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Christmas Sheet Cake

This Christmas Sheet Cake is a soft, fluffy vanilla cake topped with creamy buttercream and decorated with festive red, green, and white sprinkles. Perfect for holiday gatherings, potlucks, or classroom parties, this cake is easy to make and guaranteed to bring holiday cheer!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Christmas Sheet Cake
Servings: 24
Calories: 310kcal
Author: Jill Bakes

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ½ cup sour cream for extra moisture

For the Frosting:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 –3 tbsp milk or cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • Red green, and white holiday sprinkles or crushed peppermint

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Pan:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Grease and flour a 9x13-inch sheet cake pan or line with parchment paper.

Make the Cake Batter:

  • In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • In a separate large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
  • Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.

Mix in sour cream.

  • Add flour mixture alternately with milk, starting and ending with flour, until just combined.

Bake the Cake:

  • Pour batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
  • Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Let cool completely before frosting.

Make the Frosting:

  • Beat butter until creamy.
  • Gradually add powdered sugar, beating well after each addition.
  • Add vanilla, salt, and 2 tbsp milk. Beat until fluffy, adding more milk as needed for spreading consistency.

Decorate:

  • Spread frosting evenly over the cooled cake.
  • Sprinkle generously with holiday sprinkles or crushed candy canes.

Notes

  • 🎨 Color It: Tint the frosting red or green using food coloring for an extra festive look.
  • ❄️ Make Ahead: Cake can be baked a day in advance and frosted just before serving.
  • 🧊 Storage: Store covered at room temperature for 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • 🍫 Optional Add-Ins: Mini chocolate chips or white chocolate chunks make a delicious addition to the batter.