Easy Eggnog Cake recipe made with cake mix and pudding mix. The perfect Christmas cake that is quick and easy to make, paired with a delicious eggnog glaze, and sure to be a holiday party favorite!
Eggnog Cake with Eggnog Glaze Recipe
This holiday season is all about eggnog in our house! I have been on a mission to use the 2 Costco-size containers of eggnog I bought in as many eggnog recipes as possible.
I am adding eggnog flavoring to all of our holiday favorites. My husband keeps laughing because of the new assortment of eggnog recipes ready for him to taste test every day he comes home from work.
Does the holiday season always sneak up on you? The year I posted this recipe, I remember looking up from working and realizing it was already Christmas week. EEK!
Thankfully, we mailed out all of our holiday gifts crazy early this year so we would know we could check that box off our lists. We even sent a batch of gifts a couple of days after Thanksgiving. When I said we mailed them early, we did just that!
I wanted to make sure that everyone had their gift and that there were no shipping issues plus, it made it easier to play in the kitchen and create eight zillion eggnog recipes since I didn't have to stress about shopping.
I may head out in the next day or two to visit some of my favorite Spokane boutique home goods stores for new holiday accessories for next year's recipes.
This eggnog Bundt cake is my new favorite dessert for holiday parties.
Ingredients
Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients for making an epic Eggnog Cake! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.
- Vanilla Cake Mix
- Vanilla Instant Pudding
- Eggnog
- Vegetable Oil
- Large Eggs
- Nutmeg
- Water
- Vanilla Extract
Cake Mix - If you don't have a vanilla cake mix you can use a yellow cake mix or white cake mix. Go crazy and make a chocolate eggnog cake! The skies the limit on flavor combinations.
I love using a cake mix to make this recipe super easy! You don't have to measure out any baking powder, salt, all purpose flour, cinnamon, or any ingredients. Just cut open the cake mix bag and you are ready to go.
Pudding - this cake would be delicious with a white chocolate pudding mix if you don't have vanilla.
Optional - Rum Extract, you can add in a bit of rum extract to bring more flavor to the cake.
Eggnog Frosting Ingredients
- Powdered Sugar
- Butter
- Vanilla
- Eggnog
Equipment Needed
- Hand Mixer/Stand Mixer: You can mix this with either a manual hand mixer or your stand mixer.
- Large Mixing Bowl: We are big fans of this glass batter bowl with a handle. It makes it easy to mix ingredients and keeps the mixing bowl steady on the counter.
- Medium Bowl - for the eggnog icing
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Measuring Cups, Tablespoons, Teaspoons
- Bundt Cake Pan: I use this Analon Bundt Pan and love it! You can also make this in regular cake pans.
How to make Eggnog Cake with Cake Mix
I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.
Don't forget to pre-heat the oven.
Step 1 - Add all of the cake ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
Step 2 - Mix cake ingredients with a hand mixer or you can do it by hand.
I love using the hand mixer to make it quick and easy to make this cake. You can also use the paddle attachment for your stand mixture.
Make sure to use a spatula and scrape the sides and the bottom of the mixing bowl a few times to get all of the dry ingredients.
Step 3 - Pour eggnog cake batter mixture into a greased Bundt pan.
Bake for 40-45 minutes. Check your cake around 40 minutes to see how dark the edges are.
Step 4 - Test to make sure the egg nog cake is done with a long toothpick or cake tester. Make sure to insert in the center of the cake.
Allow the cake to cool for 10-12 minutes in the pan before turning it onto a cooling rack.
How to make Eggnog Glaze
Step 1- Add softened butter, vanilla, and eggnog to a mixing bowl and whisk together.
Step 2 - Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until you get the consistency you want.
Step 3- Make sure to use a spatula or the whisk to get all of the powdered sugar off the side and bottom of the bowl.
Pour eggnog glaze over the warm eggnog cake and allow it to fall down the sides.
You can do this while the cake is on a wire rack on top of a jelly roll pan or place the cake on a cake platter and allow the glaze to pool around the cake.
We tend to do it while the cake is on the platter so guests can scoop extra glaze from the middle and smear it on their slice of cake.
For a thicker glaze add in additional powdered sugar until it is nice and thick.
Preparation and Storage
Make Ahead: For a make-ahead cake, make your Eggnog Cake and icing beforehand and ice it the day after.
Storage: You’ll want to keep this cake in the fridge when not enjoying it due to the dairy ingredients it contains. Refrigerated in an airtight container, it will remain good for about five days.
This can be served chilled or at room temperature.
Freezing/How to Freeze: Eggnog Cake freezes for up to three months. Wrap it snugly in aluminum foil or plastic to prevent freezer burn. You may even place leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe container to double the protection.
