Eggnog Cake
The holiday season brings with it the nostalgic flavors of warm spices, indulgent treats, and the ever-popular eggnog. This eggnog cake embodies the perfect balance of festivity and comfort, making it an ideal dessert to share with loved ones during winter gatherings. Combining the rich, creamy flavor of traditional eggnog with the light, airy texture of cake, this recipe delivers a dessert that’s as visually stunning as it is delicious. Whether you’re looking for something unique to serve at your next holiday party or a dessert that pairs perfectly with a cozy night by the fireplace, this eggnog cake is guaranteed to become your go-to recipe for the season.
Ingredients Breakdown For Eggnog Cake
The Key Components of the Eggnog Cake
The base of this cake begins with a harmonious blend of cake flour, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar. The light brown sugar adds a subtle caramel undertone, while cake flour ensures a tender crumb. Baking powder and baking soda work together to provide lift, and freshly grated nutmeg infuses each bite with warm, spicy notes. A splash of vanilla extract ties everything together, while eggnog serves as both a flavor booster and the key liquid ingredient.
Essential Elements for the Frosting
The frosting is a rich, smooth buttercream, with softened butter as its foundation. A generous amount of powdered sugar ensures a creamy yet structured texture, while eggnog enhances the holiday spirit by incorporating its unique flavor into the frosting itself. Vanilla extract adds a fragrant touch, harmonizing with the sweetness of the powdered sugar to round out the frosting’s flavor profile.
Optional Garnishes to Elevate Your Eggnog Cake
For a truly festive presentation, garnishing the cake with fresh or candied cranberries offers a striking contrast to the cake’s cream-colored frosting. Rosemary sprigs add a rustic, wintry feel, with their evergreen aesthetic perfectly complementing the season. These small touches not only elevate the look but enhance the cake’s appeal, making it an eye-catching centerpiece for your holiday table.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making the Eggnog Cake
Preparing the Cake Pans and Oven
Before you begin mixing your ingredients, it’s essential to properly prepare your cake pans to ensure easy removal of the baked layers. Lining the bottom of each pan with parchment paper and coating the sides with cooking spray guarantees that the cake will not stick, giving you smooth, intact layers to work with. Preheating the oven to 350°F allows for even baking, ensuring a consistent golden color across all layers.
Mixing the Dry and Wet Ingredients
The process begins by sifting together the dry ingredients: cake flour, both sugars, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. This helps to evenly distribute the leavening agents and ensures there are no lumps in your batter. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, vegetable oil, eggnog, and vanilla extract. Slowly incorporating the wet mixture into the dry ingredients allows for a smooth, lump-free batter that’s ready for baking.
Assembling and Baking the Cake Layers
Once the batter is ready, it’s crucial to divide it evenly among the three pans to ensure uniform layers. Using a kitchen scale ensures precision. The cakes are then baked until they achieve a light golden hue and pass the toothpick test, where a clean or slightly crumby toothpick signifies they’re perfectly baked.
Cooling the Cake: Why It’s Important
Letting the cake cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack prevents the layers from breaking apart. A well-cooled cake makes frosting much easier and prevents the frosting from melting. Be patient during this step to ensure a clean, professional finish during assembly.
How to Make the Perfect Eggnog Frosting
Beating the Butter to Perfection
Start by whipping the softened butter until it becomes light and fluffy. This step is crucial for achieving a creamy texture in your frosting. The butter should be completely smooth before you begin adding the other ingredients, ensuring there are no lumps.
Gradually Incorporating the Powdered Sugar
To avoid a sugar cloud, the powdered sugar should be added slowly, one cup at a time. This gradual process ensures the sugar is evenly incorporated, and the buttercream maintains a light, fluffy texture without becoming too dense.
Achieving the Right Frosting Consistency with Eggnog
Once the sugar is fully mixed in, eggnog is added to enhance the flavor. The amount of eggnog you use will determine the frosting’s consistency, so it’s important to add it slowly. The goal is to achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency that holds its shape without being too stiff. If the frosting is too thick, a few teaspoons of eggnog will loosen it up; if too thin, additional powdered sugar will thicken it to your desired consistency.
