I’m Dreaming of A White Christmas Cake !

Name: White Christmas Cake
Prep time: 90 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 16
Ingredients: 5 large egg whites (at room temperature); 3/4 cup whole milk (divided, at room temperature); 2 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 2 1/2 cups cake flour (sifted then spooned & leveled); 1 3/4 cups sugar; 1 tablespoon PLUS 1 teaspoon baking powder; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 3/4 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature and cubed, 1 1/2 sticks); 1 1/2 cups PLUS 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened but cool, 3 sticks); 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar (sifted); 3 tablespoons milk; 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; pinch of salt; white sanding sugar (for decoration); ready-to-use gum paste; snowflake cookie cutters; thin silver or white floral wire; 2 small brushes; clear alcohol or extract; silver or pearlescent luster dust

December 18, 2016 by Chef Dennis Littley 65 Comments

One of my all-time favorite winter season cakes is this amazing White Christmas Cake. It's perfect for your holiday get-togethers or to make your holidays extra special.

Total Time: 2 hours

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Enjoy this delicious White Christmas Cake that my friend Nicole has shared with us.

With the holidays in full swing, I knew I had to make something seasonal for y’all. I spent much of my life in the South, and now live in Los Angeles, so I have never woken up to a White Christmas (even when we lived in upstate New York for two years, we spent Christmas down South). What a sad life, I know.

I mean, seriously, what’s Christmas without snow? I blame this attitude entirely on Home Alone and pretty much every other Christmas movie ever made. Can you imagine It’s a Wonderful Life without snow? That’s what I thought.

Anyway, I figured that since I won’t be having a White Christmas this year, I needed to make my own winter wonderland. That’s how I came up with the idea for this cake.

The cake I chose to make is a fluffy vanilla cake. It’s a delicate white cake with the perfect crumb, and it is oh-so-fluffy. The frosting is a whipped vanilla frosting that is super light and airy, just like snow. It is the best vanilla cake I’ve ever had. Did you hear me? The best!

In hopes of making the cake look like a true winter wonderland, I topped the entire cake with white sanding sugar for a glistening snow effect. Then, I made some shimmery gum paste snowflakes that I placed on floral wire to give the illusion of falling snow. I have to say, I love the results! My husband did, too (only he’s complaining about starting to gain those Christmas pounds early).

Whether you’re looking for a beautiful holiday dessert or just dreaming of a White Christmas, try making this cake to share with your family and friends. And feel free to make it your own! Add a cute little snowman, a flocked evergreen or some red and green frosting around the base. After all, it’s your Christmas!

Thank you all for reading! And thank you again to Chef Dennis for letting me share this cake with you! Happy Holidays, everyone!

If you’re looking for more deliciousness to serve your friends and family you might also enjoy these holiday favorites.

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5 from 7 votes

White Christmas Cake

One of my all-time favorite winter season cakes is this amazing White Christmas Cake. It's perfect for your holiday get-togethers or to make your holidays extra special.

Prep Time1 hr 30 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time2 hrs

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Christmas Cake, White cake

Servings:

Calories: 503kcal

Ingredients

For the Vanilla Cake:

5 large egg whites at room temperature
3/4 cup whole milk divided, at room temperature
2 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups cake flour sifted then spooned & leveled
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon PLUS 1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature and cubed, 1 1/2 sticks

For the Whipped Vanilla Frosting:

1 1/2 cups PLUS 2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened but cool, 3 sticks
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar sifted
3 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
pinch of salt
white sanding sugar for decoration

For the Gum Paste Snowflakes:

ready-to-use gum paste
snowflake cookie cutters
thin silver or white floral wire
2 small brushes
clear alcohol or extract
silver or pearlescent luster dust

Instructions

For the Vanilla Cake:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two round 8-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.
In a measuring cup, whisk together the egg whites, 1/4 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.
Add in the butter and the remaining 1/2 cup of milk. Mix on low speed just until moistened. Increase the speed to medium and mix for 1 1/2 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.
Bake for 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Be very careful not to over bake! Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. 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.
Wrap the cakes tightly until they are ready to be frosted. The cakes can be stored at room temperature for 2 days and in the refrigerator for 5 days.

For the Whipped 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 frosting is very light and fluffy, about 6 minutes.

For the Gum Paste Snowflakes (see my note at the top):

Roll out gum paste to about ⅛” thickness.
Cut out snowflakes of different sizes. Cut floral wire into varying lengths.
Very carefully insert floral wire into the snowflakes, making sure to insert far enough to provide support to the snowflake.
Lightly dip one brush into either clear alcohol or extract (it will evaporate out as it dries). Brush onto the snowflake. With the other brush, brush on the luster dust until completely covered and shimmery. (I did this whole step one snowflake at a time.)
Let snowflakes rest to dry out. Best if done at least the day or night before using.

To Assemble the Cake:

Place the bottom cake layer bottom/flat side down 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.
Remove the cake from the refrigerator. Place 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.
Pour sanding sugar all over the top of the cake. Carefully tilt the cake slightly to pour sanding sugar on the sides. Rotate the cake and repeat until all sides are coated in sanding sugar.
Place the cake back in the refrigerator and chill for about 30 minutes.
Remove the cake from the refrigerator. Carefully insert snowflakes into the cake. Make sure to vary the heights so that it really looks like falling snow.
Enjoy your beautiful White Christmas Cake!

Notes

*Nicole’s Note: I suggest making the gum paste snowflakes at least one day in advance so that they are completely dry.*

Nutrition

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About Chef Dennis

Chef Dennis is a semi-retired Chef, writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of A Culinary Journey with Chef Dennis aka Ask Chef Dennis®. Chef Dennis worked professionally in White Table Cloth Restaurants for 40 years and has been developing easy to make, restaurant-style recipes since 2009. The second phase of his reinvention from chef to blogger has earned him a place at the Worlds Dinner Table. Join him on his Culinary Journey enjoying his easy to make Restaurant Style recipes and travel adventures. For more details, check out his About page.

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