Description
Festive Christmas crunch cake brings holiday magic to dessert tables with layers of pure indulgence. Crisp textures and rich flavors combine in a delightful celebration you’ll savor through each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 box (15.25 ounces / 432 grams) vanilla cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
Nut and Spice Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Finishing Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with grease and flour coating.
- Create the cake foundation by whisking together vanilla cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, water, and vanilla extract until achieving a smooth, uniform consistency.
- Craft the signature crunch layer by combining melted butter, flour, brown sugar, chopped nuts, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a textured, crumbly mixture.
- Transfer the cake batter into the prepared dish, ensuring an even distribution across the surface.
- Generously scatter the crunch topping over the cake batter, covering the entire landscape with the fragrant, nutty mixture.
- Position the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, monitoring until a toothpick emerges clean when inserted into the center.
- During the cake’s cooling period, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract into a silky, smooth icing.
- Once the cake reaches room temperature, delicately drizzle the vanilla icing across the surface, creating an elegant, sweet finish.
Notes
- Swap cake mix with gluten-free alternative for celiac-friendly version.
- Reduce sugar content by using half brown sugar and half coconut sugar for healthier option.
- Toast nuts beforehand to enhance their nutty flavor and add extra crunch to topping.
- Replace vegetable oil with applesauce or Greek yogurt for lower-fat cake variation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg