Eggnog Layer Cake

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This Eggnog Cake is super moist, tender, and FULL of eggnog flavor! This impressive Christmas cake will make you wish eggnog wasnโ€™t a seasonal ingredient. So yummy and perfect for your holiday celebration!

The Best Eggnog Cake Recipe

Weโ€™re huge fans of eggnog in my household โ€“ I start buying it the first day I see it in stores! Thereโ€™s something about that creamy-eggy-ness that you canโ€™t get anywhere else. So, when I think about making Christmas desserts, eggnog is always a part of the celebration.

While eggnog can sometimes be a subtle flavor, thereโ€™s no mistaking its presence in this cake. The Southern Comfort brand is our favorite, so thatโ€™s what I typically use, but feel free to use your favorite. regular eggnog. Eggnog naturally non-alcoholic, so no need to worry about that if you have kids who will be enjoying this cake with you.

This Eggnog Layer Cake sponge is nice and moist, largely thanks to the addition of sour cream. It maintains itโ€™s light, airy texture because of the steps to cream the butter and whip the egg whites. So, whatever you do, donโ€™t skip those steps. They are key to a fabulous cake.

If you find that you canโ€™t get enough eggnog after making this gorgeous Christmas cake, check out a few more eggnog ideas. Youโ€™ll love my recipe for Homemade Eggnog, this Eggnog Cheesecake, and these Eggnog Cupcakes too!

Close up of eggnog cake on a cake stand

Can I Turn These Into Cupcakes?

Yes! This recipe can easily be made into cupcakes. Follow all the directions up until the part where you divide the batter into the 3 cake pans. Instead, fill the cupcake liners just over halfway with the batter and bake for 16-18 minutes. You should only need to make about half of the frosting recipe. This eggnog cake recipe should yield about 24 cupcakes. Feel free to cut it in half if you only want 12 cupcakes.

What Youโ€™ll Need

Hereโ€™s everything youโ€™ll need to make this exceptionally tasty eggnog layer cake at home. Scroll down to the recipe card for actual amounts of each ingredient.

For the Eggnog Cake

  • All-Purpose Flour โ€“ Be sure to measure it accurately so that you donโ€™t end up with a dry cake. I recommend using a food scale, but you can also use the scoop and level method. Just donโ€™t pack the cup with flour.
  • Baking Powder
  • Spices โ€“ Weโ€™ll be using ground nutmeg and salt.
  • Unsalted Butter โ€“ Let your butter sit out on the counter for at least an hour to come to room temperature. If your butter is too cold, it wonโ€™t cream correctly with the sugar.
  • Sugar
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Sour Cream โ€“ Full-fat sour cream will give this cake great moisture โ€“ donโ€™t skimp on the fat!
  • Eggnog โ€“ Grab your favorite brand!
  • Water โ€“ A bit of water is used to add additional moisture without weighing the cake down and making it dense.
  • Egg Whites โ€“ Separate the egg whites from the yolks (reserve them for another meal or dessert) and let them come to room temperature.

For the Frosting

  • Unsalted Butter โ€“ Ensure the butter is at room temperature.
  • Powdered Sugar โ€“ Feel free to sift the sugar before making the frosting if has sat for a while and seems lumping. This will help prevent any lumps in your frosting.
  • Eggnog
  • Nutmeg

How to Make this Eggnog Layer Cake

If youโ€™re going to make only one layer cake this year, make it this one! Layer cakes can be a labor of love, but your friends and family will express their gratitude with every bite. If you love eggnog, this is the Christmas cake for you!

