Our editors love to bake cakes, and often save some of their favorite recipes for special occasions. Enter the holiday season. When we asked our editors to share the cakes they bake year after year, they shared a variety of recipes, from the most decadent chocolate desserts to beloved fruit and cinnamon spiced favorites. Here are ten that are bound to make an appearance this season.
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Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
“My mom and I make Southern Living’s Italian Cream Cake Recipe every Christmas as an ode to my Italian grandmother and our lifetime love of Southern Living recipes.” – Mary Shannon Hodes, Digital Editor
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Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner
“It may not seem like an obvious choice for the holidays, but if you’re in search of a memorably fudge-y dessert for the sideboard spread this year, our classic Coca-Cola Chocolate Cake is the way to go.” – Betsy Watson, Senior Homes Editor
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Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Prissy Montiel
“Even though this cake starts with a boxed mix, it’s still impressive and special enough to make an appearance at my family’s Christmas gathering each year. The first time you make it, everyone will be asking for the recipe.” – Jenna Sims, Senior Digital Editor
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Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
“I love a fun baking project when I’m home for Christmas. This cake has been in our family for years, and no holiday celebration is complete without it!” -Ivy Odom, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Credit: Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
“We always make a festive cranberry cake to snack on Christmas morning while we make brunch. It works as a morning coffee cake and dessert later on too!” – Kaitlyn Sadik, Editor
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
“Chocolate is the way to my heart—and the same goes for many of my sweet-toothed family members. I always make a flourless chocolate cake for our Christmas eve dinner. While I love a flourless chocolate cake regardless of its lack of gluten, it’s perfect for my family because we often have a gluten-free eater in the mix which is easy with this naturally flourless recipe.” – Cameron Beall, Associate Homes Editor
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Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf
“Yes, it’s technically a ‘birthday’ cake, but making a chocolate cake for the new year is a real flex and always delights my friends and family.Coffee and instant espresso really deepen the chocolate flavor, and there’s a very gentle balance of bitter and sweet in this cake—from the icing to the crumb. I tasted it in the test kitchen at every round of testing that I could, and now I’ve done it enough on my own that it feels second-nature. I can change it to my liking and personalize the decorations really comfortably.” – Catherine Jessee, Assistant Food Editor
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
“I’m really not much of a baker but both my parents are big coffee cake people, so I think I might try my darndest to make our Cinnamon Coffee Cake this year. Seems like the perfect thing to serve with a hot cup of tea after dinner then have as leftovers for breakfast in the morning.” -Tara McCay, Senior Travel & Culture Editor
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Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
“I love ending Christmas dinner with a rich, intensely chocolate dessert. This cake is exactly that, and it’s deceptively easy to make —the whole thing comes together in one bowl. Plus you can dress it up in so many ways: caramel sauce, whipped cream, hot fudge, fresh berries, ice cream, and the list goes on.” – Lisa Cericola, Deputy Editor
“Our Snowy Vanilla Cake is one of my favorite cakes to bake any time of year. I’ll adjust the piping or decorations depending on the occasion, but the original all-white petals at the holidays is always a hit.” – Katie Rousso, Associate Editorial Director
Dining and Cooking