Name: Holiday Christmas Sheet Cake With Candy Cane Trees Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 48 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter; 1 1/4 cups water; 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 2 1/2 cups sugar; 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons sour cream; 2 eggs; 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened; 8 ounces cream cheese, softened; 3 1/2 to 4 cups powdered sugar (depending on desired consistency & sweetness); 1/4 teaspoon salt; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; Mini candy canes, crook broken off, approximately 24 straight pieces; Round peppermint candies, approximately 24; Assorted holiday sprinkles

If you’re looking for a fun and festive dessert that captures the holiday spirit perfectly, you’re going to want to try my Holiday Christmas Sheet Cake With Candy Cane Trees Recipe. It’s not just any sheet cake—this one is super moist, topped with dreamy cream cheese frosting, and then transformed into adorable little Christmas trees using candy canes and peppermint candies. Trust me, once you serve this at your holiday party, your family and friends will be begging for seconds!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Festive and Fun: Turning simple cake slices into candy cane Christmas trees makes your dessert table pop and brings smiles all around.
Moist, Tender Cake: The combination of sour cream and melted butter creates an incredibly soft, moist crumb that I adore.
Rich Cream Cheese Frosting: Creamy, tangy frosting complements the cake perfectly, balancing just the right amount of sweetness.
Easy to Make and Decorate: Even if you’re not a pro baker, this recipe is straightforward and fun—great for baking with kids too!

A triangular cookie covered with smooth white icing and decorated with red, green, black, and white round and rod sprinkles is placed in the center of a white plate on a white marbled surface. A round peppermint candy with red and white swirls is positioned at the top point of the triangle, and a red and white striped candy stick is inserted vertically at the bottom tip to resemble a tree trunk. The plate sits on a red, orange, and yellow woven placemat. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Holiday Christmas Sheet Cake With Candy Cane Trees, festive holiday cake, Christmas dessert ideas, peppermint sheet cake, holiday party treats

Ingredients You’ll Need

I love how approachable the ingredients list is for this Holiday Christmas Sheet Cake With Candy Cane Trees Recipe. You probably have most of these staples in your pantry already, and the candy canes and peppermint candies add that perfect festive flair you’ll want to stock up on early this season.

Flat lay of two sticks of unsalted butter, a small white bowl of water, a small white bowl of all-purpose flour, a small white bowl of granulated sugar, a small white bowl heaping with sour cream, two brown eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl of pure vanilla extract, a small white bowl of baking soda, a small white bowl of salt, one stick of unsalted butter softened, an 8-ounce block of cream cheese softened, a small white bowl filled with powdered sugar, a small white bowl of holiday sprinkles, several straight pieces of mini candy canes without crooks, and round peppermint candies arranged in perfect symmetry on simple white ceramic dishes, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Holiday Christmas Sheet Cake With Candy Cane Trees, festive holiday cake, Christmas dessert ideas, peppermint sheet cake, holiday party treats

Unsalted butter: Both melted and softened butter help with texture and richness in the cake and frosting.
Water: Boiling water is added to bloom the flour and sugar mixture, giving the cake a unique tender crumb.
All-purpose flour: The backbone for that perfectly structured, yet soft cake.
Sugar: Sweetness that balances the tang in the frosting.
Sour cream: Adds moisture and keeps the cake soft day after day.
Eggs: For binding and lift.
Pure vanilla extract: The secret ingredient that warms up the whole flavor profile.
Baking soda: Gives the cake its necessary rise—make sure it’s fresh!
Salt: Enhances all the flavors, don’t skip it.
Cream cheese: The hero of the frosting — it’s what makes it luxuriously creamy and tangy.
Powdered sugar: For smooth, sweet frosting texture.
Mini candy canes: Cut the crook off to use as little tree trunks, a cute detail that makes the trees come alive.
Round peppermint candies: These are perfect as tree toppers, like little stars.
Assorted holiday sprinkles: Sprinkle generously for color and extra festive fun.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love to make this Holiday Christmas Sheet Cake With Candy Cane Trees Recipe my own by switching up the toppings or even adding a little twist to the cake itself. It’s really all about making it your festive signature dessert!

Chocolate Twist: Once, I swapped half the flour for cocoa powder—adding peppermint chips to the frosting really amped up the holiday vibe.
Nut-Free or Allergy-Friendly: You can easily make this recipe nut-free by choosing sprinkles and candies without nut traces, perfect for school parties.
Vegan Version: I once experimented with dairy-free butter and cream cheese alternatives and used flax eggs—the texture was slightly different but still tasty!
Flavor Enhancements: A splash of almond extract or a sprinkle of cinnamon in the batter adds a warming holiday touch if you want to change things up.

How to Make Holiday Christmas Sheet Cake With Candy Cane Trees Recipe

Step 1: Prep and Make the Cake Batter

This is where the magic starts! First, get your oven preheated to 375°F and grease that beautiful 18×13-inch sheet pan—don’t skip this or your cake will stick. In a large pot, melt the first portion of butter and add water, bringing it to a quick boil. Then, stir in your dry ingredients along with the sour cream. The batter will look a bit thick, but that’s just right. Once the batter cools down a bit, add your eggs, vanilla, baking soda, and salt—mix smoothly so no lumps remain. This step ensures your cake will bake up with the perfect texture.

Step 2: Bake Until Perfectly Tender

Pour your batter into the pan and smooth it evenly. Bake for about 15 to 18 minutes, but start checking at 15 by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, your cake is done. Remember, it’s better to slightly underbake than overbake here since you want the cake moist and tender. Let the cake cool completely before moving on — this will help your frosting stay smooth and not melt.

Step 3: Whip Up the Cream Cheese Frosting

While the cake cools, take softened butter and cream cheese and beat them together with an electric mixer until velvety smooth. Slowly add powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla to get your frosting just right. I usually start with 3 ½ cups of powdered sugar and then add more if I want it thicker. Beat everything on high so the frosting becomes light and fluffy — this frosting is what really lifts the whole dessert.

Step 4: Frost, Decorate, and Slice into Trees

Spread the frosting generously over the cooled cake, smoothing it out nicely. Immediately sprinkle on your holiday sprinkles before the frosting sets, pressing gently so they stick well. Then, the fun begins—stand the pan vertically and cut three straight vertical lines, creating four rows. Next, cut six Christmas tree-shaped triangles across each row. I like using a thin metal spatula to carefully lift out each triangle onto a serving platter.

Give each tree its festive finishing touch by inserting a straight mini candy cane at the base as the trunk, and pressing a round peppermint candy on top like a star. These little details really wow guests and make the dessert photo-worthy!

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Pro Tips for Making Holiday Christmas Sheet Cake With Candy Cane Trees Recipe

Melt Butter Carefully: When melting butter for the batter, do it gently so it doesn’t brown or burn, which can change the flavor.
Don’t Overmix Batter: Once you add eggs, mix just until combined to keep your cake tender and airy.
Use Fresh Baking Soda: It’s key for that nice rise and tender crumb—old soda can make the cake dense.
Cut Trees While Cake is Cool: It’s much easier to slice and frost when the cake is completely cooled to prevent crumbling and messy frosting.

How to Serve Holiday Christmas Sheet Cake With Candy Cane Trees Recipe

The image shows five triangular slices of a two-layer dessert arranged on a wooden board. Each slice has a thick beige base layer topped with a thick white cream layer covered in small red, green, and white round and stick sprinkles. A red and white striped candy stick is inserted horizontally into the wide end of each triangle, with a round peppermint candy attached to the tip of each candy stick on the left side. The background is a white marbled surface partially covered by a red, orange, and yellow woven cloth. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Holiday Christmas Sheet Cake With Candy Cane Trees, festive holiday cake, Christmas dessert ideas, peppermint sheet cake, holiday party treats

Garnishes

I stick with classic holiday sprinkles on this cake because their bright reds, greens, and whites instantly bring that Christmas cheer. The candy canes and peppermint candies aren’t just decoration—they add a refreshing minty bite that contrasts beautifully with the sweet creamy frosting. Sometimes I add edible glitter for a subtle sparkle that makes the trees look magical under holiday lights.

Side Dishes

This sheet cake works beautifully alongside a warm cup of hot cocoa or a minty holiday cocktail. For a party spread, I like pairing it with savory finger foods like mini quiches or roasted nuts to balance the sweet. And of course, a platter of fresh fruit—cranberries or pomegranate seeds add natural color and zest.

Creative Ways to Present

For my last holiday gathering, I arranged the candy cane trees on a large wooden cutting board with a dusting of powdered sugar “snow” around them. I also tried placing small Christmas cookie cutters around the platter and filling them with crushed candy canes for an extra festive touch that guests loved. You could even serve individual trees in small cupcake liners for grab-and-go treats!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I like to store leftover candy cane trees in an airtight container in the fridge—it keeps the frosting fresh and the cake moist for up to 4 days. Just make sure the container is tight to keep the candy canes from absorbing moisture and losing their crunch.

Freezing

This cake freezes surprisingly well. I usually freeze the whole frosted sheet cake before slicing into trees—wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then foil to protect against freezer burn. When ready to eat, I thaw in the fridge overnight, then decorate with candy canes and peppermint candies fresh to keep everything crisp and pretty.

Reheating

I don’t recommend heating this cake since the frosting is cream cheese based and can melt. But if you want it at room temperature, taking it out of the fridge about 30 minutes before serving brings out the best flavor and texture.

FAQs

Can I use a different pan size for this Holiday Christmas Sheet Cake With Candy Cane Trees Recipe?

While 18x13x1-inch half sheet pan is ideal for this recipe, you can use a 9×13-inch pan if needed but expect thicker cake layers and slightly longer baking time. Just adjust by checking doneness with a toothpick and adding a few minutes as needed.
How do I make the Christmas tree cuts neatly?

Ensure your cake is completely cooled and the frosting is firm but not rock hard. Use a sharp, thin knife or a small metal spatula for cutting and transferring the triangles carefully to avoid breaking.
Can I prepare the cake and frosting a day ahead?

Absolutely! Bake and frost the cake the day before serving, cover tightly, and store in the fridge. Add the candy cane trees and sprinkles just before serving for the freshest look and taste.
What’s the best way to break the candy canes for the tree trunks?

Hold the candy cane straight and gently snap off the curved top, leaving a straight piece about 1.5-2 inches long. This makes the perfect ‘trunk’ that’s easy to insert into the frosting.

Final Thoughts

This Holiday Christmas Sheet Cake With Candy Cane Trees Recipe is one of my favorite festive creations because it combines a tender cake with playful decorating that’s just pure holiday joy. It’s a recipe that’s simple enough to throw together but impressive enough for any holiday party—plus, the candy cane trees make it extra memorable for kids and adults alike. I can’t wait for you to try it and see your family’s reactions—they’re always full of delight and surprise. Happy baking, and may your holidays be merry and sweet!