Recipe Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
How to Avoid Overmixing the Batter
- Stir the batter just until combined. Overmixing can lead to a dense cake, so gently folding the wet and dry ingredients together is key.
Tips for Achieving Even Cake Layers
- Use a kitchen scale to ensure each pan receives the same amount of batter, preventing uneven layers that can cause the cake to lean when stacked.
Ensuring Your Frosting Is Smooth and Creamy
- Start with room temperature butter and beat it thoroughly to prevent any lumps in the frosting. Gradually adding powdered sugar will create a smooth texture.
Optional Garnish Suggestions for a Festive Look
- For a show-stopping holiday cake, top the frosted layers with sugared cranberries and rosemary sprigs. The contrast of red and green provides an elegant, seasonal touch.
What to Serve With This Recipe
Ideal Beverage Pairings: What Complements Eggnog Cake
Eggnog cake pairs beautifully with spiced beverages like mulled wine, spiked apple cider, or even a rich, creamy hot chocolate. For a non-alcoholic option, a chai latte or a classic cup of black coffee enhances the warming flavors of nutmeg and vanilla.
Perfect Sides to Balance the Sweetness
Since the cake is already sweet, lighter side dishes work well to complement the dessert. A fresh fruit salad with citrus or a tart cranberry sauce can balance the richness of the eggnog flavor, offering a refreshing contrast.
How to Make the Cake the Star of Your Dessert Table
When serving at a holiday event, place the cake in the center of your dessert spread. Surround it with complementary treats like gingerbread cookies, cinnamon-sugar doughnuts, or pecan tarts. The cake’s festive garnishes and creamy frosting will make it the centerpiece of any holiday table.
Decorating and Serving Ideas
For an elegant, professional finish, smooth the frosting using an offset spatula. For more intricate designs, you can opt for a piping bag to create decorative swirls or rosettes around the edges. When garnishing with cranberries and rosemary, a dusting of powdered sugar can mimic the look of fresh snow, adding a wintery touch to your presentation.
Once decorated, use a sharp, serrated knife to slice the cake, cleaning the blade between cuts to keep the slices neat. Serve each slice on a festive dessert plate, with the vibrant cranberries and rosemary sprigs giving each piece a sophisticated, seasonal flair.
Eggnog Cake
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 3 cups cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 1/3 cups eggnog
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- cooking spray
For the frosting:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup eggnog add more if necessary
Optional garnishes:
- 1/3 cup fresh or candied cranberries see notes for instructions
- rosemary sprigs
Instructions
For the cake:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Prepare three 8-inch round cake pans by lining the bottoms with parchment paper cut to size, then coat the entire pans with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cake flour, both sugars, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. Stir the dry ingredients together until thoroughly mixed.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with the vegetable oil, eggnog, and vanilla extract until smooth and well blended.
- Slowly incorporate the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring gently just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the batter light and fluffy.
- Divide the batter evenly among the three cake pans. For precision, use a kitchen scale to ensure equal amounts in each pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cakes have a light golden hue and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs.
- Allow the cakes to cool in their pans for about 10 minutes before gently turning them out onto a cooling rack. Let them cool completely before frosting.
For the frosting:
- With an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and vanilla extract together for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is smooth, light, and fluffy.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, while keeping the mixer speed on low to avoid sugar clouds. Mix until all the sugar is incorporated.
- Add the eggnog and continue beating until the frosting becomes creamy and spreadable. If it feels too thick, add more eggnog a teaspoon at a time. If it’s too thin, slowly add extra powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency.
For assembly:
- Place one layer of cake on your serving dish. Spread a thin layer of frosting evenly over the surface.
- Position the second cake layer on top, and again, apply a thin layer of frosting over it.
- Finish with the third cake layer, and frost the entire cake with the remaining frosting. Use an offset spatula for a smooth finish or a piping bag for more detailed decoration.
- Garnish with fresh or candied cranberries and sprigs of rosemary for a festive touch, slice, and enjoy!