29 Holiday Cakes Worth Baking From Scratch

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Holiday gatherings call for desserts that feel special, and nothing says celebration like a cake made from scratch. These recipes turn simple ingredients into showstopping flavors that fill the kitchen with warmth and cheer. Baking them becomes part of the tradition, a moment to savor almost as much as the final slice. Each cake is layered with attention and care, making every bite feel intentional. They’re the kind of desserts that leave a lasting impression long after the holiday ends.

Holiday Pistachio Watergate Cake

Slice of Watergate Cake on a white plate, showing pale green frosting and three pistachio-studded layers.
Vintage Watergate Cake With Pistachio Pudding And Cream Cheese Frosting. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Celebrate the season with this classic pistachio Watergate Cake, layered with creamy frosting and soft, festive cake.
Get the Recipe: Holiday Pistachio Watergate Cake

Festive Mandarin Orange Cake

sliced mandarin orange cake with a slice being taken out.
Mandarin Orange Cake Grandma Couldn’t Wait For. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Bright, citrusy layers make this mandarin orange cake a zesty treat perfect for holiday celebrations.
Get the Recipe: Festive Mandarin Orange Cake

Cream Cheese Coffee Cake for Holidays

A slice of coffee cake with a bite taken out.
Cream Cheese Coffee Cake Grandma Cut Too Soon. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Rich layers and creamy frosting make this coffee cake a festive treat your guests will devour.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Coffee Cake for Holidays

Holiday Cinnamon-Sugar Moravian Cake

Squares of sugar cake next to cups of coffee.
Moravian Sugar Cake Grandma Couldn’t Resist. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Soft, buttery layers swirled with cinnamon-sugar make this Moravian cake a holiday must-bake.
Get the Recipe: Holiday Cinnamon-Sugar Moravian Cake

Spiced Blackberry Jam Holiday Cake

blackberry jam cake slice on a plate.
Blackberry Jam Cake Grandma Snuck Early. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Jam-filled layers and warm spices make this blackberry cake a holiday centerpiece sure to impress.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Blackberry Jam Holiday Cake

Blackberry Almond Holiday Loaf

A close-up of a slice of moist blackberry loaf cake with white icing on top, showing a swirl of blackberries inside. Two fresh blackberries are on the plate beside the cake.
Blackberry Almond Loaf Grandma Sliced Too Soon. Photo credit: Spicy Southern Kitchen.

Moist almond loaf swirled with fresh blackberries makes this a holiday baking favorite.
Get the Recipe: Blackberry Almond Holiday Loaf

Chocolate Marshmallow Holiday Cake

Coca-Cola Cake Grandma Couldn’t Leave Alone. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Retro chocolate cake topped with marshmallow frosting is perfect for festive holiday tables.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Marshmallow Holiday Cake

Hummingbird Cake for Holiday Tables

hummingbird bundt cake.
Hummingbird Cake Grandma Dug Into First. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Banana, pineapple, and cream cheese layers make this cake a moist holiday showstopper.
Get the Recipe: Hummingbird Cake for Holiday Tables

Red Velvet Marble Bundt for Holiday Tables

Red Velvet Marble Bundt for Holiday Tables. Photo credit: Mom Loves Baking.

Swirled red velvet with golden layers makes this bundt a holiday showstopper.
Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Marble Bundt for Holiday Tables

Lemon Poke Cake Bursting with Festive Flavor

Lemon Poke Cake Bursting with Festive Flavor. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Bright lemon-soaked cake with a soft, festive texture for holiday tables.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Poke Cake Bursting with Festive Flavor

Sweet Potato Cake with Creamy Holiday Frosting

A cream cheese frosted sweet potato cake on a cake platter.
Sweet Potato Cake with Creamy Holiday Frosting. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Spiced sweet potato cake topped with rich frosting, perfect for festive celebrations.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Cake with Creamy Holiday Frosting

Butter Pecan Pound Cake for Festive Tables

A butter pecan pound cake on a cake stand.
Butter Pecan Pound Cake for Festive Tables. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Rich butter pecan layers make this pound cake a standout at holiday gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Butter Pecan Pound Cake for Festive Tables

Sock It To Me Cake for Holiday Celebrations

sliced sock it to me cake on a black plate.
Sock It To Me Cake for Holiday Celebrations. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Cinnamon-streusel layers create a festive cake guests will remember this season.
Get the Recipe: Sock It To Me Cake for Holiday Celebrations

Coconut Lemon Cake for Festive Dessert Tables

A coconut cake on a cake stand next to a cake server.
Coconut Lemon Cake for Festive Dessert Tables. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Layered coconut and lemon cake perfect for standing out at holiday gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Lemon Cake for Festive Dessert Tables

Red Velvet Cake with Holiday Flair

close up of red velvet cake slice.
Red Velvet Cake with Holiday Flair. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Classic red velvet cake with creamy frosting, reimagined for festive celebrations.
Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Cake with Holiday Flair

Confetti Cake to Light Up Holiday Tables

confetti cake on a white cake stand sliced into pieces.
Confetti Cake to Light Up Holiday Tables. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Colorful sprinkles with creamy frosting make this cake a festive holiday favorite.
Get the Recipe: Confetti Cake to Light Up Holiday Tables

Cheerwine Bundt Cake for Holiday Entertaining

Cheerwine Bundt Cake for Holiday Entertaining. Photo credit: Spicy Southern Kitchen.

