Christmas Tree Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
• You have to bake 3 cakes, but bake them one at a time, mixing up the batter only when you're ready to bake. For 2 of the cakes, tint the batter green. For the third cake, tint the batter red. Bake each cake until the center springs back when lightly touched, about 45 minutes.
• Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert the cake onto a wire rack to cool. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes so the cake becomes firm.
• Carve and level the cakes: Using plates, bowls, glasses or round cookie cutters to trace around, cut the following: From the two green cakes, cut out 4 rounds: 8 inch, 6 inch, 4 inch, and 2 inch. Then from the red cake, cut out 4 rounds: 7 inch, 5 inch, 3 inch, and 1 inch. Take the round cookie cutter and cut a hole through the centers of the 4 inch, 5 inch, 6 inch, and 7 inch layers. (Save all the scraps for making Christmas-colored cake pop dough!)
• Make the buttercream frosting. Measure out 1 cup and tint it red. Tint the rest dark green.
• Spread a little green frosting on the cake board, lay down the 8 inch green cake layer, and spread a layer of frosting on top. Add the 7 inch red layer and repeat, taking care not to frost the inside edges of the center hole. Continue stacking and frosting gradually smaller cake layers until you reach the 4 inch layer.
• Take the 3 cups of candy and fill the center core of the tree, pressing down a little to compact the candy. Frost the top of the 4 inch layer and continue stacking and frosting until all the layers are stacked.
• Once stacked, take a serrated knife and gently carve away the sharp edges of the layers to form a tall cone shape. Apply a very thin "crumb coat" of frosting all over the outside of the cake. Set in the fridge for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the Christmas lights. Melt the Candy Melts. Cut the colored Tic Tac candies in half crosswise. Use a toothpick dipped in the melted candy to attach a Tic Tac to the end of a peanut M and M of the same color (the M and M is the bulb and the Tic Tac is the base). You will need about 40 of these.
• To make the star for the top of the tree, trace around a star cookie cutter onto parchment. Pipe an outline of white melted candy, then fill in the shape. Place a lollipop stick in the center and cover with more melted candy. Sprinkle with sanding sugar and let set at room temperature.
• Place the green frosting into a piping bag fitted with a number 21 open star tip. Starting at the top of the cake, pipe 3/4 inch long strands of frosting in neat rows around the entire cake, like layers of pine branches on a Christmas tree.
• Once the cake is covered, place the red frosting into a piping bag fitted with a number 21 piping tip and pipe draping lines of "tinsel" around the cake. Attach the colored M and M lights directly to the red frosting. Work quickly here, as the frosting will start to form a crust, which can make attaching the decorations difficult.
• Take the star and flip it over. Coat the back with white melted candy and sprinkle with sanding sugar. Allow to set. Insert the lollipop stick into the center of the top of the tree.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8 x 3 inch round cake pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a round of parchment paper.
• In a stand mixer, with the whisk or paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar, and eggs on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Using the tip of a sharp knife, scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the mixer bowl. Add the oil to the creamed mixture and combine.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Add the flour mixture and milk to the creamed mixture and beat on high speed until the flour is completely mixed, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Scrape the batter into the pan and use an offset spatula to smooth the top.
• Bake until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes. Check after 45 minutes, and if the top is browning too much, tent with foil. Cool the cake in the pan for 15 minutes, then run a metal spatula around the edge of the cake and invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• In a stand mixer with the whisk or paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed for at least 5 minutes, until the butter has lightened in color and is thoroughly whipped. Using the tip of a sharp knife, scrape the vanilla seeds into the butter and beat to incorporate.
• Add 1 cup of the sugar and begin mixing on low speed to combine, then beat on high speed for about 2 minutes. Repeat this process 1 cup at a time until all the sugar has been added. Add milk a dash at a time if the mixture becomes too thick or dry. Scrape down the sides as needed and make sure no sugar is visible.
• The frosting will last for 1 month in the freezer, 2 weeks in the fridge, and 3 days at room temperature.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the cookie dough and all-purpose flour using a stand mixer.
• Roll out the dough between two sheets of parchment until it is about 1/4-inch thick.
