Dessert

Christmas Chaos Cake Recipe

Bymia larkspur November 18, 2025November 18, 2025

Introduction

Christmas Chaos Cake is a festive and flavorful dessert that combines a moist cake base with tangy cranberry sauce and a creamy swirl of sweetened cream cheese. It’s perfect for holiday gatherings and surprisingly simple to prepare.

The image shows a clear rectangular glass dish filled with a creamy beige batter that has swirls of red jam mixed throughout, creating a marbled effect. The top layer is smooth with glossy, syrupy streaks of jam curling and blending into the thick batter, giving a textured and slightly shiny look. Bits of chopped nuts are visible along the edges under the batter, adding a crunchy detail to the base layer. The dish rests on a white marbled surface with a green and white striped cloth partially visible beside it. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups pecans, roughly chopped
1 (15.25 oz) box white or yellow cake mix
1 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
3/4 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread the chopped pecans evenly across the bottom of the dish.
Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Stir until the batter is smooth, then pour it over the pecans in the baking dish.
Step 3: In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese, softened butter, and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually mix in the powdered sugar until well combined to create a creamy frosting mixture.
Step 4: Drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture and the cranberry sauce over the cake batter. Use a knife or skewer to lightly swirl them into the batter to create a marbled effect.
Step 5: Bake the cake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean of cake batter.
Step 6: Allow the cake to cool for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors set.

Tips & Variations

For added texture, toast the pecans lightly before spreading them in the pan to enhance their flavor.
You can substitute the cranberry sauce with raspberry or cherry preserves for a different fruity twist.
If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the powdered sugar in the cream cheese mixture by 1/2 cup.

Storage

Store the cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Before serving, bring it to room temperature or warm slightly for a few seconds in the microwave to soften the cream cheese swirl.

How to Serve

The image shows a close-up of a square piece of cake on a white plate. The cake has three layers: the bottom layer is a dark golden crust with a slightly crumbly texture; the middle layer is a thick, deep red fruit filling that looks moist and glossy; the top layer is a thick, light golden sponge cake with a soft and airy texture, showing small holes and a slightly browned surface. The cake is placed on a white marbled surface with a blurred background, focusing on the rich, soft texture of the slice. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of nut instead of pecans?

Yes, walnuts or almonds work well as substitutes and provide a similar crunchy texture.

Is it necessary to swirl the cream cheese and cranberry sauce into the batter?

Swirling helps distribute the flavors evenly throughout the cake and creates a beautiful marbled look, but you can also spread them on top after baking if you prefer.