Name: Winter Wonderland Cake Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 cups all purpose flour; 1 tablespoon baking powder; ¼ teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 and ½ cups unsalted butter, room temperature; 2 and ¼ cups granulated sugar; 4 large eggs, room temperature; 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract; 1 and ½ cups buttermilk, room temperature; Regular sized marshmallows; Wooden skewers or Lollipop Sticks; Royal icing; Mini Reese’s Cups or Rolo candies; Chocolate coins; Black gel food colouring; Orange gel food colouring; Blue gel food colouring (or any colour of your choice); Toothpicks; Pull apart Twizzlers; Large and small Ice Cream Sugar Cones (some cut in half); 3 cups vanilla frosting (see notes); White sanding sugar; Blue sanding sugar; Blue gel food colouring; Snowflake sprinkles; White non pareils; Sugar Pearls; 1 cup Unsalted Butter, slightly softened; 1 cup Hi-ratio Shortening; ⅛ teaspoon salt

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Introduction

This Winter Wonderland Cake is a festive and delightful treat perfect for the holiday season. Featuring moist vanilla layers, whimsical marshmallow snowmen, and icy blue buttercream, it brings a snowy charm straight to your table.

The cake is a single-layer round cake with light blue frosting that drips slightly down the sides. On top, there are two small snowmen made of white marshmallows with brown chocolate hats, red scarves, black buttons, and small facial features. Between the snowmen, there are four trees made of frosting; two white, one light blue, and one light turquoise, each with different textures like swirls and star-shaped frosting. The edge of the cake is decorated with blue, white, and pearl-like round candies, surrounded by white coconut flakes. The cake is placed on a white wavy-edged cake stand, set on a white marbled surface with silver tinsel around. The background is blue with white snowflake patterns. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

Vanilla Cake Layers:

3 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 and ½ cups unsalted butter, room temperature
2 and ¼ cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 and ½ cups buttermilk, room temperature

Marshmallow Snowmen:

Regular sized marshmallows
Wooden skewers or lollipop sticks
Royal icing
Mini Reese’s Cups or Rolo candies
Chocolate coins
Black gel food colouring
Orange gel food colouring
Blue gel food colouring (or any colour of your choice)
Toothpicks
Pull apart Twizzlers

Christmas Trees:

Large and small ice cream sugar cones (cut some in half)
3 cups vanilla frosting (see notes)
White sanding sugar
Blue sanding sugar
Blue gel food colouring
Snowflake sprinkles
White non pareils
Sugar pearls

Vanilla Buttercream:

1 cup unsalted butter, slightly softened
1 cup hi-ratio shortening
⅛ teaspoon salt
8 cups powdered sugar, sifted
½ cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon pure almond extract
Sky blue gel food colouring

Snow Drip:

2 cups powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons milk
White sanding sugar

Additional:

White sparkling sugar
White non pareils
Powdered sugar, for dusting
Shredded coconut
White pearlized gumballs or sixlets
Blue pearlized gumballs or sixlets

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Prepare three 8×2-inch round cake pans by lining the bottoms with parchment paper rounds and greasing the sides. Set them aside.
Step 2: In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine and set aside.
Step 3: Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the unsalted butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
Step 4: Reduce the mixer speed to medium-low and add the eggs one at a time, beating just until combined after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract.
Step 5: Alternately add the dry ingredients in three parts and the buttermilk in two parts to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix each addition just until combined. Then increase the speed to medium and beat for another 30 seconds to 1 minute until smooth.
Step 6: Divide the batter evenly among the three prepared cake pans, about a little over 2 cups in each. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the cake springs back lightly when touched.
Note: Allow the cakes to cool completely before assembling and decorating with the buttercream, marshmallow snowmen, and other decorations described in the ingredients.

Tips & Variations

Ensure your butter, eggs, and buttermilk are at room temperature for the best cake texture.
If you don’t have buttermilk, substitute with regular milk plus 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar per cup.
For extra festive colors, use gel food coloring to tint your buttercream and snow drip icing.
Try adding shredded coconut on top of the cake to mimic fresh snow.
Create personalized snowmen by using different candies for buttons and scarves.

Storage

Store the cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Before serving, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to soften. The decorated toppers can be added just before serving for best appearance. Leftover buttercream can be refrigerated for up to a week and whipped again before use.

How to Serve

A slice of three-layer yellow cake with white cream filling between each layer is placed on a white plate. The outside of the cake is covered with light blue frosting, decorated with white and blue round candy-like beads on the side. The top edge of the cake has a soft, textured blue frosting border. In the background, the rest of the cake, also covered with blue and white frosting, sits on a white cake stand with a ruffled edge, accompanied by a shiny blue and silver ornament on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the cake layers in advance?

Yes, the cake layers can be baked up to 2 days ahead and stored tightly wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature or refrigerated to preserve freshness.

How do I prevent my marshmallow snowmen from tipping over?

Use sturdy wooden skewers or lollipop sticks inserted through the marshmallows to keep them stable. Secure decorations with royal icing and let them dry fully before placing on the cake.