Whether you bake up a vintage holiday layer cake or a beautiful Bundt, these old-fashioned Christmas cakes will impress everyone—even grandma!
23 Vintage Christmas Cakes
Updated on Sep. 27, 2024
Oma’s Apfelkuchen (Grandma’s Apple Cake)
My husband’s German family calls this Oma’s apfelkuchen, which translates to “Grandma’s apple cake.” They’ve been sharing the recipe for more than 150 years. I use Granny Smith apples, but any variety works. —Amy Kirchen, Loveland, Ohio
1/23
2/23
Grandma's Christmas Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings (2-2/3 cups sauce)
From the Recipe Creator:
One bite of this old-fashioned spice cake will bring back memories. Loaded with raisins and nuts, it tastes extra special drizzled with the rich buttery sauce. —Linda Stemen, Monroeville, Indiana
3/23
Red Velvet Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
It's just not Christmas at our house until this festive cake appears. This is different from other red velvets I’ve had; the icing is as light as snow. For quicker assembly, you can leave the layers untrimmed and simply frost the top and side of the cake with icing. —Kathryn Davison, Charlotte, North Carolina
4/23
Fruit Cake
Total Time
2 hours 20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is my own fruitcake recipe, and it's a family favorite. I think it has just the right mix of nuts and fruit. —Allene Spence, Delbarton, West Virginia
5/23
Apple Gingerbread Skillet Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This gingerbread recipe came from my grandmother, and we always ate it with warm applesauce. I adapted it into a one-pan dessert by layering the apples around the bottom of a cast-iron skillet and topping them with the gingerbread batter. The skillet creates a wonderfully thick crust on the gingerbread. —Mary M. Leverette, Columbia, South Carolina
6/23
Italian Cream Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Buttermilk makes every bite of this awesome Italian cream cheese cake recipe moist and flavorful. I rely on this recipe year-round. —Joyce Lutz, Centerview, Missouri
7/23
Coconut Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I found this coconut cake recipe in a newspaper many years ago and modified it to suit my taste. This is my all-time favorite cake, and my family and friends absolutely love it. —Lynne Bassler, Indiana, Pennsylvania
8/23
Mint Swirl Fudge Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Mint pairs with a silky, mild chocolate flavor for this colorful, beautiful cake that will be the talk of the holiday buffet. —Heidi Kelly, Norwood, Missouri
9/23
Gingerbread with Fig-Walnut Sauce
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I experimented with aniseed this past holiday season and fell in love with the licorice flavor. It really enhances the gingerbread spices and fig sauce in this extraordinary cake. —Shelly Bevington-Fisher, Hermiston, Oregon
10/23
Upside-Down Fruitcake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I get tired of people bad-mouthing fruitcake. It's one of my favorite holiday flavors and I look forward to it every year. This year, I decided to combine it with everyone's favorite, upside-down cake. Try to say no to this fruitcake—I dare you! —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
11/23
Holiday Snowflake Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The coconut sprinkled on this old-fashioned, fluffy white cake gives the impression of snow, without the cold. It's a beautiful dessert that is a fitting end to a delicious winter meal. It’s best to frost the cake just before serving as the frosting may soften over time. —Lynne Peterson, Salt Lake City, Utah
12/23
Apple Stack Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mom loved to bake this sky-high apple stack cake. Layer the apple goodness two days before serving. Later, a dusting of confectioners' sugar is the only topping you'll need. —LeVa Clement, Jackson, Missouri
13/23
Rum Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We like a touch of rum for the holidays, and this orangy rum cake is decadent alone or with big swoops of whipped cream. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
14/23
Gingerbread Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The rich molasses and spice flavor of this old-time dessert is complemented with a buttery caramel sauce.—Joy Sparks, Muskegon, Michigan
15/23
Rustic Honey Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When my boys were young, they couldn’t drink milk but they could have yogurt. This was a cake they could eat. And it’s one dessert that doesn’t taste overly sweet, which is always a nice change of pace. —Linda Leuer, Hamel, Minnesota
16/23
Sacher Torte
Total Time
55 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Guests will be surprised to hear that this Sacher torte recipe starts with a convenient cake mix. Each bite features chocolate, almonds and apricots. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
17/23
Black Walnut Cake
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother's family members were all excellent cooks who were known for their great hospitality. As a longtime family favorite, this old-fashioned cake was always expected to be on the menu at holiday dinners, special occasions and potlucks. —Elisabeth Garrison, Elmer, New Jersey
18/23
Mint Angel Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
One sight of this lovely cake will have guests saving room for dessert! For an easy garnish, sprinkle with crushed mint candies.—Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
19/23
Mocha Yule Log
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This eye-catching dessert is guaranteed to delight holiday dinner guests. Chocolate lovers will lick their lips over the yummy cocoa cake, mocha filling and frosting. For a festive touch, I garnish the log with marzipan holly leaves and berries. —Jenny Hughson, Mitchell, Nebraska
20/23
Old-Fashioned Pear Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Old-fashioned pear spice cake is a wonderful ending to a meal. It's not too heavy or rich, but the moist treat is brimming with flavor.—Audrey Golden, Cary, North Carolina
21/23
Apple Cinnamon Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This apple cinnamon cake is equally good for breakfast or dessert, so be sure to not eat all of it after dinner! Easy to make, it's super moist on the inside and has a crispy, cinnamon-rich crunch on the outside. —Marideane Maxwell, Albany, Georgia
22/23
Jam Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I remember my Aunt Murna telling me she made this old-fashioned jam cake often when she was a young girl. Through the years, she made improvements to it, and her cake became a real family favorite. It has been a popular staple at our reunions. —Janet Robinson, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
23/23
Contest-Winning Chocolate Angel Food Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When I take this different kind of angel food cake to church bake sales, it goes before I can get it on the table!—Mary Ann Iverson, Woodville, Wisconsin
