While I love a good chocolate cake, this white chocolate cake might be one of my favorite cakes of all time. It is rich and buttery and covered in a decadent white chocolate ganache.
And because I like to keep things easy, this is a Bundt cake. I kind of love Bundt cakes. You only need one pan, and you can simply pour on your frosting or glaze, or skip it all together if you are a minimalist.
If you love making bundt cakes (or think you need to start!) you’ll want to make sure to have a great bundt cake pan. The only time I don’t love a bundt cake is when it won’t come out of the pan easily. No good. I checked the Cooks Illustrated reviews bundt cake pans and the Nordic Ware Platinum Collection Anniversary Bundt Pan was their top pick. They also liked the Baker’s Secret Non-Stick Fluted Tube Pan. One of their other choices included the Nordic Ware Bundt Bakeware 12 Cup Formed Bundt Pan. I use a non-stick bundt cake pan from Wilton that I’ve been very happy with.
This cake starts from a cake mix, and can be made quickly and easily. I promise you the end result gives no indication whatsoever that a cake mix was involved. If you can’t find white chocolate pudding, you can always go with a vanilla pudding, I truly don’t think you’ll notice much of a difference.
To help spread the white chocolate flavor, I added white chocolate chips to the batter. In order to make them go as far as possible, I use a knife to chop up about half the white chocolate chips, giving you a better chance of getting that white chocolate flavor in each and every bite. This step is optional, but I highly recommend it.
WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE
White Chocolate Cake
Equipment
- Bundt Pan
Ingredients
CAKE
- 1 standard size vanilla cake mix
- 1 package white chocolate pudding - DRY MIX 3.9 - 4 Serving Size, or vanilla
- 1 cup sour cream full fat prefered
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chunks or chips, chopped
GLAZE
- 8 oz of chopped white chocolate the baking bars typically give a thicker glaze than the chips
- 1/3 cup heavy cream half and half can also work, but the glaze will be thinner and more transparent
Instructions
CAKE:
- 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- 2. Combine all ingredients and mix with a mixer until combined. Do not over mix, but make sure all dry ingredients and wet ingredients are well combined.
- 3. Spoon batter into a bundt cake pan that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- 4. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack. Remove from bundt pan and top with powdered sugar or white chocolate glaze if desired.
GLAZE:
- In a large microwave safe bowl (glass works best) combine chopped chocolate and heavy cream. Microwave for 30 seconds, remove from microwave and stir well. Return to microwave for another 15 seconds. Remove from microwave and whisk together until smooth (stirring will help melt chocolate). If needed, heat for an additional 15 seconds, then whisk until smooth. Spoon or pour over cake. Enjoy.
Nutrition
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And if you like this bundt cake, may I suggest my chocolate version…
Belinda says
I follow the direction for the glaze and did my look like the picture what else can I do to improve it
Christi says
Belinda, can you give me more info? If it didn’t look like the picture, what did it look like? That would help me to help you.
KW says
I initially had the same problem. Then I put the glaze in the freezer for a few minutes to make it less runny and more white.
Tj says
I just made this cake. Love the texture and flavor. It’s just a little sweeter than my usual cakes.
Also my glaze was not as thick and white as the picture. It is more of a cream color and thinner
Steff says
Do you mix the cake mix according to the box or only mix the ingredients you have listed?
Christi says
Hi Steff, you do not make the cake according to the package directions, you make it according to this recipe. Hope that helps, this recipe is a favorite of mine!
Bonnie says
Hi. This looks amazing and I would like to make it for my daughter’s cake tasting tomorrow. I was just curious, are you using an instant pudding mix or a cook-and-serve? Thank you.
Christi says
Just an instant pudding, poured in with the ingredients.
Konner says
Hi! I followed the directions for the glaze as well and mine did not look like the picture. It was more of a creamy color and very thin. What could I have done wrong?
Christi says
Hi Konner, the very thin part makes me think that it might have been a bit too hot. It tends to thicken as it cools a bit. White chocolate can also vary by brand, and be a bit picky when worked with. Also if you use half and half vs heavy cream, that will create a thinner glaze. Hopefully it tasted great though!
Maria Clayton says
I will try to make with Christmas decoration for the holidays.
Barb says
Does the cake recipe call for the entire 1 & 1/2 cups of white choc chips?
Christi says
Hi Barb, it does. You could however reduce them, they are just a mix in item so they aren’t critical, but they certainly do a lot for the flavor. Hope that helps!
Misty Pluard says
Is it okay if you use a box cake that might already have some pudding in it to still add the box of pudding
Christi says
Yes, you can use the pudding in the mix cake mixes, but still add the box of pudding. 🙂
Cat says
This looks amazing! I love white chocolate. Would it work as cupcakes? Or too dense and moist?
Christi says
I don’t see why not!
Andi says
I’m confused by the pudding mix. I have Hershey’s instant white chocolate pudding mix, the box says the net weight is 3.56 oz. Can I not use this? I couldn’t find any pudding mixes that were 1 oz and my local Walmart only had the Hershey’s brand.
