Winter Wonderland White Chocolate Cake is the showstopper your holiday dessert table has been waiting for. With layers of fluffy vanilla cake, silky white chocolate buttercream, and a shimmer of sparkling sanding sugar, this cake is equal parts magical and mouthwatering. It’s perfect for Christmas, New Year’s, or any time you want to impress with a snow-kissed treat.
This elegant winter cake combines soft vanilla cake layers with rich white chocolate frosting, all dressed up in an ombré of icy blue tones. Finished with a cascade of sanding sugar and optional white chocolate ganache, it’s a dreamy centerpiece for your winter gatherings. And don’t let the stunning finish fool you — it’s beginner-friendly with the right steps and tools.
Table of Contents
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Festive and beautiful: A stunning centerpiece for holiday parties
- Full of flavor: Delicate vanilla cake meets creamy white chocolate
- Texture heaven: Soft cake, smooth frosting, and a sugary crunch
- Customizable: Change the color scheme, size, or add a ganache drizzle
- Make-ahead friendly: Layers can be baked and frozen in advance
🛒 Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1⅔ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp ground cardamom (optional)
- ¾ cup salted butter, room temperature
- 3 egg whites
- 3 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup plain whole milk yogurt
- ½ cup milk
For the White Chocolate Buttercream:
- 1 lb unsalted butter
- 2 cups white chocolate chips
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 8 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Blue gel food coloring (optional, for ombré effect)
Optional White Chocolate Ganache:
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- ¼ cup cream
- 1 drop blue gel food coloring
👨🍳 Instructions
Bake the Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 6-inch cake pans.
- In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and cardamom.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together butter, milk, yogurt, egg whites, and vanilla until mostly smooth.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Divide batter evenly between pans and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Make the Buttercream:
- Warm cream and pour over white chocolate chips. Let sit for 1 minute, then stir until smooth.
- In a stand mixer, beat butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt.
- Add cooled white chocolate mixture and beat until smooth.
- Divide into 4 bowls. Leave one white and tint the others light, medium, and dark blue.
Frost and Assemble:
- Place the first cake layer on a board. Pipe buttercream and repeat with remaining layers.
- Apply a thin crumb coat and chill for 20 minutes.
- Apply final coat using darkest blue at the bottom, then blend upward to lightest. Smooth and chill.
- If using ganache, pour it over the top and let it drip down chilled sides.
- Roll chilled cake in blue sanding sugar, working in sections. Add decorative buttercream dollops if desired.
⏱️ Recipe Details
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Servings: 8 slices
🔢 Nutrition Facts (per slice)
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Carbs: 41g
- Fat: 11g
- Protein: 4g
- Sugar: 37g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Cholesterol: 38mg
- Sodium: 133mg
💡 Tips & Variations
- Use cake strips: For flat, even layers
- Ganache hack: Microwave cream + chips in 20-second bursts on 50% power
- No yogurt? Use sour cream or whole milk yogurt interchangeably
- Skip the ombré: Just use sanding sugar for an easier finish
- Color match: Use gel food coloring to control shades for the ombré
❓ FAQs
Can I use 8-inch pans?
Yes — double the recipe for three 8-inch pans. For 9-inch, triple it.
Can I freeze the layers?
Absolutely. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost fully before frosting.
What’s the best way to store the cake?
At room temperature for 1 day, or refrigerate for up to 4 days. Bring to room temp before serving.
Does sanding sugar hold up?
It’s best added just before serving — refrigeration can dull the sparkle.
Winter Wonderland White Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 6-inch pans.
- Whisk dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
- In a second bowl, whisk wet ingredients.
- Combine wet and dry, mix until just combined.
- Divide batter into pans and bake 25–30 minutes. Cool completely.
- Warm cream and pour over white chocolate. Stir until smooth.
- Beat butter, then gradually add powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla.
- Mix in melted white chocolate. Tint with gel food coloring as desired.
- Assemble and frost cake. Start with darkest blue buttercream at bottom and blend upward.
- Chill, then roll cake sides in sanding sugar. Add ganache drip and buttercream dollops if using.
Notes
– You can freeze cake layers ahead of time.
🧾 Conclusion
If you’re dreaming of a snowy dessert table, this Winter Wonderland White Chocolate Cake is the perfect crown jewel. Light vanilla cake, dreamy buttercream, and sparkling sugar make this dessert as enchanting to eat as it is to admire.