Sweet, fizzy bundt cake perfect for an unforgettable holiday dessert.
Get the Recipe: Cheerwine Bundt Cake for Holiday Entertaining

Cranberry-Orange Cake for Festive Desserts

Top-down view of a sliced cranberry layer cake, decorated with sugared cranberries and rosemary, ready to serve.
Cranberry-Orange Cake for Festive Desserts. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Bright cranberry and orange layers make this cake a standout on holiday tables.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry-Orange Cake for Festive Desserts

Banana Layer Cake for Holiday Indulgence

The top of a frosted cake with brown butter cream cheese frosting.
Banana Layer Cake for Holiday Indulgence. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Moist banana cake with rich cream cheese frosting for a unique holiday treat.
Get the Recipe: Banana Layer Cake for Holiday Indulgence

Kentucky Butter Cake for Holiday Luxury

A frosted butter cake on a plate.
Kentucky Butter Cake for Holiday Luxury. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Golden butter cake with tender crumb perfect for indulgent holiday gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Kentucky Butter Cake for Holiday Luxury

Heath Bar Cake for Holiday Sweetness

piece of heath bar cake on a white plate with a fork taking a bite out of it.
Heath Bar Cake for Holiday Sweetness. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Toffee and chocolate layers combine for a cake that delights every holiday guest.
Get the Recipe: Heath Bar Cake for Holiday Sweetness

7 Up Cake for Refreshing Holiday Flavor

A bundt cake with frosting and lime slices.
7 Up Cake for Refreshing Holiday Flavor. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Citrus bundt cake with creamy frosting adds a lively twist to holiday desserts.
Get the Recipe: 7 Up Cake for Refreshing Holiday Flavor

Decadent Caramel Holiday Cake

An entire caramel cake sliced.
Caramel Cake Grandma Couldn’t Stop Sneaking. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Rich caramel frosting and tender cake make this a show-stopping centerpiece for holiday gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Decadent Caramel Holiday Cake

Cream Cheese Pound Cake for Holidays

Cream Cheese Pound Cake Grandma Sampled Early. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Dense, buttery, and rich, this classic pound cake is perfect for holiday gifting or festive brunches.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Pound Cake for Holidays

Lemon Poppy Seed Holiday Cake

Lemon Poppy Cake Grandma Nibbled Before Guests. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Sweet lemon glaze and tender crumb make this poppy seed cake perfect for festive breakfasts or desserts.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Poppy Seed Holiday Cake

Holiday Lemon Bundt Cake

slice of lemon bundt cake coming out of the cake.
Lemon Bundt Cake Grandma Sampled Mid-Glaze. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Tender lemon bundt with sweet glaze makes this cake a bright and festive addition to holiday tables.
Get the Recipe: Holiday Lemon Bundt Cake

Cinnamon Swirl Holiday Cake

The cinnamon swirl bread with frosting dripping down the sides.
Cinnamon Swirl Cake Grandma Couldn’t Wait For. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Swirled with cinnamon and frosted to perfection, this cake is a festive hit for holiday mornings.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Swirl Holiday Cake

Festive Strawberry Jam Cake

strawberry poke cake cut into slices in the pan.
Grandma’s Strawberry Jam Poke Cake. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Sweet strawberry jam fills tender cake layers for a holiday dessert everyone will rave about.
Get the Recipe: Festive Strawberry Jam Cake

Holiday Carrot Sheet Cake

carrot cake sheet cake cut into slices on a wooden cutting board.
Unique Carrot Cake for Holiday Dessert Fans. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Moist carrot cake topped with a zesty glaze makes this sheet cake a showstopper for holiday guests.
Get the Recipe: Holiday Carrot Sheet Cake

Everyone’s Baking These Old-Fashioned Cakes Again—And Now I Get It

Everyone’s Baking These Old-Fashioned Cakes Again—And Now I Get It. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

It’s funny how some desserts never lose their charm, and these cakes are proof of that. What once felt like old-school recipes now feel like the ultimate comfort—warm, familiar, and full of nostalgia. I didn’t expect to love them as much as I do, but after one taste, it’s clear why they’ve made such a sweet comeback.
Grab it here: Everyone’s Baking These Old-Fashioned Cakes Again—And Now I Get It

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