This Ugly Sweater Cake is perfect for all your holiday parties. Start with a box cake mix and then decorate the cake in a variety of ways.
Get my Christmas Cookbook Bundle 75%
This Ugly Christmas Sweater Cake is the perfect cake to take to your Ugly Sweater party. It is a fun twist on your classic holiday cake, but it will sure be a treat with the fun colors and design.
Impress your family this holiday with one of these Christmas Dessert Recipes. You may also love these Christmas Cake Recipes – Christmas Ice Cream Cake, Christmas Tree Cupcakes or Christmas M&M Cookie Cake Recipe.
Table of Contents
Why We Love this Cake
This Ugly Christmas Sweater starts with a store bought box cake and is decorated with fun and festive colors.
If you are heading to a party this Christmas, this quick and easy cake is sure to bring joy to everyone. Design with fun frosting and holiday candy for a memorable treat.
Ingredients
Scroll to the bottom for the recipe card to see the full recipe and ingredients.
Variations Ideas
- Change Cake – Feel free to use any flavor of cake that you prefer. You can make this dessert with a yellow cake, chocolate cake, or a strawberry cake.
- Frosting Colors – You can easily color the frosting your prefer. Do half green and half red. The options are endless.
- Candy – Use different types of candy to decorate the top of the cake.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1 – Bake the cake for 30 minutes or based on the package instructions in a 9X13 baking pan in the oven. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes.
Step 2 – In a large bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer. Mix the powdered sugar into the butter mixture. Then mix in heavy cream and vanilla extract. Beat for approximately until the frosting is a good consistency.
Step 3 – Divide frosting into 3 bowls. Dye one green, one red and leave the other one white.
Step 4 – Spread the green frosting onto the top and the sides of the cake until fully covered.
Step 5 – Place the white frosting in a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Then pipe a V-neck shape at the top of the cake and a thick line down the center of the cake.
Step 6 – Use the red frosting to pipe 2 horizontal lines on both sides of the thick white line in the center of the cake. Use the candies and Christmas sprinkles to decorate each section of the sweater differently to make the cake wacky and unique. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Cool Cake – Let the cake top cool completely before topping with the frosting.
- Pastry Bags – We recommend using pastry bags to decorate the smallest details.
- Frosting Consistency – If your frosting comes out to thin, you may need to add in more powdered sugar.
- Food Coloring – We recommend using gel food coloring for the most vibrant colors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Refrigerate the leftovers, covered, for up to 4-5 days.
Yes, this is the perfect dessert to make ahead of time. I like to bake the cake night before decorating.
More Easy Christmas Dessert Recipes
We love hearing from you. If you make this Ugly Sweater Cake Recipe, please leave us a comment.
Ugly Sweater Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 Box White Cake Mix
- Ingredients to make the cake based on the package instructions.
For the Frosting:
- 1 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter room temperature
- 5 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Clear Vanilla Extract
- 3 Tablespoons Heavy Cream
- Red Gel Food Coloring
- Green Gel Food Coloring
For the Decorations:
- 5 Small Peppermint Candies
- M&Ms
- Miniature Candy Canes
- Christmas Sprinkles
- Gum Drop Candies
- Pull N Peel Twizzlers
- Mini Marshmallows
- Mike and Ike Candies
Instructions
For the Cake:
- Bake the cake based on the package instructions in a 9X13 baking pan.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes.
- Place a cake board or cutting board on top of the pan and carefully invert the cake onto the board.
- Let the cake cool completely before topping with the frosting.
For the Frosting:
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until it’s creamy, light and fluffy with an electric mixer.
- Gradually mix the powdered sugar into the butter mixture ½ cup at a time. Make sure that the powdered sugar is completely mixed in before adding more.
- Turn the mixer speed to low and add in the heavy cream and vanilla extract. Beat for approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute until the frosting is a good consistency.
- Remove approximately ¼ of the icing from the large bowl. Dye the remaining frosting green with the food coloring.
- Separate the frosting removed from the bowl into 2 smaller bowls. Dye one bowl red and leave the other one white.
- Spread the green frosting onto the top and the sides of the cake until fully covered.
- Place the white frosting in a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Then pipe a V-neck shape at the top of the cake and a thick line down the center of the cake.
- Use the red frosting to pipe 2 horizontal lines on both sides of the thick white line in the center of the cake.
- Use the candies and Christmas sprinkles to decorate each section of the sweater differently to make the cake wacky and unique.
- Then the cake is ready to slice, serve and enjoy!