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Sharing my most festive holiday cake yet, the North Pole Cake. Three layers of buttery chocolate cake, layered with sweet chocolate ganache, and frosted generously with a browned butter vanilla frosting. Finish the cake off with a frosting dipped candy cane “north pole” and you’ll have the cutest holiday cake, that’s beyond delicious too.
{This post is sponsored by Land O’Lakes}
I couldn’t let December pass by without sharing a festive holiday cake that’s both cute and delicious. As you can tell by now, I really like to do it up with the Christmas recipes. I have so much fun playing around with whimsical desserts.
Enter the layer cake, one of my favorite recipes to date.
I had two goals for this cake.
First, make it good. Chocolatey on the inside, but with a nutty vanilla frosting on the outside.
Second, make the cake feel as though you’ve entered the North Pole. Meaning, create a winter wonderland cake that’s just as fun to make as it is to eat.
For the base of the cake I actually tried a few different recipes before landing on a more simple chocolate cake. I really wanted my cake to be moist, chocolate filled, and have hints of sweet Land O Lakes® Butter. There’s nothing worse than a dry cake, so I love using Land O Lakes® Butter to keep my cakes extra light, moist, and flavorful.
I baked my cake into three (6-inch) layer cakes. If you don’t own a 6-inch cake pan, you can also bake the cake in two (8-inch) cake layers. This works just as well, but you’ll have a shorter and wider cake, versus tall and skinny.
For the filling, I debated on whether to simply frost the entire cake with frosting or to add a chocolate filling. Since it’s December, and this is a Christmas cake, I went with the chocolate filling! When in doubt, always add more chocolate…
I made a lusciously smooth chocolate ganache with semi-sweet chocolate and a touch of cream to spread between the cake layers. When you look at the cake, you’d never guess there’s so much chocolate inside, but when you cut the first slice, you’re pleasantly surprised to find multiple layers of chocolate deliciousness. I love this little surprise hidden inside…so fun!
And then there’s the frosting.
Oh, this frosting, it’s become my new go-to. Browned butter, a touch of mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, and a splash of vanilla.
Simple ingredients, but put them together and they make something incredibly delicious. This frosting is smooth, creamy, a little nutty from the browned butter, and perfectly sweet. Honestly, it doesn’t get any better.
It’s important for me to make recipes that not only look good, but taste just as delicious, if not better. And trust me, there’s so much to love about this cake. It is a chocolate lover’s dream cake. But it’s also very much a cake for anyone who loves vanilla.
To make the “North Pole” I just used a thick candy cane. I broke the rounded tip off, and then dipped it through a little of the frosting to make the top of the pole. I added some pearl sugar for a snowy effect, and pushed it directly into the top of the cake.
Nothing fancy, but so special and cute.
If you’d like to take the decorations a step further, you can make sugar cookie cut outs. I made reindeer sugar cookies. I sprinkled them with cinnamon sugar, and used a little melted white chocolate for their eyes and tail. It was important to me to keep the scene simple though, so that the cake would be the star.
If you’re looking for a fun Christmassy weekend project, or need a show stopping cake for your next holiday party, this is definitely that cake! I’ll be making it for my family’s Christmas Eve and I’m already so excited.
If you make this North Pole Cake please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Watch the How To Video:
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
{This post is sponsored by Land O’Lakes. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Half Baked Harvest cooking!}
Hi, can gluten free flour be used instead, to make a gluten free cake?
thanks!
Hi Colleen,
Yes, an equal amount of gluten free flour will work well for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
This is my go-to chocolate cake! Everyone always love when I make it.
It’s even delicious without the ganache layer, I just did buttercream between my layers.
Hey Ashley,
Happy Holidays!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it turned out well for you!🎁🎅
How early can you make the cake in advance and then assemble later with icing/ganache, or if you make it early, do you also frost it early?
Hey Katie,
You could make the entire cake a day or two in advance and keep in the fridge. I hope this recipe turns out well for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xT
When do you recommend making this if I’m planning to serve Christmas Eve? The day before or day of?
Hey Vanessa,
Either will be just fine for this cake! Let me know how it turns out, I hope it’s a hit! Happy Holidays! xx
I made this for our Christmas dinner dessert. It was delicious – the icing was unbelievably wonderful. Great presentation and everyone enjoyed it.
Question – how do you store it? I opted for the 6 ” layers and the cake was so tall my husband had to construct a carrier for it. It was more than 10″ high without the North Pole addition.
Hey Wendy,
Awesome! Thanks a lot for making this recipe. I love to hear that it was enjoyed! I store in an airtight container on the counter. Happy Thursday❄️ xxT
What is the history of the North Pole Cake please?
Hi Peri,
I just wanted to create a fun, festive cake:) Let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
How is this different from your blackout chocolate cake in your cook book!? Wanting to make one and they asked for dark chocolate cake with white frosting. Can’t decide between the two! Could I add white butt r cream to the blackout recipe?! What about the coffee if I don’t have instant?
Hi Brooke,
The blackout cake is definitely a stronger chocolate flavor, but I love them both. You could certainly do a white buttercream and then just skip the instant coffee. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Can I use cake flour for this recipe? And if so, is the measurement different than regular AP flour?
Thanks!
Hi Elizabeth,
I’ve not tested this, but I would use an equal amount of cake flour. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
recipe for the cookies shown? Is it a soft cookie?
Thank you
Hey Nancy,
Here you go:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/chai-gingerbread-cookies/
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Do you use Belgian or Swedish pearl sugar?
Hi Hannah,
It’s just for decorating, so either one will work:) I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan