Description

A festive and flavorful Nativity Cake perfect for holiday celebrations, featuring a moist spiced cake filled with dates and nuts, topped with nativity-themed decorations.

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground ginger

Wet Ingredients:

¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup light brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup buttermilk
½ cup sour cream

Additional:

1 cup chopped dates
½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
nativity-themed cake toppers or decorations

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan or prepare a shaped nativity mold if using.
Mix dry ingredients: Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger in a medium bowl.
Cream butter and sugars: In a large bowl, cream the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
Combine wet and dry: Mix in sour cream and buttermilk. Gradually add dry ingredients, folding in dates and nuts if using.
Bake: Pour batter into the pan and bake for 40-45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool and decorate: Let the cake cool before decorating with nativity-themed toppers, powdered sugar, or glaze.

Notes

You can substitute dried figs or raisins for the dates.
For a festive touch, top with a lemon glaze or powdered sugar before adding nativity figures.