Winter Wonderland White Cake

Name: Winter Wonderland White Cake
Prep time: 90 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 120 min
Ingredients: 5 large egg whites (at room temperature); ¾ cup whole milk (divided, at room temperature); 2½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 2 ½ cups cake flour (sifted then spooned & leveled); 1 ¾ cups sugar; 1 tablespoon PLUS 1 teaspoon baking powder; ¾ teaspoon salt; ¾ cup unsalted butter (at room temperature and cubed, 1 1/2 sticks); 1 ½ cups PLUS 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened but cool, 3 sticks); 3 ½ cups powdered sugar (sifted); 3 tablespoons milk; 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract; pinch of salt; winter sprinkles of your choice for decoration (optional)

4.90 from 57 votes

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My Winter Wonderland White Cake is perfect for the upcoming holiday season no matter how you celebrate it.

slice of white cake on a spatula being removed from the whole cake

This delicious moist white cake can be decorated for the season, birthdays or any holiday. Think of it as a blank canvas and have fun making this cake to fit your celebration or simply to treat your family to a special dessert.

whole winter wonderland white cake on a white platter

What’s on your holiday dessert menu?

What do I need to make a winter wonderland cake?

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make my Winter Wonderland White Cake. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

What type of flour makes the best cakes?

How do I make a white cake?

Cake flour is my flour of choice when it comes to baking a light, fluffy cake. Cake flour is very finely milled from soft winter wheat. It also has a lower protein content than all-purpose flour, making it finer, lighter, and softer.

The first step is preparing your pans for the cake batter and preheating the oven.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease two round 9-inch cake pans.
Place round pieces of parchment paper in the bottom of each cake pan and grease the parchment paper.
Flour the bottom and sides of the cake pans by tapping a spoonful of flour around to coat. Discard any remaining flour.

collage showing the first steps in making recipe

In a measuring cup, whisk together the egg whites, ¼ cup of milk, and the vanilla. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the dry ingredients on low speed for 30 seconds.

collage showing the next steps in making recipe

Add in the butter and the remaining ½ cup of milk. Mix on low speed just until moistened. Increase the speed to medium and mix for 1 ½ minutes.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
With the mixer on medium speed, add the egg mixture in 3 batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition.
Divide the batter evenly into the cake pans using an offset spatula to level the batter. You can weigh the cake pans on a kitchen scale to ensure even layers.

collage showing baked cake layers in pans and on wire screen

Bake for 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Be very careful not to over bake.
Let the layers cool in the pans for 10 minutes then loosen the sides of the cakes with a small knife or spatula and invert cakes onto greased wire racks.
Gently re-flip the cakes so that the top of the cakes are facing up. Let cakes cool completely.

How do I make vanilla frosting?

collage showing how to make vanilla frosting

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the butter on medium speed until pale and creamy, about 8 minutes.
With the mixer on low, add in the remaining ingredients and mix for 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and whip until the frosting is very light and fluffy, about 6 minutes.

How do I assemble the cake?

collage showing how to assemble the cake

Place the first cake layer flat side up on a cake stand (or any dish that you will be serving it on).
Place about 1 cup of frosting on the top and spread it evenly with an offset spatula.
Gently place the 2nd cake layer top/rounded side down on top.
Place a small amount of frosting on top of the cake and create a crumb coat by spreading the frosting thinly over the top and sides with a small offset spatula. Place in the refrigerator and chill for about 30 minutes.

finished decorated cake on a white cake pedestal

Remove the cake from the refrigerator and add the remaining frosting on top of the cake and spread it evenly over the top and sides. You can make the frosting textured to look like freshly fallen snow, as I did, or make it smooth.
Decorate the cake with your choice of holiday sprinkles

Recipe FAQ’s

What makes a white cake white?

A white cake uses egg whites instead of the whole egg. Some bakers will use half shortening and half butter to get a whiter color to the cake layer.

Is white cake the same as vanilla cake?

White and vanilla cake are created from the same ingredients, the only difference is a yellow cake will use the whole egg. The yolk of the egg gives the cake a yellow color.

Do I have to only use egg whites for this cake?

No, you don’t if you don’t mind a yellow cake. If you do use the whole egg, reduce the number of eggs used to 4.

Can I add other ingredients to the white cake?

Yes, you can. Try adding chocolate chips to the cake, or sprinkles to make a funfetti cake.

KITCHEN TOOLS I USE FOR MY CAKES

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slice of winter wonderland cake on a white plate

Whether you’re looking for a beautiful holiday dessert or just dreaming of a Winter Wonderland, try making this cake to share with your family and friends.

The best part about this cake is that it’s a blank canvas ready for your decorations. It’s the perfect cake for any holiday or occasion!

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4.90 from 57 votes