Holidays and Events Recipes Christmas Desserts Cakes 20 Vintage Christmas Cake Recipes Just Like Grandma Used to Make By Corey Williams Corey Williams Corey Williams is a food writer for MyRecipes and Allrecipes. She has a decade of journalism experience. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Updated on December 7, 2022 Close Photo: Allrecipes As much fun as it is to experiment with new and exciting recipes, you can never go wrong with a timeless dessert—especially during the holidays. Keep it classic this season with our collection of tried-and-true vintage Christmas cakes. From grandma-approved ideas that have been passed down through the generations to crowd-pleasing fruitcakes, yule logs, and Bundts, you'll want to bookmark this round-up of vintage Christmas cake recipes. You'll come back to it all December long. 01 of 21 Fruitcake View Recipe Smart Cookie Think you don't like fruitcake? Think again! This updated take on a classic will convert even the biggest fruitcake skeptics. Plus, the recipe makes four mini loaves for easy gifting. 02 of 21 Fresh Cranberry Upside-Down Cake View Recipe Kim This absolutely stunning upside-down cake, served with a homemade whipped cream, makes good use of fresh cranberries. It has a sweet-tart flavor that's impossible to resist. 15 Upside-Down Cakes That Aren't Pineapple 03 of 21 Buche de Noel View Recipe kaolinite Channel your inner Great British Baking Show contestant with this classic (and gluten-free!) holiday Swiss roll. Keep it simple or get as creative as you want with nature-inspired edible accoutrements. 12 Best Christmas Desserts Inspired by the Great British Baking Show 04 of 21 Figgy Pudding View Recipe This dense, moist cake has a secret ingredient: Fiori di Sicilia, an Italian orange-vanilla flavoring with floral notes. Recipe creator meghanmacrae says it's the "perfect finale to a chestnut-stuffed, Christmas goose dinner." 05 of 21 Black Forest Cake View Recipe Daniel Miller "This recipe delivers a classic version of the original Black Forest cake with whipped cream frosting and sour cherries," according to recipe creator Linda Greer. 06 of 21 Never Fail Applesauce Spice Cake View Recipe TERESA_C There's nothing more classic than a traditional Christmas spice cake. This one-bowl recipe comes together quickly and easily, so it's a fantastic last-minute dessert. 14 Sweet Ways to Use a Jar of Applesauce 07 of 21 Mom's Rum Cake View Recipe cookin'mama This crowd-pleasing cake starts with convenient secret ingredients: a package of yellow cake mix and a package instant vanilla pudding mix. "When [my mom] makes it, we all fight over it," says recipe creator Laura. 08 of 21 Favorite Old Fashioned Gingerbread View Recipe Rachell Schockey Somewhere between a cake and a sweet bread, this old-fashioned recipe (which has more than 1,000 rave reviews from the Allrecipes community) is welcome on any holiday table. 09 of 21 Christmas Cherry Cake View Recipe Linda This simple white fruitcake freezes well, according to recipe creator Carol, so it's a great option for gifting or making ahead of time. 10 of 21 Old-Fashioned Coconut Cake View Recipe Kim Serve this snowy coconut layer cake at your next old-fashioned holiday gathering. A fluffy frosting brings the whole thing together. 11 of 21 Southern Red Velvet Cake View Recipe "This is a delicious red velvet cake recipe that was taught to me by my grandmother," says recipe creator FTWRTHDAVIS. "Made with a light and buttery frosting instead of the usual cream cheese." 12 of 21 Grandma's Sour Cream Pound Cake View Recipe Allrecipes A cup of sour cream adds richness and tangy flavor to this dense pound cake. Top with powdered sugar for a festive snowy effect. 15 Classic Grandma Desserts You'll Love to Make and Share 13 of 21 Italian Cream Cake View Recipe CHIBI CHEF There are few things more decadent than a rich Italian cream cake with cream cheese icing. Finish it off with chopped pecans and coconut flakes. 14 of 21 Peppermint Chiffon Cake View Recipe Allrecipes "Use cake flour and peppermint extract to deliver an oh-so-minty cake, perfect for Christmas-time entertaining," according to recipe creator Lynn-Pgh. 15 of 21 Upside Down Pear Gingerbread Cake View Recipe coloradomaj This fruity cake is full of festive flavor thanks to cozy ingredients like molasses, ginger, cinnamon, brown sugar, and cloves. 16 of 21 Stained Glass Gelatin Cake View Recipe Allrecipes Here's a show-stopping dessert that feels retro, but tastes timeless. Use red and green gelatin for a seasonal twist. "Cubes of Jell-O are suspended in a creamy vanilla-flavored gelatin, and then set in a jello mold to create a stained glass effect," says recipe creator Rita. 17 of 21 Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake View Recipe Hanny Manny This rich toffee pudding cake, packed with dates, is served warm with a decadent homemade caramel sauce. 18 of 21 Deep South Eggnog Cake View Recipe Photo by Doughgirl8. Doughgirl8 "Nothing says Southern hospitality like this impressive cake," recipe creator Baricat says of this rich, moist, and holiday-perfect dessert. 19 of 21 Lane Cake View Recipe Kim A. Labelle This vintage Southern cake has a rich filling made with raisins, pecans, cherries, coconut, and brandy flavoring. It's perfect for any special occasion. 20 of 21 Pangiallo laziale (Italian Christmas Cakes) View Recipe "Pangiallo is a traditional Italian Christmas cake, originally from Rome," according to recipe creator lacucinadinadia. "Dried fruits and nuts are mixed with oil, wine, and flour to create a humble yet tasty treat that is vegan to boot!" 21 of 21 More Inspiration Kim's Cooking Now Try one of Our Best Holiday Bundt Cakes That Stand Out on the Dessert Table. Plus, explore our entire collection of Christmas Cakes. Cranberry-Orange Bundt Cake World's Best Sweet Potato Pound Cake Cinnamon and Amaretto Pound Cake Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit