4.97 from 29 votes

This easy eggnog cake is the perfect shortcut recipe for a Christmas party or holiday gathering. A rich eggnog sheet cake is covered in sweet cream cheese icing for a knockout flavor combo!

holding a piece of eggnog cake on a serving utensil.

Why You'll Love This Cake

Need a memorable holiday dessert that feeds a ton of people for not a lot of dough? This is your recipe!

This is a great fake-out cake. We're going to jazz up plain old boxed cake mix and make something really special, with the rich taste of eggnog flavor throughout. Then, we're going to top the eggnog cake with a really rich, sweet eggnog icing that complements the bite of the spicy cake so well.

Ingredients

ingredients for eggnog cake.

(See recipe card at the bottom of the post for ingredient measurements.)

For Egg Nog Cake

  • boxed cake mix - I recommend spice cake mix, but obviously that's not what I have in the picture...it wasn't available at my store. If you can't find spice cake mix, it's totally fine to use a gingerbread cake mix. You can even use yellow cake mix and add 2 teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 teaspoon of nutmeg.
  • eggs
  • butter - Make sure your butter is at room temperature so it will be blendable.
  • eggnog

For Eggnog Icing

  • cream cheese - Same as the butter - make sure this is room temperature so it's easy to blend.
  • eggnog
  • powdered sugar

If you love a festive recipe, you'll also love my Cinnamon Roll Cookies or Sausage Balls with Cream Cheese!

How to Make Eggnog Cake

Step 1: Make sheet cake.

putting ingredients for eggnog cake in a glass bowl.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, blend the spice cake mix, eggs, butter, and eggnog. Pour batter into a 9x13" baking pan sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake cake according to package directions. Once baking is finished, allow the cake to cool for 30 minutes to an hour before frosting.

Step 2: Make eggnog cream cheese icing.

pouring powdered sugar in a bowl with a mixer, cream cheese, and eggnog.

While the baked cake is cooling, use a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed to blend cream cheese and â…“ cup eggnog. Slowly add powdered sugar until blended.

Step 3: Frost the Eggnog cake.

frosting the cake with eggnog icing.

Spread the icing mixture on top of the cooled cake.

Leftovers & Storage

Because of the cream cheese icing, this one needs to be stored in the fridge. You can refrigerate this eggnog cake for up to 3-4 days after baking. Once you're ready to enjoy it, you can either eat it cold or allow the cake to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Can I freeze this cake?

Yes, this cake can be frozen! I would leave the icing off if freezing - just place in an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Once you're ready to enjoy it, thaw in the refrigerator and add icing.

Get in the holiday spirit with more than just recipes! I have a great tutorial on how to make easy tulle bows and this fun way to make a DIY tree topper bow.

piece of eggnog cake on a plate with a fork and cake bite on it.

More Expert Tips & Tricks

  • Want to really give your cake a kick? Before baking, mix ¼ cup cinnamon whiskey (like Fireball) into the batter.
  • If you're unsure whether or not your cake has baked through, insert a toothpick in the center after baking; if it comes out clean, you're ready to cool.

I hope this eggnog cake recipe lands a permanent spot in your holiday cake rotation! If you make this one, I'd love to hear about it - tag me on social media (@lambertslately) or review/comment below.

holding a piece of eggnog cake on a serving utensil.

Easy Eggnog Cake

This easy eggnog cake is the perfect shortcut recipe for a Christmas party or holiday gathering. A rich eggnog sheet cake is covered in sweet cream cheese icing for a knockout flavor combo!
4.97 from 29 votes

Affiliate links used.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 13 hours 20 minutes
Cooling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 14 hours 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16
Calories 272 kcal

Ingredients
  

For Eggnog Cake

  • 15.25 oz boxed spice cake mix
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 stick butter room temperature
  • 1 cup eggnog

For Eggnog Icing

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a large mixing bowl, blend the spice cake mix, eggs, butter, and eggnog. Pour batter into a 9x13" baking pan sprayed with cooking spray.
  • Bake cake according to package directions. Once baking is finished, allow cake to cool for 30 minutes to an hour before frosting.
  • While the baked cake is cooling, use a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed to blend cream cheese and â…“ cup eggnog. Slowly add powdered sugar until blended.
  • Spread icing on top of the cooled cake.

Notes

    • Want to really give your cake a kick? Before baking, mix ¼ cup cinnamon whiskey (like Fireball) into the batter.
    • If you're unsure whether or not your cake has baked through, insert a toothpick in the center after baking; if it comes out clean, you're ready to cool.
    • This cake can be frozen. I would leave the icing off if freezing - just place in an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Once you're ready to enjoy it, thaw in the refrigerator and add icing.
  •  

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 272kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 5gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 346mgPotassium: 180mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 273IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 109mgIron: 1mg
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4 Comments

  1. Sandra L Garth says:

    5 stars
    My jeans are daring me to make this yummy cake and my willpower is saying, "go for it!"

  2. Nina Lewis says:

    5 stars
    I love eggnog, too! So, this cake is on my must make SOON list! Thanks for sharing at Party in Your PJs link party!

  3. It sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing at Sew It Cook It Craft It. You're one of my features today!

    1. Thanks so much for your feature!