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image of a cute buttercream Christmas tree cake
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4.58 from 7 ratings

Christmas Tree Cake

This festive Christmas tree cake is decorated with delicious buttercream frosting!! It's made from scratch and is so fun to decorate!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time32 minutes
Additional Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 47 minutes
Course: Cakes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24
Calories: 662kcal
Author: Chelsey White

Equipment

Ingredients

Spice Cake Layers

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour 375g
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 300g
  • 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar 300g
  • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder 10g
  • 1 tsp fine salt 6g
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon 6g
  • 1 tsp ground ginger 3g
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 2g
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 113g
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature 224g
  • 1 cup full-fat sour cream, room temperature 255g
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 90g
  • 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil 105g
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste 4g
  • Green gel food coloring

Buttercream Frosting

  • 3 cups unsalted butter, room temperature 678g
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste 12g
  • 1 tsp fine salt 3g
  • 10 cups powdered sugar 1250g
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature 120g
  • Green, yellow, and red gel food coloring

Instructions

Spice Cake Layers:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C. Line one 8", one 7", two 6", and two 4" pans with parchment rounds and grease with nonstick baking spray.
  • Mix together 3 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, 2 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp ginger, and 1/2 tsp nutmeg in a large bowl until fully combined.
  • Mix 1/2 cup of unsalted butter slowly into the dry ingredients on a low speed. Continue to mix until no large chunks of butter remain. Then mix in 4 large eggs on low until just incorporated, 2 at a time.
  • Add 1 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, and 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Mix on a low speed until just incorporated.
  • Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, then beat on a medium speed for about a minute to make sure everything is properly mixed together.
  • Use the green gel food coloring to color half the batter light green and half of the batter a darker shade of green.
  • Add spoonfuls of both colors of batter into the prepared pans, filling them each to the same height (about 1-inch high). Then use a butter knife or offset spatula to swirl the batter together to create a marbled look.
  • Bake for 28-33 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Let the cake layers cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then run a small offset spatula around the perimeter of the pan to separate the cake from the pan. 
  • Flip the cake layers onto a wire rack to cool. Use a serrated knife to level the tops of the layers once they're fully cooled, then stack the cake layers and trim them into the tapered shape of a Christmas tree. 
  • If you make these cake layers in advance and freeze them, let them thaw for about 20 minutes before making your cake. The cake layers should still be slightly cold to the touch, which will make it easier to assemble your cake.

Buttercream Frosting:

  • While the cake layers bake and cool, make the buttercream frosting. Beat 3 cups of butter (6 sticks) on medium speed for 30 seconds with a paddle attachment until smooth. Then mix in 1 Tbsp of vanilla extract and 1 tsp of salt.
  • Gradually mix in 10 cups of powdered sugar and 1/2 cup of heavy cream on a low speed.
  • If the frosting seems too thick, add additional cream (1 Tbsp at a time). If the frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar (1/4 cup at a time). Wait to color the buttercream until the cake is stacked and crumb-coated.

Assembling This Christmas Tree Cake:

  • Stack and frost the cake layers on a greaseproof cake board or flat plate, using a dab of frosting to help stick the first cake layer to the board. Stack the layers from largest to smallest to create a Christmas tree shape.
  • Spread an even layer of buttercream on top of each cake layer. Once the layers are stacked, insert a wooden dowel or thick straw into the center of the cake layers to help keep them in place.
  • Cover the cake in a thin coat of frosting. Smooth using an offset spatula or bench scraper, then chill the cake in the fridge (30 minutes) or freezer (10 minutes) until the frosting is firm to the touch.
  • While the cake chills, color the remaining buttercream. Scoop 1/2 cup of white frosting into a small piping bag fitted with a small round piping tip. Set aside.
  • Color 1/2 cup of frosting red with gel food coloring. Place this in a small piping bag fitted with a small French tip. Set aside.
  • Color 1/2 cup of frosting yellow with gel food coloring. Place this in a small piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Set aside.
  • Color half of the remaining frosting light green, and color the other half dark green with green gel food coloring. Place each frosting in its own large piping bag fitted with an open star tip. Set aside.
  • Use the green frosting to pipe rosettes around the cake, then fill in with frosting dollops of red, yellow, and white frosting.

Notes

This recipe can be made with a stand mixer or hand mixer. I like to use the paddle attachment when making the batter and frosting, but a large bowl and hand mixer work too.

Making This Christmas Tree Cake in Advance

I recommend making the cake layers in advance and freezing them. It breaks the process up and makes assembly easier.
You can also make the frosting ahead of time or save any leftovers. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let it come back to room temperature and stir or remix it until smooth before using.
A frosted cake can be stored in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
If you cut into the cake and have leftovers, cover the exposed section with leftover frosting to help keep it moist, then store it in the fridge.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 662kcal | Carbohydrates: 83g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 270mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 70g