Easy Vanilla Snowflake Cake Recipe

Capture festive magic with this easy vanilla snowflake cake. A tender, oil-based vanilla sponge baked into demo-friendly layers and adorned in wintery white buttercream, decorated with snowflakes for a Snowflake Christmas cake design that’s elegant, effortless, and a real holiday showstopper.

A vanilla snowflake cake brings some magic to your holiday celebrations. This light and fluffy cake is frosted with a cloud-like vanilla buttercream and decorated with edible glitter snowflakes, giving it a dreamy, wintery vibe. Perfect for impressing guests!

Recipe Overview:

Servings: 12 Generous slices
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Calories: 430 kcal per slice

Nutrition Information:

Ingredients:

For the Cake Layers (Oil-Based Sponge)

• 2¼ cups (280 g) all-purpose flour (or cake flour for lighter crumb)
• 1½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder + ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¾ cup (170 ml) vegetable oil
• ½ cup (120 g) sour cream or Greek yogurt (for moist crumb)
• 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk or milk + 1 tsp vinegar
• 3 large room-temp eggs
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• Optional: pinch of almond extract for depth

Snowflake Decoration

• White buttercream (see below)
• Snowflake stencil or template
• Extra-thin layer of buttercream or white chocolate for stenciling

For Frosting

• 2 cups (454 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 6 cups (720 g) powdered sugar, sifted
• ¼–½ cup (60–120 ml) heavy cream or milk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

For Garnish (optional)

• Edible glitter or sanding sugar for frosty sparkle

7-Step Instructions

1. Preheat & Prepare: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line three 8‑inch cake pans with parchment and use cake strips if available.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt.
3. Add Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk oil, sour cream, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
4. Combine: Fold the wet into dry until just incorporated—don’t overmix to keep the crumb tender.
5. Bake: Divide evenly and bake ~25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Frost: When cooled, cream butter for 2–3 minutes, then gradually mix in powdered sugar and cream to fluffy consistency. Divide half for stencil use if needed.
7. Decorate: Crumb coat the cake, chill briefly, then frost smoothly. Using a stencil, apply snowflake patterns with thin buttercream or melted white chocolate. Finish with a light sprinkle of edible glitter.

Recipe Science & Notes

• “What is the secret ingredient for cake?” A touch of oil and sour cream/buttermilk keeps this cake exceptionally moist—a common “secret” in tender cakes.¹John Kanell. (2020). Snowflake Cake. Preppy Kitchen. https://preppykitchen.com/snowflake-cake/
• How to make your cake soft and fluffy:
  • Use room-temp eggs for better air incorporation.
  • Properly cream butter or mix oil-based batters gently to preserve aeration.
  • Sift dry ingredients and fold gently to retain lightness.²La Cusina Italiana. (2020). 7 Rules for Making a Soft and Fluffy Cake. La Cusina Italiana. https://www.lacucinaitaliana.com/italian-food/hacks/7-rules-for-making-a-soft-and-fluffy-cake.

Vanilla Snowflake Cake Variations

• Snowflake Cake Chinese / Costco / Asian: Adapt portions to single-tier round or large slab style—keep decoration snowflake themed, but simplify layout for mass production or buffet presentation.
• Old fashioned vanilla snowflake cake: Swap oil for softened butter & cream sugar for a richer, traditional flavor.
• Snowflake Cake Yuki (Japanese-style): Layer thin sponge with whipped cream and use marshmallow snowflake toppers.
• Snowflake Cake nougat: Add crumbled nougat between layers for textured sweetness.
• Snowflake Cake strawberry: Fill with strawberry preserves between layers for fruity brightness.

Tips:
– For a richer flavor, use vanilla bean paste instead of extract.
– Ensure cakes are completely cool before frosting to avoid melting!

List of Sources

• 1
  John Kanell. (2020). Snowflake Cake. Preppy Kitchen. https://preppykitchen.com/snowflake-cake/
• 2
  La Cusina Italiana. (2020). 7 Rules for Making a Soft and Fluffy Cake. La Cusina Italiana. https://www.lacucinaitaliana.com/italian-food/hacks/7-rules-for-making-a-soft-and-fluffy-cake.