• Cut the shape of a Christmas tree and transfer the tree to a baking sheet. Combine the remaining scraps of dough and roll out to the same thickness as before. Cut the rolled scraps with assorted cookie cutters, these will be used as ornaments to decorate your tree. Place on a separate baking sheet. Bake the tree for 16 to 18 minutes and the smaller decorations for 12 minutes. Let cool completely and decorate as you wish.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cut 1-inch holes out of the bottom of a large inverted foil roasting pan in neat rows, leaving 1 to 2 inches in between the holes. Invert the pan and place paper cooler cups in the holes to hold them upright during baking.
• Sift together the 3 cups sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Transfer to a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or use a hand mixer) and blend briefly. Whisk together the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl. Add to the dry ingredients and mix at low speed for 5 minutes. Gradually add the hot water, mixing at low speed just until combined. The batter will be quite thin.
• Pour the batter into the cups. Bake until a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean (a few crumbs are okay) and the center feels firm to the touch, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in the pan. Chill for 2 hours then peel off the paper being careful not to tear off the tip of the peak.
• Place cakes on a rack over a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and with a fork drizzle both colors of chocolate then stick on M & M's and silver dragee to look like ornaments on a little Xmas tree.

Steps:

• First decorate the top of the cake. With the black sparkle gel, pipe three arcs across the top of the cake (These are the wires.) Draw tiny rectangles hanging off each arc, spaced about 1/2 inch apart. (These are the "sockets.")
• Snip the candies in half with kitchen shears. You'll be using the rounded ends; save the other ends for another use (or eat them!). Place each rounded end beneath a rectangle, so the flat cut side attaches to the flat side of the rectangle. (These are the lights.)
• Next decorate the sides of the cake. Pipe wide swags around the circumference, with their ends connected. Pipe rectangle sockets hanging off the wire, just as you did on top of cake. Place candy lights under the sockets.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees, with rack in the lower third of oven. Sift together flour and 3/4 cup sugar 4 times.
• Beat egg whites and warm water with a mixer on low speed until foamy, about 3 minutes. Add cream of tartar, vanilla, salt, and coconut extract. Raise speed to medium, and beat until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. With machine running, add remaining 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Raise speed to high, and beat until peaks are stiff and glossy, but not dry, about 2 minutes.
• Working in 3 batches, sift flour mixture over egg-white mixture, gently folding in each addition with a rubber spatula, being careful not to deflate egg whites.
• Slowly pour batter into a 10-inch angel food cake pan. Gently run a knife through center of batter to release any air bubbles, and smooth using an offset spatula. Bake until cake is golden brown and springs back when touched, 40 to 45 minutes.
• Invert pan onto a wire rack. Let cake cool in pan, about 1 hour. Carefully run a knife around sides of cake to loosen, and turn out onto a large plate or cake stand.
• Pour coconut glaze onto cake, and spread evenly using an offset spatula to cover completely. Gently press coconut onto cake. Let stand until set, about 1 hour. Garnish with lollipops.

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Spray 2 9 x 13-inch rimmed baking sheets with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper.
• in a large bowl, use an electric hand mixer on medium speed to cream together the butter, sugar, baking powder, salt, vanilla, and almond extract until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• With the mixer running on medium speed, add the egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating between each addition until fully incorporated.
• Add a third of the flour and continue mixing until just incorporated. In a small bowl, combine the milk and rum, if using. Add half of the milk mixture to the batter and mix until nearly combined. Continue alternating additions of the flour and milk, using a rubber spatula to finish bringing the batter together.
• Divide the batter between the prepared baking sheets, spreading evenly all the way to the edges. Bake for 10 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through, until the cakes are pale golden brown and the edges begin to pull from the sides of the pans. Remove from the oven and let cool.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Fill a large pot with 1 inch of water. Set a large heat-safe bowl over the pot, making sure the bottom is not touching the water. Add the egg whites, sugar, and salt to the bowl and whisk together until homogenous. Turn the heat to medium and continue whisking until the mixture thickens. When you lift the whisk, the mixture should fall into the bowl in ribbons that hold their shape for a moment before disappearing.
• Remove the bowl from the heat and place on a towel on a flat surface. With an electric hand mixer on medium-high speed, whip the egg white mixture until doubled in volume, about 5 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to medium and, with the mixer running, add the butter, a cube at a time. As you add the last piece of butter, the mixture will look broken; don't worry! Continue mixing until the mixture smooths out again, about 1 minute. Add the vanilla and almond extract and mix until just incorporated.
• Assemble the cakes: Invert a cake onto a cutting board with a piece of parchment on top and peel away the parchment from the bottom of the cake. Carefully flip the cake over so the flat side is on the bottom again. Spread the filling evenly over the cake, then invert the remaining cake on top of the filling. Peel off the parchment from the top of the cake. Transfer the cutting board with the cake to the freezer and freeze until the cake is hardened, but not completely frozen, about 1 hour.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Remove the cake from the freezer. Use the Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out 8 cakes and place on the prepared baking sheet. Discard (or snack on) the cake scraps. Chill the cakes in the refrigerator while you prepare the decorations.
• Add the candy melts to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave according to the package instructions until melted.
• Dip each cake in the melted candy, using a fork to flip until completely coated. Carefully lift the cake out of the candy and gently scrape the bottom across the side of the bowl to remove any excess. Return the coated cake to the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining cakes.
• Sprinkle the cakes lightly with the green sanding sugar, and then decorate with the red cookie icing. Refrigerate until the candy shell hardens, about 5 minutes.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• To make the frosted leaves and cherries, whisk the egg white with a fork until frothy. Tip the sugar onto a plate. Brush the egg white onto the bay leaves or dip them, then sprinkle the sugar over the leaves and half the cherries to coat. Leave to dry on a sheet of parchment for 6 hrs or until the frosting has completely dried.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. For the sponge, butter and line a 30 x 20cm traybake tin with parchment. Beat the butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric whisk until creamy. Whisk in the eggs, one by one, then sieve and fold in the flour, spices and baking powder. Fold in the yogurt, vanilla and chocolate chips. Tip into the tin, smooth over and bake for 30-35 mins until the sponge is golden and springs back when pressed. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack, remove the parchment and leave to cool completely. Or, to make a round cake, see our tip below.
• Reduce the oven to 120C/100C fan/gas ½ and leave the door open briefly to make sure the temperature drops low enough. To make the meringues, whisk the egg white in a large bowl with an electric whisk, or in the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, until stiff peaks form. Continually whisking, add the sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, until it's completely combined. Once it's all added, beat for another 3-4 mins until you get a stiff, shiny meringue. Transfer the mixture to two small piping bags fitted with star and round nozzles. Use a cocktail stick, knife or spoon dipped in the food colouring to paint the inside of the bags in stripes up the length, painting each bag with a different colour and leaving the area nearest the nozzle uncoloured, then fill with meringue. Cover a baking sheet with parchment, using a little of the meringue on the underside to stick it to the tray. Pipe blobs onto it, well spaced apart, to make meringue kisses - they will come out plain first. Bake for 30 mins, then turn off the oven and leave the meringues inside to cool to room temperature. Decorate them with gold leaf or glitter, if you like.
• Press the jam firmly through a sieve to remove any large chunks and stir what's left in the sieve back into the jar. Stir in a few pinches of glitter, if you like, then transfer to a piping bag fitted with a small round nozzle.
• Beat the buttercream ingredients together using an electric whisk until you get a pale, fluffy icing. Transfer to a large piping bag with a wide, round nozzle.
• To cut the sponge into a tree shape, first split the cooled cake into two layers using a cake cutter or serrated knife. Using a ruler or a sheet of baking parchment the same width as the cake, mark a halfway point at the top end of the cake. At the bottom end of the cake, mark it into thirds. Using these as a guide, cut squares from the bottom end of the cake, leaving a centre section for the tree stump, then cut from your middle mark at the top down to the bottom edges to create a Christmas tree shape. Use the off-cuts to make cake pops, or in trifle. Carefully lift off the top sponge using a baking sheet, and pipe blobs of buttercream all over, starting from the outside edge. Chill for 20 mins to firm up. Pipe some of the jam between the buttercream blobs, except the outer edge.
• Position the remaining cake on top, and pipe more icing blobs all over. Add the frosted leaves, frosted and plain cherries, ginger biscuits (see our recipe) and meringues, sprinkle a little glitter over the un-frosted cherries, and pipe on the remaining jam in blobs. Add the biscuits, putting a star-shaped one at the top, and add gold leaf, if you like. Will keep, well covered in the fridge, for two-three days.

