpful baking tips, variations, storage advice, and creative decoration ideas. Let’s step into the magic of warm ovens, twinkling lights, and the irresistible aroma of holiday cake baking.
Why This Christmas Sheet Cake Is the Perfect Holiday Dessert
Sheet cakes have experienced a surge in popularity thanks to their convenience, versatility, and nostalgic charm. Unlike layered cakes that require leveling, stacking, crumb-coating, and structural precision, sheet cakes offer effortless beauty and endless decorating potential.
This Christmas-themed version:
- Bakes quickly in a standard 9×13-inch pan
- Yields soft, moist slices every single time
- Features easy homemade frosting that spreads beautifully
- Decorates effortlessly with holiday sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or red-green piping
- Feeds a crowd without the fuss of serving a delicate tiered cake
It’s the kind of dessert that draws people back for seconds and triggers nostalgic holiday memories with every bite.
Ingredients Overview
This recipe features simple pantry staples you likely already have. The sheet cake is light, fluffy, and buttery, while the frosting is thick, creamy, and dyed with festive holiday colors.
Below is your recipe-ready ingredient list:
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
For the Festive Holiday Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp heavy cream or milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Red food coloring (optional)
- Green food coloring (optional)
- Holiday sprinkles, sugar pearls, or crushed candy canes for garnish
Instructions
Make the Cake
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy lifting.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, milk, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mixing until the batter is smooth (do not overmix).
- Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 26–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan before adding frosting.
Prepare the Holiday Frosting
- Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the softened butter until creamy and pale.
- Add powdered sugar gradually, mixing on low speed until fully incorporated.
- Add vanilla and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream or milk; mix until smooth and fluffy.
- If desired, divide frosting and tint sections red and green for holiday piping.
- Spread frosting across the cooled cake, smoothing or swirling as desired.
- Add festive sprinkles, chocolate shavings, or crushed candy canes for decoration.
Serving Suggestions
- Sprinkle with red and green sanding sugar for an easy festive finish.
- Pipe red and green rosettes for an elegant Christmas pattern.
- Dust lightly with powdered sugar “snow.”
- Add mini gingerbread men or fondant holly leaves for themed parties.
- Serve warm slices with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or holiday spiced whipped cream.
Variations
1. Christmas Funfetti Sheet Cake
Stir ½ cup of red and green sprinkles into the batter before baking.
2. Peppermint Christmas Cake
Add ½ teaspoon peppermint extract to the frosting and sprinkle with crushed candy canes.
3. Chocolate Christmas Sheet Cake
Replace ½ cup of flour with cocoa powder for a rich chocolate version.
4. Eggnog Sheet Cake
Swap the milk for eggnog and add a pinch of nutmeg.
5. Gingerbread Sheet Cake
Add molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger for a warm spiced holiday variation.
Tips for the Perfect Christmas Sheet Cake
- Room-temperature ingredients ensure a smooth batter and light, fluffy texture.
- Do NOT overmix once the wet and dry ingredients come together.
- Use parchment paper for easy removal and neat slices.
- Let the cake cool fully before frosting to prevent melting.
- Use heavy cream instead of milk for richer, bakery-style buttercream.
- If piping, chill your frosting for 5–10 minutes to firm up slightly.
Make-Ahead and Storage
- The unfrosted cake can be baked 1–2 days ahead, wrapped tightly, and stored at room temperature.
- Frosted cake stores well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze the cake (sliced or whole) for up to 3 months. Freeze frosting separately for best results.
- Leftovers? Turn them into cake cubes for holiday trifle.
Fun Holiday Fact
Sheet cakes gained major popularity in the 1950s with the rise of boxed mixes and potluck culture. Their convenience and consistent results made them staples of American holiday gatherings — and today, they remain one of the easiest desserts to customize for seasonal celebrations.
Easy Christmas Sheet Cake with Festive Holiday Frosting
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- In another bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla extract, mixing well.
- Gradually mix in dry ingredients, alternating with apple cider, until a soft batter forms.
- Drop batter onto baking sheets using a scoop, spacing 2 inches apart. Flatten slightly.
- Bake 12–15 minutes until set and lightly golden. Cool completely on wire racks.
- Beat softened butter with powdered sugar and vanilla. Add cream to reach desired filling consistency.
- Sandwich cookies with filling, serve immediately or store in airtight container.
