Winter Wonderland Cake is the ultimate festive centerpiece for your holiday table. This show-stopping dessert features soft vanilla cake layers, swirled blue-and-white buttercream, a shimmering snow glaze, and magical decorations like marshmallow snowmen and sugar cone Christmas trees. It’s a delightful combination of flavor, whimsy, and winter magic—perfect for Christmas parties, snow-themed birthdays, or any occasion that calls for a little sparkle. Whether you’re an experienced baker or simply want to wow your guests, this cake brings snowy dreams to life in every slice.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Stunning winter theme that’s perfect for holidays
- Soft, fluffy vanilla cake made from scratch
- Decorative but doable—impressive results with simple techniques
- Make-ahead friendly: cakes and decorations can be prepped in advance
- Kid-friendly project: let little hands help with decorating!
Ingredients
Cake Layers
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
Vanilla Buttercream
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, softened
- 5–6 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2–3 tbsp milk or heavy cream
- Blue gel food coloring (sky or ice blue)
Snow Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Marshmallow Snowmen
- Large marshmallows (3 per snowman)
- Mini Reese’s, mini Oreos, or chocolate coins (hats)
- Pretzel sticks (arms)
- Mini chocolate chips or icing (eyes/buttons)
- Red licorice strips (scarves)
Sugar Cone Trees
- Sugar cones
- Green-tinted buttercream
- Sanding sugar
- White snowflake sprinkles or nonpareils
Instructions
Bake the Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line three 6-inch or two 8-inch round cake pans.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
- In a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (3–4 minutes).
- Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla.
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk, starting and ending with flour. Mix just until combined.
- Divide batter evenly and bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely before decorating.
Make the Frosting
- Beat butter until creamy (3–5 minutes).
- Add powdered sugar gradually. Add vanilla and milk/cream to reach desired texture.
- Divide into two bowls—leave one white, tint the other light blue.
- Fill piping bags fitted with round or star tips.
Frost and Decorate
- Level cake layers. Stack and fill with alternating blue and white frosting.
- Apply a light crumb coat and chill 20 minutes.
- Apply final swirl coat using both frostings together—smooth sides or leave textured.
- Drizzle glaze over the top edge, letting it drip slightly.
Make the Decorations
Snowmen:
- Stack 3 marshmallows with icing “glue”
- Add pretzel arms, chocolate chip buttons, licorice scarves, and chocolate hats
Trees: - Pipe green buttercream over sugar cones
- Decorate with sanding sugar and snowflake sprinkles
- Let decorations set before placing on cake
Assemble the Wonderland
- Gently press snowmen and trees onto the top and sides of the cake
- Sprinkle with shredded coconut or powdered sugar “snow”
- Add pearl candies or sugar crystals for sparkle
Recipe Details
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Decorating Time: 60–90 minutes
Total Time: ~3 hours
Servings: 10–12
Skill Level: Intermediate
Nutrition Facts (Per Slice – Approximate)
- Calories: 550
- Carbs: 75g
- Fat: 25g
- Protein: 5g
- Sugar: 55g
- Sodium: 200mg
Tips & Variations
- Make ahead: Bake cake layers 1–2 days early; wrap and refrigerate or freeze
- Color variation: Try mint green or lavender for different winter themes
- Gluten-free option: Use 1:1 gluten-free baking flour
- No piping tips? Use Ziploc bags with snipped corners
- Make mini cakes or cupcakes with leftover batter and decorations
FAQs
Can I use a box mix for the cake base?
Yes! Use your favorite vanilla or white cake mix and follow package directions.
Can this cake be refrigerated?
Yes, store it in the fridge up to 3 days. Let sit at room temp before serving for best texture.
Can I freeze decorated components?
Snowmen and trees can be made 1–2 days ahead and refrigerated, but not frozen.
What if I don’t have gel food coloring?
Use a small amount of liquid food dye, but reduce added milk to prevent thinning the frosting.
Winter Wonderland Cake
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Bake cake layers at 350°F for 25–30 minutes. Cool.
- Prepare frosting and tint half blue.
- Layer and frost cake, using both colors. Chill.
- Drizzle glaze on top and let drip.
- Make snowmen and trees using candy and frosting.
- Decorate top and sides of cake.
- Dust with coconut or powdered sugar for snow effect.
Notes
– Let frosting come to room temp for easy spreading
– Use shredded coconut for a snowy base
Conclusion
Winter Wonderland Cake is the ultimate holiday centerpiece—beautiful, whimsical, and delicious. From fluffy cake layers to edible snowmen and trees, this cake is more than dessert—it’s a full-on festive experience. Whether you’re baking for Christmas, a winter birthday, or just to embrace the magic of the season, this recipe brings charm and cheer to any table. Get ready to impress guests, snap photos, and serve up slices of snowy joy!