This Christmas Chaos Cake lives up to its name — a joyful jumble of your favorite holiday flavors baked into one irresistible treat! Imagine chunks of chocolate, crushed candy canes, dried fruits, nuts, and spices all swirling through a moist, buttery cake base. It’s the kind of “beautiful chaos” that captures the very spirit of Christmas — warm, colorful, sweet, and full of surprises.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Cooling Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 10–12 slices
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 2 cups (250 g) |
| Baking powder | 2 tsp |
| Baking soda | ½ tsp |
| Salt | ¼ tsp |
| Ground cinnamon | 1 tsp |
| Ground nutmeg | ½ tsp |
| Unsalted butter (softened) | ¾ cup (170 g) |
| Brown sugar | 1 cup (200 g) |
| Granulated sugar | ½ cup (100 g) |
| Eggs | 3 large |
| Vanilla extract | 2 tsp |
| Sour cream or yogurt | 1 cup (240 g) |
| Milk | ¼ cup (60 ml) |
| Chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, or almonds) | ½ cup |
| Dried fruits (cranberries, cherries, raisins) | ½ cup |
| Chocolate chips or chunks | ½ cup |
| Crushed candy canes | ¼ cup |
| Optional: rum or orange zest | 1 tbsp |
Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer or whisk
- Spatula
- 9-inch bundt or loaf pan
- Cooling rack
- Measuring cups and spoons
Instructions
- Preheat & Prepare:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a bundt pan or line a loaf pan with parchment paper. - Mix Dry Ingredients:
In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. - Cream Butter & Sugars:
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes). - Add Wet Ingredients:
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add vanilla, sour cream, and milk. Mix until smooth. - Combine & Add the Chaos:
Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients. Fold in nuts, dried fruits, chocolate chips, and crushed candy canes. - Bake:
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. - Cool:
Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. - Decorate:
Dust with powdered sugar, drizzle with white chocolate, or top with extra candy cane bits for a festive touch.
FAQ
Can I make this cake ahead of time?
Yes! It actually tastes better the next day as the flavors meld together.
Can I use boxed cake mix?
You can — just use yellow or white cake mix, and fold in your favorite “chaos” ingredients.
How do I make it look festive?
Drizzle with icing and sprinkle crushed peppermint or edible glitter on top!
Conclusion
The Christmas Chaos Cake is the ultimate holiday dessert — joyful, messy, and absolutely delicious. Every bite brings a new surprise, making it a true reflection of Christmas itself: a little bit of everything, and all of it wonderful.
