20 Vintage Christmas Cake Recipes Just Like Grandma Used to Make

grandmas sour cream pound cake
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

mini loaves of fruit cake dusted with confectioners sugar
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

upside down cranberry cake on white cake stand
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.

03 of 21

Buche de Noel

a Yule log decorated with chocolate "bark", meringue mushrooms, and confectioners' sugar snow
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.

04 of 21

Figgy Pudding

Figgy Pudding

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

Black Forest Cake with white frosting and cherries on top
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

Never Fail Applesauce Spice Cake
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.

07 of 21

Mom's Rum Cake

slice of rum cake on a white plate
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

slice of gingerbread cake topped with whipped cream and cinnamon
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

closeup of a loaf cake dusted with powdered sugar and tied with a white ribbon
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

a coconut layer cake with swirled white frosting on top and toasted coconut on the sides
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

Slice of red velvet cake with the remaining cake on a stand in the background.

"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

grandmas sour cream pound cake
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.

13 of 21

Italian Cream Cake

143211 Italian Cream Cake II 8048 chibi chef
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

peppermint chiffon bundt cake on a cake stand and sliced
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

Upside Down Pear Gingerbread Cake
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

stained glass jello cake made in a bundt pan
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

pudding cake topped with toffee sauce
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

Deep South Eggnog Cake
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

Lane Cake
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)

Pangiallo laziale (Italian Christmas Cakes)

"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!"

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