Christmas Tree Cake
Bring the magic of the holiday season to your dessert table with a festive Christmas Tree Cake that’s as jolly to make as it is to eat!
The Star Of The Christmas Party
Indulge in the enchantment of the holiday season with a show-stopping Christmas Tree Cake that will leave everyone in awe!
Picture a masterpiece of moist cake layers adorned with velvety green frosting, cascading with edible decorations that glisten like ornaments. Each bite is a delightful symphony of flavors, bringing joy and merriment to your Christmas party!
This holiday cake is not only a feast for the eyes but a delicious testament to the season’s magic. Prepare to be dazzled by this extraordinary dessert creation that will make your celebration unforgettable.
To spice up your Christmas party even more, consider bringing The Ultimate Christmas Cookie or No Bake Peanut Butter Balls to the table!
Why You Will Love This Christmas Cake Recipe
- The Christmas Tree Cake will become the star of your holiday table, instantly creating a merry and magical atmosphere!
- You can personalize the cake with your favorite edible ornaments, adding a touch of creativity and personal flair.
- You can adapt the cake recipe to accommodate various dietary preferences, including gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan options.
- Christmas Tree Cakes spark conversations and compliments, making it a topic of joy and admiration among guests.
- Not only does this Christmas cake taste amazing, but by using a Christmas tree pan, you’ll look like a professional!
How to make perfect Christmas Tree Cakes
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 F and grease your cake pan with butter or non-stick cooking oil.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients – flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Give it a good whisk to ensure they are well mixed!
- Step 3: Add the wet ingredients to the bowl – oil, egg, vanilla extract, and milk. Whisk everything together until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Step 4: This is where the magic happens! Slowly pour in the hot coffee, stirring as you go. The coffee will intensify the chocolate flavor and add moisture to the cake. Make sure it’s fully incorporated into the batter.
- Step 5: Transfer the luscious cake batter into the prepared Christmas tree pan, smoothing the top with a spatula, and bake for approximately 45 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick – you want to see tiny crumbs, not a completely clean toothpick, as this is a moist cake.
- Step 6: Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely in the pan.
- Step 7: To prepare the buttercream frosting, place softened butter in a large bowl and beat it on high speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Then, reduce the speed to low and gradually add the sugar. Mix until the sugar is fully integrated before increasing the speed again.
- Step 8: Add one tablespoon of milk, a pinch of salt, a splash of vanilla extract, and a hint of food coloring to the buttercream. Mix for about five more minutes until the frosting reaches a light and fluffy consistency. Adjust the color as needed, adding food coloring sparingly.
- Step 9: Now comes the fun part – assembling your Christmas tree cake! Once completely cooled, remove the cake from the pan. Use a piping bag with a star-shaped tip to create a Christmas tree pattern with buttercream frosting. Let your creativity shine as you pipe the buttercream onto the cake in your preferred design. Add festive toppings like edible gold or silver stars or colorful sprinkles to complete the look.
Ingredients In The Christmas Tree Cake and their Substitutions
Canola oil: Vegetable or melted coconut oil can be substituted for canola oil in the same quantity.
Pure vanilla extract: Vanilla bean paste or vanilla essence can be used as a substitute for pure vanilla extract.
Whole milk: Dairy-free alternatives like almond or oat milk can be used instead!
Brewed or instant coffee: If caffeine isn’t your thing, decaf coffee will bring the chocolatey flavor out just as much.
Powdered sugar: If you don’t have powdered sugar, granulated sugar can be processed in a blender or food processor!
Food coloring: Natural food coloring alternatives such as beetroot powder, matcha powder, or turmeric can be used for coloring.
Frequently Asked Questions about Christmas Tree Cakes
What cake pan should I use for this Christmas tree cake?
Christmas tree pans can be found in several places, but my personal favorite is the Wilton Christmas Tree pan!
How long does the cake need to cool before decorating?
It is essential to let the cake cool completely before decorating, this usually takes about 1-2 hours.
Can I use a different frosting instead of buttercream?
Absolutely! You can use cream cheese frosting, whipped cream, or even ganache as alternatives to buttercream for a different flavor experience.
Christmas Tree Cake
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup All purpose flour or plain flour
- 1 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup instant coffee or brewed coffee + water, hot
Buttercream
- 2 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 stick butter slightly softened to room temperature
- 1-2 tbsp whole milk as needed
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp green food coloring gel
Toppings
- Choose any Christmas theme sprinkles, M&M, gummies, or candy cane.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F and grease the cake pan with butter or non-stick cooking oil. Set it aside.
- Mix dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt) into a large bowl.
- Add wet ingredients (oil, egg, vanilla, and milk) and whisk to combine.
- Add hot coffee, it will enhance the chocolate flavor and add moisture to the cake. Stir until the coffee is fully incorporated into the batter.
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 45 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out with tiny crumbs, not clean as it’s a moist cake.
- Let the cake cool completely before unmolding. In the meantime, prepare the buttercream.
- To make the buttercream, place softened butter into a large bowl. Mix at high speed with an electric mixer until the butter is creamy. Reduce speed to low and gently add sugar. Keep on mixing until sugar is integrated, then run it to high speed again, and add one tbsp of milk, salt, vanilla extract, and a pinch of food coloring (you’ll add more as needed).
- Mix for five more minutes until the buttercream is light and fluffy. Check color and adjust if necessary, just a tiny amount at a time.
- If the frosting is still dry or crumbly, add 1 teaspoon of milk and mix again. Adjust the color and consistency as needed by adding more food coloring or milk, but do so in small increments.
- Taste the buttercream, and adjust the vanilla extract if needed.
- Assembly: Once the cake is completely cooled and removed from the pan, you can start decorating it with buttercream. Use a piping bag with a star-shaped tip to create the Christmas tree shape, piping the buttercream onto the cake following your favorite pattern. Get creative and add your chosen Christmas toppings, such as edible gold or silver stars or colorful sprinkles.
- Slice and serve: Once decorated, slice the cake and serve it to your delighted guests. Enjoy the moist and rich chocolatey goodness of your homemade Christmas tree cake!
Notes
- Make sure to prepare the pan properly to prevent the cake from sticking and ensure easy removal.
- Avoid overbaking, as it may result in a dry cake. The moistness of the cake is a desirable characteristic, so don’t expect the toothpick to come out completely clean.
- Allow the cake to cool: Once baked, let the cake cool completely in the pan before attempting to remove it. This helps the cake set properly and prevents it from breaking or falling apart during the unmolding process.