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Best Christmas Spice Cake with Eggnog Buttercream Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 64 reviews

This Best Christmas Spice Cake with Eggnog Buttercream is a festive, moist, and flavorful holiday dessert. Infused with warming spices like nutmeg and cinnamon, and made tender with eggnog and rum flavoring, this cake is perfectly complemented by a rich, creamy eggnog buttercream frosting. Ideal for Christmas celebrations, it offers a comforting blend of classic holiday flavors in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 3 cups cake flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter (slightly cooler than room temperature)
  • 1 cup eggnog (Southern Comfort brand used)
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • 1 teaspoon rum flavoring
  • 3 large eggs

Buttercream Frosting

  • 2 cups unsalted butter (at room temperature)
  • 6 cups powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon rum flavoring
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • 4 tablespoons milk (plus more if needed)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Oven and Cake Pans: Preheat your oven to 325°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans thoroughly to prevent sticking.
  2. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together cake flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon until well combined and evenly distributed.
  3. Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together eggnog, milk, oil, vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste, rum flavoring, and eggs until fully blended. Set aside.
  4. Combine Butter with Dry Ingredients: Cut the cooled butter into chunks. Using a mixer set to low speed, gradually add butter chunks to the dry ingredients. Increase mixer speed to medium and mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs or sand.
  5. Incorporate Liquid Ingredients: Pour about one-third of the liquid mixture into the butter-flour blend. Mix on low to medium speed until combined, approximately 30 seconds. Add the remaining liquid and mix just until fully combined, avoiding overmixing. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the bowl’s sides and mix for an additional 10 to 15 seconds.
  6. Bake the Cakes: Evenly divide the batter between the prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs and the cake’s edges begin to pull away from the pans. Cool cakes in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and cool completely on racks.
  7. Prepare the Buttercream Frosting: Using an electric mixer on medium speed, whip the room temperature butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add 3 cups of powdered sugar, mixing first on low and then medium speed until combined. Add 2 tablespoons milk, then incorporate the remaining 3 cups powdered sugar, beating on low then medium until smooth. Add 1 tablespoon milk, vanilla extract or paste, rum flavoring, ground nutmeg, and salt; mix on medium speed until well blended. Adjust consistency with additional milk or powdered sugar as needed. Beat on medium high for 1-2 minutes until fluffy.
  8. Assemble the Cake: Once cakes are completely cool, spread a generous layer of eggnog buttercream between the two cake layers. Frost the top and sides evenly with the remaining buttercream. Serve and enjoy your festive, spiced Christmas cake with luscious eggnog frosting!

Notes

  • Use cake flour for a tender crumb; all-purpose flour can be substituted but may alter texture.
  • Ensure butter is slightly cooler than room temperature for easier mixing when combining with dry ingredients.
  • Do not overmix the batter once wet and dry ingredients are combined to avoid a tough cake.
  • The eggnog flavor can be adjusted with rum flavoring or an actual splash of rum for an adult version.
  • Buttercream consistency can be adjusted by adding small amounts of milk or powdered sugar until desired texture is reached.
  • Allow cakes to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting buttercream.
  • Store leftover cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Keywords: Christmas cake, spice cake, eggnog cake, holiday dessert, buttercream frosting, nutmeg cake, cinnamon cake

Find it online: https://freshrecipehub.com/best-christmas-spice-cake-with-eggnog-buttercream-recipe/