Steps:

• Prepare cake according to package directions. Divide batter between one 9-in. and one 8-in. greased and floured round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , For frosting, fold the confectioners' sugar into the whipped cream; set aside., Place 9-in. cake on a 10-in. serving plate or covered board. With a sharp knife, cut a 5-1/2-in. circle from the center of the cake. Remove 5-1/2-in. circle and set aside. Frost top of 9-in. ring and fill center with candy. , Cut a 3-1/2-in. circle from the center of the 8-in. cake; remove 3-1/2-in. circle and set aside. Place 8-in. ring over 9-in. ring. Frost top and fill center with candy., Cut a 1-3/4-in. circle from the center of the reserved 5-1/2-in. circle. Remove 1-3/4-in. circle and set aside. Place 5-1/2-in. ring over 8-in. ring. Frost top and fill center with candy. Place reserved 3-1/2-in. circle over 5-1/2-in. ring; frost top. Place reserved 1-3/4-in. circle over 5-1/2-in. ring., Frost top, mounding slightly to make a pointed top. Frost sides of the cake, mounding frosting at base of layers and gradually connecting layers to resemble a Christmas tree. Place star on top of cake. Sprinkle with green sugar if desired. Add candles and decorating candies if desired.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease a 20cm round cake tin and line the base with a circle of baking parchment.
• Put the butter in a big mixing bowl with the sugar and vanilla extract, and mix until it looks creamy. Crack in the eggs, one at a time, mixing after each one. Sift the flour and cocoa together, add to the bowl with the milk and stir everything together until smooth. Spoon into the cake tin and use the back of a wooden spoon to spread the top to make it as flat as you can. Bake for 20 mins until a skewer poked into the centre comes out clean, with just cake crumbs stuck to it, not wet batter. Leave the cake to cool completely in the tin on a wire rack.
• Remove the cake from the tin and use a serrated knife to cut it into 8 wedges. Turn each one so that the round, outside edge is facing you, and push a lollipop or cake pop stick through the middle of the outside edge. Remember to leave enough of the stick poking out for you to hold.
• Mix the food colouring and icing sugar with enough water to make an icing that is a bit runny, but still quite stiff. Try drizzling a bit on a spare piece of paper; you want it to stay in strips, not run all over the place.
• Spoon some icing over each cake wedge (you can cover it completely or drizzle lines across them in a tree shape). Decorate with sugar snowflakes and mini Smarties, then lift onto a wire rack and leave to set completely (this will take a few hours). Iced cakes will keep in the tin for up to 2 days. The un-iced cake can be frozen for up to 6 months. Defrost completely before cutting and decorating.

Steps:

• Special Equipment Needed:.
• Gel food coloring; set of nine round cookie cutters in graduated sizes; piping bags; an Ateco piping tip #849 (or any large star tip); extra-tall cake scraper (14" at least-you can also use a quilting ruler!); a candy thermometer.
• Bake the Gingerbread Cake:.
• Preheat your oven to 350°. Prepare four 6"x3" pans by spraying the bottoms with cooking spray and laying a baking paper round at the bottom of each.
• Combine your dry ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Place your butter, white sugar, and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add your eggs in one at a time until all six are incorporated, then stream in your molasses and add the vanilla, beating another 30 seconds to make sure everything is homogenous.
• Scrape the bottom of the bowl, then add your dry ingredients in three additions alternating with your milk, starting and ending with the dry mix. Stop the mixer as soon as you see no more streaks in the batter.
• Divide your batter between the four prepared pans and bake for 45-55 minutes-you'll know the cakes are baked through when you press gently on the top and the cake springs back.
• A general note about this batter: we're using a lot of liquid here, which keeps the cake super moist and yummy. This can cause the cake to bake up with a slight dip in the top instead of a dome. Don't worry if you see that happen, just trim the topmost edges of the cake away when you're getting ready to cut your layers, and when you are cutting circles out of the middle of your layers you can use the larger cookie cutters to cut out any caramelization or even holes in the layers left from the top!
• Remove the cakes from the oven and cool on a rack for at least 20 minutes before using a small paring knife to free the sides from the pan and removing the cake. Allow to come to room temperature, then wrap in plastic and allow to chill all the way through in the refrigerator before leveling and torting, ideally for at least 2 hours.
• Bake the Green Eggnog Cake:.
• Preheat your oven to 350°. Prepare two 6"x3" pans by spraying the bottoms with cooking spray and laying a baking paper round at the bottom of each.
• Combine your dry ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Place your butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add your eggs in one at a time until all four are incorporated, then add the vanilla, beating another 30 seconds to make sure everything is homogenous.
• Combine your eggnog with your green food coloring gel and set aside.
• Scrape the bottom of the bowl, then add your dry ingredients in three additions alternating with your eggnog, starting and ending with the dry mix. Stop the mixer as soon as you see no more streaks in the batter.
• Divide your batter between the two prepared pans and bake for 40-50 minutes-you'll know the cakes are baked through when you press gently on the top and the cake springs back.
• Remove the cakes from the oven and cool on a rack for at least 20 minutes before using a small paring knife to free the sides from the pan and removing the cake. Allow to come to room temperature, then wrap in plastic and allow to chill all the way through in the refrigerator before leveling and torting, ideally for at least 2 hours.
• Make the Buttercream:.
• Place the sugar, brown sugar, and water in a medium saucepan and set over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Use a pastry brush dipped in water to melt the sugar crystals that form on the sides of the pan. When the syrup begins to boil, reduce the heat to low and insert a candy thermometer into the syrup. Allow it to continue to boil while moving on to the next step.
• Place the egg whites in the clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Whip the whites until frothy, then sprinkle in the cream of tartar (this improves the strength of the meringue).
• Keeping an eye on the temperature of the sugar syrup, increase the speed of the mixer to high to achieve stiff peaks. Ideally, you will time this to coincide with the sugar syrup reaching 248°-250° F, the Firm Ball Stage. If your whites reach stiff peaks before the sugar syrup reaches the correct temperature, reduce the mixer speed to the lowest setting and leave running until the syrup is ready.
• When the syrup reaches 248°-250° F, increase the mixer speed to the highest setting. Remove the saucepan from the heat and slowly pour the hot syrup down the side of the bowl into the egg whites, being very careful to avoid allowing the stream to hit the whisk and spatter. Pour slowly and steadily until all the syrup has been added, and continue beating the meringue until it becomes light and fluffy and holds its shape exactly when the beater is removed, roughly 3-5 minutes.
• After this time, the meringue may still be hot-if so, place the bowl in the refrigerator (or freezer) for 8-10 minutes until it has cooled all the way through.
• When the meringue has cooled, place the bowl back on the mixer, replacing the whisk with the paddle attachment. Begin mixing on low, and add the butter 1/4 cup (half a stick) at a time, beating well after each addition. Once the butter is added, increase the speed to medium and beat the buttercream until it becomes light and fluffy. It may look soupy or curdled shortly after all the butter is added-this is okay! Just keep on beating it and it will whip up into a light, fluffy cloud.
• While the buttercream is whipping up, mix your cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla, and salt together in a small bowl. Add to your buttercream all at once and beat on low speed until incorporated.
• Cut Your Layers:.
• Level and torte each of the 4 gingerbread cakes into 3 layers for a total of 12. Level and torte your green eggnog cake into 3 layers each for a total of 6, trying to keep these layers the same thickness as the gingerbread layers.
• Using your 9 round cutters, cut one circle for each cutter size out of the middle of 8 of your gingerbread cakes, reserving the other 3. Then, using the second-smallest cutter, cut a round out of the middle of 2 more gingerbread rounds (these layers will create the trunk of your tree), leaving just 1 last layer whole. Discard the small rounds you've removed (read: snack away!).
• Use the 8 larger cutters to cut green rounds out of the green eggnog layers, cutting 2 small rounds out of each layer once you get to the 4 smaller sizes to economize on space. You should wind up with 8 total green rounds of varying sizes. This time, reserve the small rounds, and snack on the scraps left from the layers they were cut from.
• Take the cutter that's two sizes smaller and place it gently on top of each green circle. Press lightly to mark the top of each green circle, and using that as a guide, gently trim the edges of each round at an angle.
