Description
Festive Christmas Wreath Cake brings holiday cheer with its elegant design and delightful flavors. Guests will marvel at this centerpiece that combines seasonal charm and delicious bakery artistry.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Base:
- 2 cups (480 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups (250 g) sugar
- 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup (240 ml) sour cream
Leavening and Seasoning:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Assemble dry ingredients by sifting flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium mixing vessel, ensuring even distribution and eliminating potential lumps.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, transform butter and sugar into a creamy, aerated mixture using an electric mixer, beating until the texture becomes pale and voluminous.
- Incorporate eggs individually into the butter mixture, thoroughly blending after each addition to maintain a smooth, cohesive batter. Introduce vanilla extract for enhanced flavor complexity.
- Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, alternating with sour cream, beginning and concluding with the flour combination. Mix delicately to prevent overworking the batter.
- Transfer the velvety batter into a prepared bundt or round cake pan, carefully smoothing the surface to ensure even distribution and an aesthetically pleasing final presentation.
- Position the pan in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C), allowing the cake to bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick emerges clean when inserted into the center.
- Allow the freshly baked cake to rest in the pan for 10 minutes, then gracefully transfer to a wire cooling rack, permitting complete temperature equalization.
- Craft a luxurious glaze by whisking powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until achieving a silky, pourable consistency, adjusting liquid volumes as needed.
- Once the cake has thoroughly cooled, elegantly drizzle the glaze across the surface, encouraging delicate cascades along the cake’s contours.
- Artfully arrange fresh rosemary sprigs and vibrant cranberries to create a wreath-like design atop the glazed cake, then delicately dust with a whisper of powdered sugar for a festive finale.
Notes
- Precision matters when measuring ingredients for a consistent, fluffy cake texture that will impress your guests.
- Creaming butter and sugar thoroughly creates tiny air pockets, ensuring a light and tender crumb that melts in your mouth.
- Always check cake doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean with just a few moist crumbs, preventing dry or undercooked areas.
- Cooling the cake completely before glazing prevents the icing from sliding off and helps create a beautiful, professional-looking finish.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 29 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg