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Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 101 reviews

Delight in festive fun with these charming Christmas tree cakes made from a moist cocoa sponge and decorated with vibrant green buttercream and colorful sprinkles. Perfect for a holiday centerpiece or a joyful seasonal treat, these cakes combine a rich chocolate flavor with creamy frosting, shaped into whimsical trees to bring holiday cheer to your celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cake:

  • 200ml vegetable oil, plus extra for the tin
  • 80g cocoa powder
  • 250g plain flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 250g light brown soft sugar
  • 225ml natural yogurt
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs

For the Buttercream:

  • 250g salted butter, softened
  • 400g icing sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • green food colouring gel
  • sprinkles or sweets (star and ball shapes recommended for tree topper and baubles)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Tin: Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan)/Gas mark 4. Lightly oil a 22 x 32cm baking tin and line it with baking parchment to prevent sticking.
  2. Make Cocoa Paste: Place the cocoa powder in a heatproof bowl and mix with 125ml of hot water from the kettle until smooth. Allow this cocoa paste to cool to room temperature.
  3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the plain flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, light brown sugar, and ½ tsp salt. Shake and mix to break up sugar lumps and ensure even distribution.
  4. Combine Wet Ingredients: To the cooled cocoa paste, add the vegetable oil, natural yogurt, vanilla extract, and eggs. Whisk these together until smooth and uniform.
  5. Form Batter: Pour the wet mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients and whisk together until you achieve a loose, lump-free batter.
  6. Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking tin and bake in the center of the preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool completely in the tin.
  7. Prepare Buttercream: Beat the softened butter with icing sugar, vanilla extract, and milk using an electric whisk until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add green food colouring a few drops at a time and mix until the buttercream is a bright, even green.
  8. Shape the Trees: Once the cake is completely cool, turn it out onto a large board or tray with a short edge facing you. Cut the sides on an angle to create a triangular tree shape, then trim the bottom edge to form a trunk. Use any offcuts to fashion a second tree on another board by joining angled pieces and decorating trunks similarly.
  9. Decorate: Divide the green buttercream between two piping bags fitted with star nozzles. Pipe the buttercream over the trees in your desired pattern, keeping the trunks plain. Decorate with sprinkles or sweets to resemble ornaments and tree toppers.
  10. Store: Keep decorated cakes in an airtight container for up to four days. Unfrosted sponge can be wrapped and frozen for up to three months.

Notes

  • You can freeze the baked sponge before decorating to save time; thaw completely before frosting.
  • Use different colored sprinkles or small candy decorations to customize your Christmas tree designs.
  • If you prefer a dairy-free version, substitute butter with a plant-based alternative and ensure your yogurt is dairy-free.
  • Ensure the cake is completely cool before applying buttercream to prevent melting.
  • If green food colouring is not available, mix natural alternatives like spinach powder for a subtle color.

Keywords: Christmas cake, chocolate cake, holiday dessert, festive baking, buttercream frosting, cocoa sponge, holiday treats, Christmas tree cake

Find it online: https://zarameals.com/christmas-tree-cakes-recipe/