Winter Spice Cake With Chocolate Trees Recipes

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:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in applesauce and 1/2 cup coffee. Combine the flour, 1/4 cup baking cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda, allspice, salt and cloves; gradually beat into creamed mixture until blended. Fold in raisins and walnuts., Pour into a 10-in. fluted tube pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely., In a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar and remaining baking cocoa and coffee; drizzle over cake.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the cake mixes, eggs, water, lemonade concentrate, butter and lemon zest. Transfer to 3 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Meanwhile, line 3 greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans with parchment; set aside., In a large heavy saucepan, combine corn syrup and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cover and cook for 3 minutes to dissolve sugar crystals. Uncover and cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 300° (hard-crack stage)., Remove from the heat; stir in lemon extract and food coloring (keep face away from mixture as flavoring is very strong). Immediately pour into prepared pans forming small zigzag shapes. Let cool completely., For filling, beat cream in a small bowl until soft peaks form; set aside. In another bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the confectioners' sugar, lemon curd and lemon peel. Fold in whipped cream., Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup filling. Repeat. Top with remaining cake layer. , For frosting, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, lemon curd, vanilla and salt until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Frost top and sides of cake. Break candy into shards; insert into frosting forming rays of sunlight. Sprinkle cake with edible glitter. Refrigerate leftovers.