Winter wonderland white chocolate cake is the ultimate festive dessert for snowy celebrations and holiday tables. With layers of moist vanilla cake, rich white chocolate buttercream, and a glistening sugar-crystal finish, this cake looks like it’s dusted in frost. Whether you’re hosting a Christmas dinner or throwing a winter-themed birthday, this stunning centerpiece tastes just as magical as it looks.
This cake isn’t just beautiful—it’s packed with wintery charm and indulgent flavor. The vanilla cake base is light and fluffy, layered with silky white chocolate buttercream that’s tinted in frosty ombré shades of blue. Finish it off with a roll in colored sanding sugar and optional white chocolate ganache drip for that dreamy snow-covered look. It’s a baking project that will impress everyone and make your dessert table shine.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Elegant winter presentation: Snowy sparkle with minimal effort
- Rich flavor: White chocolate buttercream pairs perfectly with vanilla cake
- Customizable colors: Adjust the ombré to match any winter theme
- Perfect for holidays: Ideal for Christmas, winter birthdays, or seasonal parties
- Make-ahead friendly: Layers can be baked and frozen in advance
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp cardamom (optional)
- ¾ cup salted butter, room temperature
- 3 egg whites
- 3 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup plain yogurt (or sour cream)
For the White Chocolate Buttercream
- 1 lb unsalted butter
- 2 cups white chocolate chips
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 8 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Blue gel food coloring (optional, for ombré)
Optional White Chocolate Ganache
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 drop blue gel food coloring
Decoration
- Blue and white sanding sugars
- Parchment rounds
- Optional: piped buttercream dollops for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare cake pans: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 6-inch cake pans.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and cardamom.
- Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk melted or softened butter, milk, yogurt, vanilla, and egg whites until mostly smooth.
- Combine: Pour wet mixture into dry and stir until just combined.
- Bake: Divide evenly between pans. Bake for 28–32 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
- Make ganache (optional): Heat cream and pour over white chocolate chips. Let sit 1 minute, then stir smooth. Add food coloring if using.
- Make buttercream: Melt white chocolate with cream and cool. In a stand mixer, beat butter until fluffy. Add sugar gradually, then mix in cooled chocolate, vanilla, and salt.
- Color for ombré: Divide buttercream into 4 bowls. Leave one uncolored; tint others with increasing shades of blue.
- Assemble cake: Place one cake layer on a cardboard round. Pipe buttercream onto each layer, creating a light-to-dark ombré as you build up.
- Crumb coat: Apply a thin layer of frosting to seal crumbs. Chill for 20 minutes.
- Final coat: Pipe buttercream in ombré shades from bottom to top. Smooth with a spatula and chill.
- Decorate: Place parchment on top, then gently roll the cake sides in sanding sugar. Add ganache drip if using. Garnish with chilled dollops of piped frosting.
Recipe Details
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Servings: 8
Nutrition Facts (per serving – approximate)
- Calories: 290
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Cholesterol: 38mg
- Sodium: 133mg
- Sugar: 37g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Calcium: 10mg
- Iron: 0.7mg
Tips & Variations
- Chill before decorating: A cold cake helps sanding sugar and ganache set cleanly
- Ombre shortcut: Skip ombré coloring and just use sanding sugar for a simple but stunning look
- Flavor twists: Add almond or peppermint extract to the buttercream for a festive touch
- Different sizes: Double recipe for 8-inch pans, triple for 9-inch
- Flat layers tip: Use cake strips to prevent doming
FAQs
Can I make this cake ahead of time?
Yes! Bake and freeze cake layers (wrapped tightly) for up to a month. Add sanding sugar just before serving to maintain sparkle.
How do I keep the white chocolate from seizing?
Use gel food coloring and avoid adding water. Melt chocolate gently and stir constantly.
Can I skip the ombré effect?
Absolutely. The buttercream can be left white or a single color. The sugar coating adds plenty of visual impact.
Winter Wonderland White Chocolate Cake
Equipment
- – Mixer
- – Offset spatula
- – Cake turntable (optional)
- – 6-inch cake pans
Ingredients
- **Cake:**
- – 1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
- – 1 cup sugar
- – 1 tsp baking powder
- – ¼ tsp baking soda
- – ¼ tsp cardamom optional
- – ¾ cup salted butter room temp
- – 3 egg whites
- – 3 tsp vanilla extract
- – ½ cup milk
- – ½ cup plain yogurt
- **Buttercream:**
- – 1 lb unsalted butter
- – 2 cups white chocolate chips
- – ½ cup cream
- – 8 cups powdered sugar
- – 1 tsp vanilla extract
- – Pinch of salt
- – Blue gel food coloring
- **Ganache optional:**
- – 1 cup white chocolate chips
- – ¼ cup cream
- – 1 drop blue gel coloring
- **Decor:**
- – Sanding sugars blue, white
- – Parchment rounds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and prep three 6-inch pans.
- Mix dry ingredients in one bowl, wet ingredients in another.
- Combine and divide batter into pans.
- Bake 28–32 minutes. Cool completely.
- Melt chocolate and cream for ganache (optional).
- Make buttercream and tint for ombré.
- Assemble cake with buttercream layers, then crumb coat and chill.
- Add final buttercream in ombré shades, smooth and chill again.
- Roll sides in sanding sugar. Add ganache drip if desired.
- Pipe decorative dollops and garnish.
Notes
– Store in fridge and bring to room temp before serving
– Cake layers can be made and frozen ahead
Conclusion
Winter wonderland white chocolate cake is more than a dessert—it’s a showstopper that captures the beauty of the season. With layers of rich cake, dreamy buttercream, and a sparkle that rivals fresh snow, this cake is perfect for your next holiday celebration.