How to Reheat: Thaw frozen leftover Eggnog Cake overnight in the fridge or for a few hours on your kitchen countertop to preserve the glaze.
Recipe Variations
Substitutions:
You can use a yellow or white cake mix if you don't have a vanilla cake mix. Go crazy and make a chocolate eggnog cake! The sky is the limit on flavor combinations.
If you don't have vanilla, this cake would be delicious with a white chocolate pudding mix.
You can also add a bit of rum extract to bring more flavor to the cake.
Vegetarian + Vegan Options: Vegetarians and vegans must make a few swaps to make this Eggnog Cake recipe plant-based, as eggnog contains eggs and some storebought instant puddings may contain gelatin, an animal by-product. In both cases, use a vegan cake mix, instant pudding mix, and an alternative eggnog such as almond milk eggnog.
Gluten-Free: Eggnog is typically gluten-safe, but some brands at the grocery store may contain additives that make their gluten-free status murky. Use a cake mix, instant pudding mix, and eggnog labeled gluten-free, to be certain.
Alcohol-Free: We do not add any alcohol to this recipe. You could mix bourbon or whiskey into the glaze to make it boozy.
Smaller Serving Size: Distribute the batter across mini Bundt cake pans for pint-sized eggnog cakes.
Larger Group/More Servings: The written recipe uses one box of cake mix and one instant vanilla pudding packet to yield one 16-serving cake, so scale it up by the number of cakes you wish to make if you want more servings.
Sugar-Free: As with vegetarian and vegan eaters, sugar-free eaters must make some swaps to make this sweet dessert as low-sugar as possible. While the cake mix and instant vanilla pudding are easy to come by at the grocery store, we haven’t seen sugar-free eggnog. Here’s a recipe for sugar-free eggnog.
Tips for the Best Eggnog Cake
- Want a thicker glaze? Add more powdered sugar until it is nice and thick.
- You can leave your Eggnog Cake plain or decorate it with sugared cranberries for holiday pizzazz.
- Make it into an eggnog layered cake by baking it in smaller cake pans and stacking the layers with eggnog icing in between.
- Printable recipe card instructions are below.
- Nutrition information, including calories, protein, calcium, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin c, potassium, cholesterol, sodium, trans fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and more, will vary depending on the products used.
What to Serve with Eggnog Cake
A classic holiday beverage meets the traditional Bundt cake in this sweet seasonal delight. Serve it for any wintertime feast, from breakfast to dinner and afterward.
Sides: Cheddar Bay Sausage Biscuits, Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Smokies, Cheesy Green Beans, Apple Stuffing, Sausage Breakfast Biscuit Cups, Cranberry Salsa, Pineapple Stuffing
Main Dishes: Easy German Apple Pancake, Broccoli Casserole, Sweet Potato Casserole with Candied Yams, Crock Pot Ham, CrockPot Coke Glazed Ham, Bourbon Baked Ham
Desserts: 4 Ingredient Christmas Crack, Sugared Cranberries, Easy Holiday Reindeer Chow, Grinch Bark, Watergate Salad, Cherry Cheesecake Dip, Hot Chocolate Dip
Drinks: Broken Down Golf Cart Shot, Baileys Hot Chocolate, Grinch Jello Shots, Fireball Jello Shots, Peppermint Patty Shot, Cranberry Mimosa, Three Wise Men Shot, Polar Bear Shot
When to Serve
- Holiday Gathering
- Christmas Party
- Holiday Brunch
- Christmas Breakfast
Great Eggnog Recipes
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Eggnog Cake with an Eggnog Glaze
Ingredients
Eggnog Cake
- 1 French vanilla cake mix
- 3 oz instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 cup eggnog
- 4 Eggs
- ⅓ cup Vegetable Oil
- 1-2 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- ½ cup Water
- 1-2 tsp Vanilla Extract
Eggnog Glaze
- 3-4 cups Confectioners Powdered Sugar
- 4 tbs Butter room temperature, softened
- 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 6-8 Tablespoon eggnog
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Eggnog Cake
- Combine dry cake mix, dry pudding mix, eggnog, eggs, vegetable oil, nutmeg, water, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Mix together until fully mixed.
- Pour eggnog cake batter into a Bundt pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes
- Turn cake onto a wire rack and allow to cool. Cover with eggnog glaze or place on a cake stand and cover with glaze.
Eggnog Glaze
- Combine eggnog, butter, and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Whisk together.
- Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until you achieve the consistency you are looking for.
Kitchen Tools
- Hand Mixer
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Bundt Pan
Nutrition
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