Chocolate Christmas Cake Recipe
Chocolate Christmas Cake Recipe is a rich, festive dessert made from dark chocolate, butter, eggs, flour, cocoa, dried fruits, nuts, and warm spices. This moist, flavourful cake combines chocolatey depth with fruity and nutty textures, creating a luxurious holiday treat. Topped with creamy buttercream frosting, it becomes visually appealing and indulgent. The recipe brings tradition, sweetness, and celebration together, offering a homemade, impressive dessert that delights family and friends during festive gatherings and special occasions.
Equipment
- 20 cm (8-inch) round cake tin
- Mixing bowls (small and large)
- Electric mixer or whisk
- Spatula
- Sieve for flour and cocoa powder
- Baking parchment
- Saucepan
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
For The Cake:
- 200 g butter
- 200 g dark chocolate chopped
- 200 g light brown sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 250 g plain all purpose flour
- 50 g cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder or ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 2 –3 tbsp milk to adjust batter consistency
- 2 tbsp milk buttermilk, or sour cream
- 1 tsp mixed spices cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, or pre-mixed Christmas spice
- 200 g dried fruits raisins, sultanas, cranberries, cherries, prunes
- 100 g chopped nuts almonds, walnuts, or your choice
For The Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 lb icing sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 –2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 200 g cream cheese or mascarpone
- 2 –4 tbsp double cream or milk/evaporated milk/coffee
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat And Prepare:
- Start by heating your oven to 170°C (340°F). Grease an 8 inch cake pan and line it with parchment paper so your cake doesn’t stick.
Melt The Chocolate And Butter:
- In a small saucepan over low heat, gently melt the butter and dark chocolate together. Stir until smooth, then take it off the heat and let it cool just a bit.
Mix Sugar And Eggs:
- In a large bowl, whisk the brown sugar and eggs together until the mixture looks creamy and pale.
Combine Chocolate With Sugar Egg Mix:
- Slowly fold the melted chocolate and butter into the sugar and eggs, mixing until everything is well combined.
Sift The Dry Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder (or soda), a pinch of salt, and your chosen spices.
Fold In The Dry Ingredients:
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the chocolate mixture using a spatula. Add a splash of milk or sour cream if needed to make a smooth, slightly thick batter.
Add Fruits And Nuts:
- Stir in the dried fruits and chopped nuts evenly throughout the batter.
Bake The Cake:
- Pour the batter into your prepared pan. Bake for 60–75 minutes, checking with a skewer—if it comes out clean, the cake is done. Let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then move it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Make The Buttercream Frosting:
- In a bowl, beat together butter and cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add icing sugar, cocoa powder, a pinch of salt, vanilla, and cream. Beat until the frosting is light, fluffy, and easy to spread.
Frost And Serve:
- Once the cake is completely cooled, spread the frosting evenly over the top and sides. Decorate with extra nuts or dried fruits if you like. Slice and enjoy!