Make your holidays merrier with this easy eggnog flavored cake perfect for entertaining.
2 weeks! That’s it! 2 weeks until Christmas and I’m on the verge of freaking out a bit. I can check some things off my list, for sure, but there are several other “to-dos” just lingering over me.
It doesn’t help that on top of the chaos of preparing for the perfect Christmas, that there are an incredible amount of kids’ activities over the next 2 weeks. We are juggling 6 basketball games a week right now. Add to that, several basketball practices, dance classes and winter performances, chorus concerts, band concerts, holiday parties, and gift exchanges, and it is no wonder that I have bags under my eyes. ‘Tis the season, I suppose. 
I wouldn’t trade any of it, but I’m always trying to find ways to make things a little easier on myself this season. 
Therein lies the beauty of a boxed cake mix. Are you with me still? 
The holidays wouldn’t be the holidays without baking, but honestly, I just don’t have time to bake from scratch. That is why boxed cake mixes are my favorite kitchen ingredient this time of year.
This beautiful Spiked Eggnog Cake, a classic dessert pulled from my mom’s recipe collection, starts with a cake mix, but is transformed into something really special with the addition of rum, eggnog, and nutmeg. 
Tangy cream cheese based frosting spiked with extra eggnog and rum adds more holiday flavor to the cake. 
It’s spread thin between the cake layers and then coats the cake “naked style” to give it a look fit for any occasion. 
Topping it with sweet little rosemary trees, a crispy cake “dirt trail,” and a dusting of snow-like powdered sugar gives it a festive wintry flair.
It’s quick and easy to whip up and is ultra moist and rich in every way.
It tastes like I’ve made it from scratch and it certainly looks like I’ve decorated it from scratch, uneven icing layers and all. (Duff may not be proud, but this disappears so quickly that my guests never even notice.) 
It’s a delicious way to enjoy the classic holiday flavor of eggnog and a scrumptious addition to your dessert table.
*I wanted to be adventurous here and create my own design, but my mom’s original recipe called for baking this in a rectangular baking dish. She also added yellow food coloring to the icing to mimic the eggnog color and then topped it with green-dyed coconut flakes and bright red cherries. It was certainly festive!
For another simple way to fancy up a boxed cake mix, try my Easy and Rustic Lemon Rosemary Cake Mix Cookies.
Do you use cake mixes as a timesaver when baking?
Make your holidays merrier with this easy eggnog flavored cake perfect for entertaining.
- 1 box golden butter cake mix
- 1 cup eggnog
- 1/4 cup butter room temperature
- 3 eggs
- 2 tbsp rum
- 1 tsp rum extract
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1 lb confectioners sugar
- 2 tsp eggnog
- 1 tsp rum
- 3 large rosemary sprigs
- baked cake crumbles (see instructions)
- confectioners (powdered) sugar
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
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Combine all ingredients in a bowl and beat at medium speed for 3 minutes.
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Pour into 2 greased and floured 8 inch round pans.
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Bake for 23-25 minutes. Cool.
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Carefully remove both cakes from the pan. With a sharp knife, level the tops of the cake by cutting away any uneven parts.
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Place cake cuts on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake until golden and crisp. Let cool and then add the pieces to a food processor until crumbled. Set aside.
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Carefully cut the 2 cakes across in half so you have 4 round pieces.
(if one cake is thicker than the other, just cut that one to get 3 round pieces)
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Combine all ingredients in a bowl and beat at medium speed until smooth.
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Add a layer of thin frosting between each cake layer and stack.
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Add the frosting "naked style" to the entire cake.
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Place 3 rosemary sprigs upside down on cake. Sprinkle the cake crumbs over the top and dust it with the powered sugar.
This cake can be made in any pan you desire. Just be sure to check your cooking time.
*I wanted to be adventurous here and create my own design, but my mom's original recipe called for baking this in a rectangular baking dish. She also added yellow food coloring to the icing to mimic the eggnog color and then topped it with green-dyed coconut flakes and bright red cherries. It was certainly festive!
This looks fabulous!
How can / should I adjust the recipe to make a Bundt cake (I’ll drizzle the delish eggnog icing)?
Thanks for the help?
I’ve never tried a Bundt version so I would just make sure you keep an eye on it while baking. In my experience, because these pans are deeper, they take more time to bake. Sounds like it will be a lovely dessert!
What?!?! This looks amazing! Incredible! I want to come live in your kitchen. LOL! I’ll clean your dishes for food.
Hi, Jane! Thanks for the smile! Clean? Then you are always welcome! lol!
I love everything that is eggnog flavored. This cake looks excellent.
Thanks, Kimmy!
This is EVERYTHING! Who wouldn’t love a spiked eggnog cake? Perfect for the Holidays…and I absolutely love your pictures!
You’re so sweet, Cayla! Thank you!
this cake looks so delicious. i am totally using this recipe for our annual friendsmas! thank you!
How fun! Hope your friends enjoy it!
YUM! That looks amazing! I was never a fan of egg nog growing up, but my tastes have changed. 🙂
I was the same way. Never cared for it as a child but now I love sipping on it and adding it to recipes this time of year.
Girl, I love dressing up box mixes! Your cake is so pretty, I’d love a piece of it right now to be honest.
Thanks, Leslie! I’d share but we ate it all. lol.
I pinned this, it looks so good. I love that it starts with a boxed cake mix!
Love the ease of it! Thanks for checking it out!
I’ve never been a big eggnog person but this could convert me!
I didn’t used to be a fan either, but have grown to love it…a little too much. lol.
I didn’t used to be a big fan but now I enjoy it… a little too much! Lol
Oh yum! This sounds so good.
<3
I am going to make this next week for sure.
That’s awesome! Enjoy!
This looks absolutely amazing and I’m sure it tastes even better! Your photos look beautiful!
Thanks so much, Lara!
This simple yet elegant cake sounds delicious. Love how you used the rosemary for trees. I would never have thought of this idea.
Thanks, Candy! I love it elegance too, yet takes just minutes to whip up.
Love that eggnog is in both the cake and that frosting. Can’t wait to try this! Thank you.
I hope you love it like we do!
This looks SO amazing! And your pictures are just gorgeous!! I also appreciate that you added a link directly to the recipe so the next time I come back to make it I can skip right to the recipe since I have already read the post! That is SO helpful!!
Thank you, Diane! And thanks for letting me know the link is helpful!
Looks amazing and I bet tastes that way too! Definitely will try it!
Thanks! I love this cake this time of year!
This looks so yummy. You share such creative recipes.
Thank you, Ashley! So nice of you to say!