Winter ONEderland Cake is the ultimate showstopper for your little one’s first birthday celebration. Featuring two layers of fluffy vanilla cake, a naturally sweet coconut cream frosting, and charming snowman-inspired decor, this cake is festive, allergy-friendly, and easy to customize. Whether you’re planning a snowy birthday bash or a cozy winter party, this cake brings the charm of the season right to your dessert table.
Nothing says “Winter ONEderland” like a sweet snowman cake that’s as adorable as it is delicious. This homemade birthday cake uses real ingredients, skips artificial colors, and turns a simple vanilla base into a whimsical centerpiece. It’s a smash cake and dessert all-in-one—with soft layers, light frosting, and minimal sugar. Plus, it’s perfect for little ones with dietary restrictions thanks to dairy-free and gluten-free options.
Table of Contents
💖 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ideal for first birthdays or winter parties
- Naturally dairy-free frosting using coconut cream
- Simple vanilla flavor that kids and adults love
- Uses real food coloring and no artificial dyes
- Easy to decorate—even for beginners
- Vegan and gluten-free options included
Looking for more seasonal inspiration? Check out our Vegan Mug Cake or Mini Apple Pies for cozy treats.
🛒 Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup caster sugar (or granulated sugar)
- 3 tsp baking powder
- ¾ tsp baking soda
- Pinch of salt
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups buttermilk (or vegan alternative: soy milk + vinegar)
For the Frosting
- 2 cans coconut cream (chilled overnight)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar
- Natural food coloring (brown, pink, orange)
Optional Tools & Decor
- Wilton piping tips (#10, #30, #47)
- Cake topper or snowflake candles
- Parchment paper, stand mixer, piping bags
🔪 Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line two 6-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, mix oil, vanilla, and buttermilk.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients. Stir until just mixed—don’t overmix.
- Divide batter between pans and bake 30–45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely. Level tops of each cake with a serrated knife if needed.
- In a chilled bowl, whip coconut cream (only the thick part), vanilla, and powdered sugar until fluffy.
- Divide frosting: keep half white; split remaining into 3 bowls. Tint with pink, brown, and orange food coloring.
- Assemble cake with a layer of white frosting in the middle. Stack and coat outside with remaining white frosting.
- Decorate base with pink piping, add brown eyes and smile, orange carrot nose, and pink flowers or snowflakes.
- Chill for 2 hours before serving. Add candles or toppers as desired.
⏱ Recipe Details
Prep Time: 1 hr 10 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Chill Time: 2 hrs (plus overnight for coconut cream)
Total Time: ~9 hrs
Servings: 18
🧮 Nutrition Facts (Per Slice)
- Calories: 260
- Fat: 15g (Saturated: 13g)
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Sugar: 10g
- Protein: 4g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sodium: 76mg
Note: Nutritional values are estimates.
❄️ Tips & Variations
- For a vegan cake, replace buttermilk with 1¾ cups soy milk + 1½ tbsp vinegar
- To make it gluten-free, use a 1:1 GF flour blend
- Chill coconut cream for at least 24 hours before whipping
- Don’t overmix the batter—it makes the cake dense
- Use piping tips #10, #30, and #47 for best results
- Not into piping? Use chocolate chips or candy for facial features
- Turn into a holiday cake by piping small Christmas trees or snowflakes
🙋♀️ FAQs
Q: Can I use buttercream instead of coconut cream frosting?
Yes, regular buttercream, cream cheese frosting, or Swiss meringue all work well.
Q: How long can I store the cake?
Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Bring to room temp before serving.
Q: Can I freeze the cake layers?
Absolutely. Wrap each cooled layer tightly in plastic wrap and freeze up to 1 month.
Q: Is this cake too sweet for a baby?
Not at all. It uses minimal sugar and natural frosting, making it ideal for a first birthday.
Winter ONEderland Cake
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line two 6″ pans with parchment.
- Mix dry ingredients in one bowl.
- Mix oil, vanilla, and buttermilk in another. Combine both.
- Divide into pans and bake 30–45 mins. Cool fully.
- Whip chilled coconut cream with vanilla and sugar until fluffy.
- Separate frosting: keep half white, color the rest pink, brown, and orange.
- Assemble cake with white frosting between layers and outside.
- Pipe pink trim at base, brown eyes/mouth, orange nose, and pink accents.
- Chill for 2 hours. Add decorations as desired.
Notes
– Use gluten-free flour if needed
– Decorate simply with chocolate chips or candy if short on time
🎉 Conclusion
A Winter ONEderland Cake is more than a dessert—it’s a memory in the making. Whether you’re celebrating your baby’s first year or hosting a snowy celebration, this cake brings together flavor, fun, and festive flair. Decorate it your way, make it allergy-friendly, and get ready for the sweetest smiles. Layla’s first cake stole the show—and yours will too!