• Insert each angled green round into its properly-sized gingerbread layer to keep everything organized, and to prepare for building the cake, arrange your stack of layers stack so the gingerbread layer with the smallest, empty hole goes at the bottom, and then the layers should go from smallest to biggest green round, the opposite of how it will appear when it's finally stacked with buttercream to look like a tree. Top it off with the 2 "trunk" layers, and finally the single whole layer. Wrap the stack in plastic and refrigerate until you're ready to use it.
• Color Your Buttercream:.
• Color two cups of your holiday buttercream with 3-4 drops of your forest green gel color.
• Color half a cup each with 1/2 teaspoon red, 3 drops yellow, and 5-6 drops blue.
• Mix 1/4 cup with a few drops of brown for a tree trunk color.
• Mix 1.5 cups with 1/4 tsp deep pink, and red until the color is as bright as you want it! It's Dr. Seuss, so go a little nuts.
• Place each color in its own piping bag with no tip; you'll cut the tips away as needed to create workable holes.
• Tip: If the buttercream looks broken at any point, microwave for 3 seconds at a time once or twice, mixing by hand each time to re-incorporate.
• Stack Your Cake:.
• Place a small dollop of buttercream on the cake plate or drum you're using as a base and center the single whole cake layer on it. Spread a thin layer of plain, un-colored buttercream on the layer and then place one of the 2 "trunk" layers down. Add another layer of plain buttercream, this time icing around the hole cut out of the middle of the slice.
• Stack the second "trunk" layer on top, use plain buttercream to add a layer of filling, then pipe your brown buttercream into the hole created by those two layers. Fill it a little above the top, then level it with your spatula.
• Now, begin to add your green tree layers. Starting with the layer with the largest green insert, place it on top of the "trunk" layers with the angle you've cut into the edges sloping down. Pipe a ring of plain buttercream around that sloped cake to seal it, then smooth it, trying not to get any plain buttercream on the green part of the cake.
• Now you'll add your Christmas lights! Cut off a very small bit of the tip of your red, blue, green, and yellow piping bags to leave a small hole, and pipe concentric rings of color on top of the green part of the layer, switching up colors as you go and leaving space between each ring. Fill in the gaps with your green, and very gently smooth that section of buttercream down. Add plain buttercream to the gingerbread portion of the layer and smooth to create one level layer of buttercream, then place your next largest green layer on top.
• Continue this process until you run out of green layers. You'll be left with a gingerbread layer with the smallest hole cut into it, but no green cake inside. Fill this gap with yellow buttercream to represent the start at the top of the tree, and smooth out. Ice over the top with a very thin layer of plain buttercream to seal that yellow in, then refrigerate the stacked cake.
• Ice Your Cake:.
• Once your cake has had 15-20 minutes to chill, trim the sides if you'd like.
• If desired, you can also start icing the cake by doing a light coat of plain, un-colored buttercream over the whole cake so that when you apply your colored buttercream you don't have to use very much.
• Using your leftover blue (perhaps cutting a bigger hole in the tip of your piping bag) and your 1.5 cups pinky red, pipe alternating rings of buttercream around the sides of the cake, keeping in mind that you have more red than blue so keep the red sections about 2-3 times taller. It doesn't need to be, and in fact shouldn't be, perfect, since a little unevenness is in keeping with Dr. Seuss' aesthetic!
• Pipe a large dollop of red on the top of the cake and, using a small offset spatula, smooth it down.
• Using a very tall straight edge (you can use a quilting ruler if you don't have a cake scraper tall enough!), smooth down the rings of color on your cake, keeping the scraper level so you don't muddy up your layers of color.
• When you're happy with that, clean up the top of your cake if you need to and refrigerate.
• Finishing Touches:.
• Use an Ateco tip 849 (or any large star tip) and any leftover green buttercream to pipe ruffled puffs around the top of the cake, making pretty buttercream "trees." Pipe a little yellow dot at the top of each tree.
• You can also finish the bottom edge of the cake with a little yellow pearl border like I did, or leave it, your call! Get creative!
• Now you can slice your Seussian masterpiece to reveal your sneaky surprise inside, a stunning Christmas tree that will warm the heart of even the grumpiest of grinches this holiday season!

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Make and bake cake as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen cake; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour. For easier handling, refrigerate or freeze cake 30 to 60 minutes or until firm.
