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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!}
I made this cake for Christmas and it turned out beautiful. The cake seemed a little dry. Any suggestions?
Hey Maggie! Was there anything you changed about the recipe?
Tieghan!!!!! So although we don’t do Christmas in my family, we do eat CAKE. So I made 1 1/2 of this recipe to make a 3 layer 8-inch cake (I think?) Anyway, I was REALLY focused on making sure my math for multiplying the recipe was correct. In the midst of that, along with allowing my 3 year old to do as much of the “making” as possible, I FORGOT THE HOT WATER. Needless to say, my cakes came out a little bit dry. But, the flavor was still there and the ganache and frosting were insane. Everyone loved them. I’ll come back and give a true rating after I’ve actually baked this with all the ingredients. Lol. Thanks!
Thank you for trying this Kristen! I hope it turns out better for you next time, but I am glad everyone still enjoyed it!
Hi! I’m making this tonight to serve on Christmas Eve! Once frosted, does it need to be refrigerated or can it be left out (in a cake dome) at room temp?
I’m so excited to make this!
Hi! I recommend keeping the cake in fridge and then removing and hour or so before serving to come to room temp. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you loved this recipe and had a great Christmas! Thanks so much and happy Holidays!! xTieghan ?
Any chance you have a vanilla cake recipe to use instead of chocolate? Thank you
Hi Penny! I have a couple vanilla cake recipes! I will link one below that seems to be one of my family’s favorites!
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/vanilla-birthday-cake-with-whipped-chocolate-buttercream/
I made this as cupcakes, cause that’s my favorite way to consume cake, and just did the genache as a filling. I was surprised how much I loved the random chunks of peppermint bark. Such a surprising flavor combination. Quite tasty, good call!
Thank you so much Brittanie! I am so glad you loved this recipe and in cupcake form!
Hi Tieghan!
Can’t wait to make this recipe for Christmas dinner this year!
I would need an 8 inch cake to feed everyone but love the height of a 3 layer cake. Should I make the recipe as it calls but then half it? So one and a half the recipe? I feel like doubling the recipe would be way too much batter.
Thanks and Happy Holidays!! xo
HI! Yes, I would make 1 1/2 of the recipe. I think that will make 3 (8-inch) cake layers perfectly. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much and happy Holidays!! xTieghan ?
Hey! Quick question…could I use brewed coffee in place of the extract?
Sure that will be just fine. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
The recipe calls for cocoa powder, but in the directions, it doesn’t say when to add it. I assume with the other dry ingredients?
Recipe is all fixed. sorry about that! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
I made this the other day and it was amazing! I don’t know why I’ve never made browned butter frosting before, it’s divine! Everyone loved the cake (even though I think I overbaked it by just a few minutes). Always enjoy making your recipes!
Thank you Mandy! I am so glad you loved this cake!
Some people swear by oil-based chocolate cakes, but the best chocolate cake I’ve ever made – or eaten – uses butter! Lovely cake, looking forward to making it!
Thank you so much Christine!!
Nice photos! 🙂
Thank you Luiza!
hey girl- this looks oh so tasty! yummy!
Thank you so much Shawnna!
What an adorable cake Teighan!
I like the idea of using three 6″ cake pans, it gives it such a look.
I find myself using my 6″ cake pans more and more, a cuter look for my friends…..and me! LOL!
Very nice touch with the reindeer cookies, brownie points!!
I’m so into all the chocolate in this cake….DEELISH!!
Land O’Lakes butter is always in my frig, I’ve been using it for years and years.
They do carry a variety of their butters, check out the dairy section next time you’re at your grocers.
Thank you for another ‘sweet’ dessert Teighan! ?
?Merry Christmas!?
Thank you so much Dalila! I hope you try this cake and it turns out great for you!
I just wanted to double check (because I thought it was unusual) that you are using SALTED butter and not unsalted in this recipe? Also, even with the salted butter, you’re adding some more salt to the cake?
Thanks!!
Hey Kerry! Yes, I like to use salted butter and yes you should add a touch more salt to highlight the flavors! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
What a gorgeous cake!!
Thank you Erin! I am so glad you like this!