A slice of eggnog cake on a white serving plate

To Make the Eggnog Cake

  • Prepare for Baking. Prepare three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper circles on the bottom and grease on the sides. Preheat oven to 350ยฐF (176ยฐC) 
  • Combine the Dry Ingredients. Combine the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt in a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
  • Cream the Butter and Sugar. Add the butter and sugar to a large mixing bowl and beat together until it becomes light in color and fluffy. This should take about 2-3 minutes. This step is essential. Creaming the butter and sugar creates bubbles that will expand as the cake bakes, resulting in a light and fluffy crumb. If you donโ€™t whip them enough, you will end up with a denser cake than you want. 
  • Add Vanilla and Sour Cream. Add the vanilla extract and sour cream to the butter and mix until well combined. Sour cream adds incredible moisture and flavor. 
  • Alternate Adding the Dry Ingredients and Eggnog. Next, add about 1/2 of the dry ingredients, the eggnog/water mixture, and the remaining dry ingredients, mixing thoroughly with each step. Alternating the ingredients helps preserve those precious air bubbles we added when creaming the butter and sugar. Beginning and ending with the dry ingredients helps to keep the batter from curdling.
  • Beat the Egg Whites. Add the egg whites to a large mixing bowl and whip on high speed until soft peaks form. Gently fold them into the rest of the batter with a spatula in two parts until no streaks of white remain. 
  • Divide the Batter. Once the batter is fully combined, divide it evenly between three 8-inch pans. I measure to ensure theyโ€™re even but feel free to eyeball it. Iโ€™m just a perfectionist. ๐Ÿ™‚
  • Bake. Bake the cakes for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center.
  • Cool. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow them to cool for 2-3 minutes. Then, remove them to cooling racks to cool completely. While the cakes cool, start on the frosting!

To Make the Frosting

  • Beat the Butter. Add the butter to a large mixing bowl and beat on high speed until smooth and fluffy. Add half of the powdered sugar and beat until well combined and smooth.
  • Add the Eggnog and Nutmeg. Add the eggnog and nutmeg to the frosting and beat until theyโ€™re fully incorporated. Add the remaining powdered sugar and beat until smooth and creamy. Add additional eggnog, if needed.

To Frost the Cake

  • Cut the Layers. After the cakes are completely cool, remove the domed tops with a large serrated knife, so theyโ€™re perfectly flat. 
  • Frost the Layers. Place the first layer of cake on a cake stand. Add a cup of eggnog buttercream and spread it into an even layer with an offset spatula. Place the second layer on top. Add another cup of the buttercream, smoothing it in the same way. Top with the third layer of cake. Frost the outside of the eggnog cake with the rest of the buttercream. If youโ€™d like a little guidance on creating a smooth cake finish, check out my tutorial on how to frost a smooth cake
Frosted eggnog layer cake on a wooden cake stand
  • Decorate. Pipe little shells around the top and bottom borders of the cake. I used an Ateco tip 847 for the top garnishes and a Wilton tip 21 for the bottom. 
  • Store in the Fridge. Be sure to store the cake in the fridge before serving. I like to take mine out at least 20 minutes before serving to let it return to room temperature. I find all cake to be moister and tastier that way.

How to Store Leftover Eggnog Cake

Store leftover Eggnog Cake in the refrigerator for up to five days. I like to use a cake carrier that holds the whole cake, but you can also use a large regular Tupperware container. When youโ€™re ready to eat, let the slices sit out on the counter for about 20 minutes or so for the best experience.

A slice of eggnog cake with a big bite missing

Try These Other Eggnog Desserts

Watch How to Make Eggnog Layer Cake

Read Transcript

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A slice of eggnog cake on a white serving plate
Recipe

Eggnog Layer Cake

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 21 minutes
  • Total Time: 46 minutes
  • Yield: 14-18 Slices
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This Eggnog Cake is super moist, fluffy, and FULL of eggnog flavor! This impressive Christmas cake will make you wish eggnog wasnโ€™t a seasonal ingredient. So yummy and perfect for your holiday celebration!


Ingredients

EGGNOG CAKE

  • 2 1/2 cups (325g) all purpose flour
  • 4 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup (168g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups (310g) sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup (115g) sour cream
  • 1 cup (240ml) eggnog
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) water
  • 6 large egg whites, room temperature

EGGNOG FROSTING

  • 3 cups (672g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 12 cups (1380g) powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) eggnog
  • 3/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Prepare three 8 inch cake pans with parchment paper circles in the bottom and grease the sides. Preheat oven to 350ยฐF (176ยฐC).
  2. Combine the flour, baking powder, nutmeg and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
  3. Add the butter and sugar to a large mixer bowl and beat together until light in color and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Do not skimp on the creaming time.
  4. Add the vanilla extract and sour cream and mix until well combined.
  5. Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until mostly combined. Slowly add the eggnog and water and mix until well combined. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until well combined and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated. Do not over mix the batter. Set aside.
  6. Add the egg whites to a large mixing bowl and whip on high speed until soft peaks form.
  7. Carefully fold the egg whites into the rest of the cake batter in two parts, until no streaks of egg white remain.
  8. Divide the batter evenly between the cakes pans and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.
  9. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool for about 2-3 minutes, then remove to cooling racks to cool completely.
  10. While cakes cool, make the frosting. Add the butter to a large mixing bowl and beat until smooth.
  11. Add half of the powdered sugar and beat until well combined and smooth.
  12. Add the eggnog and nutmeg and beat until combined.
  13.  Add remaining powdered sugar and beat until combined and smooth.
  14. When the cakes are cool, remove the tops of the cakes with a large serrated knife so they are flat.
  15. Place the first layer of cake on cake stand. Top with one cup of eggnog buttercream and spread into an even layer.
  16. Add second layer of cake, then another cup of eggnog buttercream. Top cake with remaining cake layer.
  17. Frost the outside of the cake with the remaining buttercream. Follow my tutorial for frosting a smooth cake, if needed.
  18. Pipe shells around the top and bottoms borders of the cake. I used Ateco tip 847 for the top and Wilton tip 21 for the bottom.
  19. Store the cake in an airtight container in the fridge. Serve at room temperature. Cake is best if eaten with 3-4 days.

Notes

This can be made as cupcakes. Fill liners just over half way with batter and bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out with a few crumbs. Should make about 24 cupcakes. You should only need about half of the frosting recipe.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Slice
  • Calories: 903
  • Sugar: 129.2 g
  • Sodium: 99.1 mg
  • Fat: 36.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 144.2 g
  • Protein: 4.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 66.9 mg

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76 Comments
  1. Laurel

    Made this last year with a friend.  It was the best cake that has every crossed my lips!  Going to try to make it this year on my own.  Hope it turns out just as good, my friend is really the better baker.






  2. Olwyn Fleury

    Questions; 
    Do you ever use cake strips around your pans so you donโ€™t have to cut off the domes? 
    I find that after smoothing the sides of the cake as you demonstrated, my cakes are always wider at the bottom. Drives me crazy. How can I keep cake sides straight? 
    Finally after smoothing the cake endlessly to make it look decent there is hardly any frosting left on the sides. How can I smooth but ensure I have at least 1/4โ€ณ of frosting on the sides of the cake? 
    Thanks so much!






  3. Amanda

    IT being so close to Christmas, I canโ€™t find eggnog anywhere! Do you think homemade eggnog would change the textures too much? 

  4. Marsha

    Can I sub two square cake pans 9โ€?  I plan on cutting in half to make two cakes. Will the frosting cover both cakes?

    1. Lindsay

      That should be fine, youโ€™d just need to adjust baking times. For the frosting, it depends a bit on how much frosting you like. I would think it should be enough for thinner coats of frosting on both.

  5. Cathy

    Well WAY TO MUCH FROSTING! I had enough for 2 cakes!  Not a great cake, will not waste my time making it again????

  6. Melissa

    Iโ€™m making the cake right now and I put it in for the full time you said but at the 24 minute period it was still wet in the middle. Any advice on what happened or how much longer i should leave it in?

    Thanks!!! Canโ€™t wait to try it!

    1. Lindsay

      Hmm, perhaps thereโ€™s a difference in our ovens? I donโ€™t usually need to bake for longer than that. Did you use three pans, or maybe reduce it to two? If so, the layers would be thicker and take longer to bake.

  7. Carolyn

    I just made your eggnog cake for Christmas Eve dessert. So far it looks and smells lovely! We look forward to enjoying it tomorrow night

Lindsay
About Lindsay

Iโ€™m the baker, recipe developer and photographer behind Life, Love and Sugar. I love sharing trusted recipes with helpful tips to give you great results.

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