• Using serrated knife, cut rounded top off cake to level surface; place cut side down. From the middle of one short side, make a diagonal cut to each corner on opposite side, making 3 triangular pieces. (See diagram below in Expert Tips.) Make tree shape by arranging 2 outer pieces with straight 13-inch sides together on foil-covered tray; frost top. Place remaining center piece on top.
• Spread a thin layer of frosting over top and sides to seal in crumbs. Refrigerate or freeze cake 30 to 60 minutes to set frosting. Frost entire cake with remaining frosting. Press candy cane pieces in end of tree to make trunk. Sprinkle with colored sugar to look like boughs. Arrange gumdrops on cake to look like lights or ornaments. Store loosely covered.

Steps:

• In large mixing bowl throughly mix 2 cups flour, sugar, salt& dry yeast. Set aside.
• In small saucepan combine milk, water and butter.
• Heat to 130ºF (butter does not need to melt).
• Slowly add liquid to the above dry ingredients; beat for 2 minutes with electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally.
• Add egg and 1 cup flour.
• Beat at high speed additional 2 minutes.
• Stir in enough remaining flour to make stiff dough (approx. 1 cup).
• Cover tightly.
• Refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 3 days.
• When ready to make rolls, prepare filling.
• In large mixing bowl combine cream cheese, sugar, salt, nutmeg and vanilla.
• Beat just until well blended.
• Stir in drained pineapple.
• Grease 2 large cookie sheets.
• Divide dough in half; keep one half in refrigerator while working with other half.
• On lightly floured surface roll first dough half to an 11" x 10" rectangle.
• Spread with half of the cream cheese pineapple filling.
• Roll up on 11" side- pinch seams to seal.
• Cut into 1" slices and arrange in shape of Christmas tree on cookie sheet.
• Cover lightly with plastic wrap.
• Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
• Let arranged slices rise approximately 1 hour in draft free warm place.
• Preheat oven to 375ºF- Bake 15 minutes; cover with aluminum foil to prevent browning.
• Bake additional 5-10 minutes.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool.
• Place cherries, cut side down in center of each roll.
• Combine powdered sugar with milk and drizzle over the rolls.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine sun-dried tomato pesto and goat cheese in a small bowl and stir well.
• Unroll 1 puff pastry sheet onto the prepared baking sheet. Cut away 2 strips at the bottom of the sheet to form a tree trunk, about 1 inch wide and tall. Cut diagonally to the top of the puff pastry sheet to create a long triangular shape, removing excess pastry on either side.
• Spread a thin layer of the pesto mixture over the pastry, all the way to the sides. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon Pecorino-Romano cheese on top.
• Roll up the second puff pastry sheet and place at the tip of the triangle. Unroll carefully towards the bottom. Press down lightly and carefully cut away the sides to match the first triangle. Remove excess pastry.
• Cut 2/3-inch thick branches into the sides of the triangle from both sides, leaving a space lengthwise in the center all the way from the trunk to the tip. Twist the branches away from you, trying to get in 2 turns on the lower branches. Continue moving up the tree, twisting away from you as you go.
• Brush the entire tree with beaten egg. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon of Pecorino-Romano cheese and dried oregano.
• Bake in the preheated oven until deep golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet slightly.

Steps:

• Prepare cake batter mix according to package directions for cupcakes; fold in chips. Fill foil-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. , Bake at 350° for 18-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in milk and extracts until blended. Transfer 2 tablespoons to a small bowl; stir in cocoa. Stir green food coloring into remaining frosting. , Frost 21 cupcakes with green frosting; arrange in a pyramid to form a tree. Decorate all but the top cupcake with miniature kisses for lights. Frost two cupcakes with chocolate frosting and place at base of tree for trunk; top each with a chocolate star. Save remaining cupcake for another use., With a rolling pin, roll two yellow Starburst candies flat; cut with 2-in. and 1-1/2-in. star-shaped cookie cutters. Press smaller star onto larger star; place on cupcake at top of tree. , For presents, roll five Starburst candies into 3x3/4-in. rectangles; cut each rectangle into four 3-in.-long strips. Place two strips widthwise on one whole Starburst candy; press together at base to attach. , For bow, form two strips into figure eights; press together in center and press onto wrapped candy. Repeat with remaining strips and remaining four whole Starburst candies. Place presents beneath cupcake tree.