Christi says
Hi Andi, yes, that works perfectly. I just noticed that the recipe card is for some reasoning adding an “oz” where it doesn’t belong. The 3.9oz was the correct size. The 3.56 will work as well, brands keep shrinking product sizes, but the standard “4 serving” size is perfect.
Anuradha says
I don’t have a bundt pan, can I make it in a 9 inch non stick round cake pan or a 9 by 3 inch springform pan?
Christi says
Hi Anuradha, I haven’t tried it, but my instinct is it will not work out. First, it’s going to be quite a bit more cake batter than a 9″ pan can accommodate and second, bundt cakes tend to be very heavy and moist, and they bake up okay because there really isn’t a center of the cake to need to bake throughly. You could possibly try two 8 or 9 inch round cake pans, but I still can’t speak as to the result as the edges might be a bit dry by the time the centers are done.
Anuradha says
Thanks for your reply. Also the 8 oz chopped white chocolate for the glaze is chocolate chips right? Or is it chocolate bar? I’m new to baking hence this doubt.
Christi says
I prefer to use the bar as it’s a bit easier for melting. Chocolate chips are made to hold their shape, and don’t melt quite as readily.
Anuradha says
Made it for my son’s birthday. It tastes really good & my whole family loved it. The glaze did turn out to be very thin & runny. But I love this recipe & thanks for sharing!
Cindy says
I made this exactly as recipe is written, and baked it in two 8×2” pans; stated temp for 31 minutes. The center came out clean, the cake was moist and delicious. Frosted with a white chocolate buttercream. I will use this recipe again and again!
Shannon says
Thank you! Trying now! ??
Vanessa says
Oh no, I clicked on this recipe thinking that it was a white chocolate cake but it isn’t. You’re free to call your recipe whatever you’d like but it is a bit misleading. A white chocolate cake should have white chocolate in it.
Christi says
I’m a bit confused as there is 1 1/2 cups white chocolate in the cake and 8oz of white chocolate in the glaze. Maybe I’m missing something?
RFisher says
Umm… what about this recipe would make you say that. It has a 1 1/2 c. white chocolate in the actual cake and then it has white chocolate ganache poured on top. ?♀️ I’m so confused!
Nichole Ahlers says
So moist and definitely can taste the white chocolate. I made it for a baby shower! I made white chocolate buttercream to cover!
Debbue says
I made this cake and it’s very easy but my glaze is not white and it’s not as thick as in your pic. Your pic looks more like powered sugar icing. ReguRgless it taste good ! Just wish it had turned out as pretty and white as the pic.
Christi says
Debbue, what kind of white chocolate did you use? And did you use heavy cream with it? I know different white chocolates can have different amounts of ingredients, and the quality can really vary. That would be what I would guess impacted it.
Shannon says
I was very pleased with this recipe! I only made the cake part and not the glaze, because it was for a frosted cake design. It was moist and fluffy! Everyone loved it!
Doreen Elizabeth says
Is that white chocolate “instant” pudding that you are using??
Debi Yakel says
This sounds so good! I’m actually allergic to regular chocolate,but. I can eat white chocolate(if it doesn’t have cocoa butter) And I was all set to make this and realized I didn’t buy the heavy cream. Well off to the store,tomorrow. ?
Mary says
For your cake mix that you use n this recipe was it15.25 ounces or larger? I know that the cake mixes have changed weight.
Christi says
Hi Mary, I just use whatever the standard size cake mix it, it always seems to work out just fine.
Cindy says
I made the cake today, exactly as written using 1 c. of the white chocolate chips. I baked the batter in two 8×2” round pans (making a wedding cake) for 28 minutes @ 350 degrees and they came out perfectly; probe in the center came out clean.
Allyson says
This cake turned out great – very moist even after being cut and staying covered in the fridge for several days. I opted for a swiss meringue butter cream than the glaze, just to keep the sweetness down. Was a rave hit at a hoiday potluck.
Martha says
Going to make this tomorrow and just wanted to make sure it is 1 full cup of oil AND 1/2 cup warm water all for the cake mix. It just seems like a lot of liquid for the cake mix. Can’t wait to try it.
Mel says
Delicious! I did a cream cheese frosting instead of the glaze and it was AMAZING!!!
Melanie says
Can you add blueberries to this cake.
Christi Johnstone says
I haven’t tried it, but I don’t see why not. It may increase the baking time a bit though.
Sandra Bender says
I have a request for white chocolate cake cupcakes with a raspberry filling. How would this recipe do as cupcakes instead of a bundt cake?
Christi Johnstone says
Sandra, I haven’t made it that way so I can’t speak to the result. I’m guessing it would be fine, you’d just need to adapt your baking time and possibly temperature.
Terri says
Can you use a white cake mix instead of vanilla?
Christi Johnstone says
Absolutely!