Christmas Cake Recipe

Christmas Cake is a round layered cake, usually a sponge cake, filled with fruits, and frosted with whipped cream. The fluffy sweet cake is loved by all generations in Japan, and it has become an annual custom for the last several decades. Christmas cakes are seen everywhere in Japan during the season, such as at cake shops, supermarkets, and convenience stores. It plays a significant role in Japanese cuisine today, even though it’s not a traditional Japanese sweet.

The origin of Christmas cake in Japan can be traced back to the post-war era. Specifically, during the 1950s to the early 1960s, Christmas cake became a widespread tradition in Japan as part of Christmas celebrations. During this period, Christmas gradually began to permeate Japan as a commercial event. Influenced by American and European cultures, Christmas came to be perceived as a special day to be spent with family and friends. In this context, cakes, in particular, became an indispensable part of celebrations and special occasions, solidifying Christmas cake as an important component in Japanese culture. The earliest Christmas cakes were offered by pastry shops and hotels. Initially luxurious and expensive, they gradually became more accessible to ordinary households.

In the early days, buttercream was commonly used as a topping for Christmas cakes. Buttercream provided a rich and flavorful taste, giving the initial Christmas cakes a luxurious impression. However, as Christmas cake enjoyment spread to ordinary households, preferences in taste and culinary culture began to change. Due to the heavy feel of buttercream, there was an increasing desire for a lighter and fresher taste. Consequently, whipped cream became preferred as the topping for Christmas cakes, replacing buttercream. Whipped cream, with its light and airy texture, complements fruits and sponge cakes well, making it particularly suitable for Christmas cakes like Strawberry Shortcake. Nowadays, whipped cream is widely used in Christmas cakes, and its light flavor has become an essential element on Christmas tables. The Strawberry Shortcake also emerged as a representative form of Christmas cake, with its red and white color scheme evoking a festive Christmas atmosphere.

Today, many fancy cake shops offer various elaborate Christmas cakes, and some people reserve them months ahead. But others prefer simpler and more “traditional” cakes like ours. Many people even opt to bake their own cakes at home and enjoy decorating Christmas cakes as a family event. We flavored the whipped cream with chocolate since that’s one of the most popular flavors in Japan, and you may want to try it. If you prefer a regular whipped cream version, check out our Strawberry Shortcake recipe. Whipped cream cakes are very soft, so it’s crucial to chill them well so they can be sliced without collapsing. We highly recommend baking the cakes a day ahead. Plan well and give yourself enough time to assemble the cake and chill it in the fridge. Instead of pies and loaf cakes, try Japanese Christmas Cake for this holiday. We promise you will like it!