Christmas Tree Cake
User Reviews
5
Christmas Tree Cake
Description
This cake requires baking three 6-inch layers made from a mixture of flour, sugar, baking powder and soda, salt, butter, and wet ingredients including sour cream, milk, and vanilla. An optional peppermint extract adds a subtle holiday flavor. The layers bake to a tender and moist crumb, aided by the combination of sour cream and baking strips to promote even baking. After cooling, the cakes are frosted with a rich buttercream, part colored green with food coloring to simulate fir trees.
The distinctive assembly uses carved ice cream cones to form the tree shape. The frosting is piped onto the cones, sometimes with a two-tone effect by layering white and green frosting, enhancing the visual texture of pine needles. Powdered sugar may be dusted to simulate snow.
This presentation makes the cake a decorative centerpiece for holiday gatherings. The layers can be doubled or tripled for larger pan sizes, and substitutions like yogurt for sour cream are possible without significant changes in texture.
Using cake strips during baking helps keep layers flat and moist. For a detailed piping effect, no piping tip is necessary; simply snip the pastry bag to control the flow of frosting. The cake freezes for later enjoyment and can be adjusted in size to suit occasion needs.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour 213g
- 1 cup granulated sugar 200g
- 1/4 tsp baking soda 1g
- 1 tsp baking powder 3g
- 1/4 tsp salt 1g, heaping, optional
- 3/4 cup butter 176g, room temperature, unsalted
- 3 egg white
- 1/2 cup sour cream 120g
- 1 tbsp vanilla 15mL
- 1/2 cup milk 120mL, whole
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract 2.5mL, optional
For the Buttercream
- 1.5 lb confectioners sugar 680g
- 1 lb butter 454g, unsalted
- 1-2 tbsp heavy whipping cream If needed for consistency
- 1 tsp vanilla extract 5mL
- 5 drops green food coloring for the trees
For the Assembly
- 12 ice cream cone
Instructions
For the cake
- Butter and flour three 6-inch pans. I use damp cake strips on my pans for more even baking as well. Preheat oven to 340F.
- Sift the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, beat the wet ingredients together.
- Add the wet to the dry and mix until combined. Divide the mixture evenly into the cake pans. I like to use a kitchen scale to measure for even layers.
- Bake for 30 -35 minutes or until the centers are set and springy.
- Let the layers cool in the pans for about 4 minutes, then dump each layer out onto a cooling rack.
For the Frosting
- Cream the butter. Add the sugar and mix on high. Add the vanilla and salt. You can also add milk a tablespoon at a time to get a smoother consistency if needed.
- Divide the buttercream into two batches. For the colored batch, add the green food coloring, mix until combined.
For the Assembly
- For the Christmas trees on the side of your cake, use a serrated knife to cut the ice cream cones into different sizes. Once you have a variety of desired sizes, carefully cut them in half.
- Use a number 30 tip to pipe star-shaped dollops onto the surface of the cone beginning at the bottom and working to the top. Place the cones that have been cut in half on around the side of your cake before piping.
- When all of your trees have been piped and placed, sift confectioners' sugar onto the top of the cake and it's ready to serve!
Notes
- For larger pans, double or triple the recipe as needed for 8- or 9-inch pans.
- Substitute whole milk yogurt for sour cream to achieve a similar texture.
- Use cake strips around pans to bake flat, moist layers; homemade versions can be made from foil and paper towels.
- For two-tone frosting, fill separate piping bags with white and green frosting, then place both inside a third bag and snip the end for simultaneous piping.
- Dust finished trees with powdered sugar to mimic snow and add visual interest.
- If a #30 piping tip is unavailable, any small to medium star or leaf tip works for tree decoration.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8slices
Amount Per Serving
Calories 330 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1slice | |
| Calories | 330kcal | 17% |
| Carbohydrates | 39g | 13% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 17g | 26% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 40mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 250mg | 10% |
| Sugar | 31g | 62% |
| Vitamin A | 200IU | 4% |
| Calcium | 40mg | 4% |
| Iron | 0.7mg | 4% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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