TREE CAKE IDEAS RECIPES

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat three 18-by-13 rimmed baking sheets with cooking spray, then line with parchment and spray the parchment.
• Combine the cake mixes and pudding mixes in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on low to blend. With the speed still on low, add the oil, egg whites, 2 1/4 cups water and 20 drops forest green food coloring and mix until combined. Raise the speed to medium and mix until increased in volume, lighter in color and smooth, about 5 minutes.
• Pour the batter into the prepared baking sheets; smooth into an even layer using an offset spatula. Bake until golden on top and the edges pull away from the baking sheets, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely on the baking sheets, then freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
• For the frosting: Meanwhile, bring a few inches of water to a boil in a saucepan that can hold a heatproof stand mixer bowl above the water without the bottom of the bowl touching the water. Add the sugar, lemon juice, salt and egg whites to the mixing bowl and whisk together by hand. Set the bowl above the simmering water and whisk until the mixture is warm to the touch and the sugar is completely dissolved. Transfer to a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat at medium-high speed until cool and the whites hold stiff peaks, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Toss in a couple of chunks of butter at a time and continue beating, making sure the pieces are incorporated before adding more. After all the butter is added, continue beating on medium-high speed. The mixture will deflate and appear curdled. Continue beating until the frosting comes back together in a smooth and spreadable consistency. Slowly drizzle in the vanilla and leaf green food coloring while beating; beat until smooth and a vibrant green. (If the frosting is very soft or begins to break, refrigerate until set but still spreadable; beat until lightened before using.)
• To assemble the cake: Transfer the first cake to a cutting board and trim the edges with a serrated knife. Use a ruler to divide the cake into two 8-inch squares, two 3-inch squares and three 2-inch squares. Hold in the freezer while you cut the other cakes.
• Transfer the second cake to a cutting board and trim the edges with a serrated knife. Use a ruler to divide the cake into one 9-inch square, one 7-inch square, one 4-inch square and one 1-inch square. Hold in the freezer while you cut the other cake.
• Transfer the third cake to a cutting board and trim the edges with a serrated knife. Use a ruler to divide the cake into two 6-inch squares, three 5-inch squares and one 4-inch square. Reserve the scraps for another use.
• Spread a small amount of frosting onto a large cake board or cutting board to secure the cake. With a large offset spatula, carefully lift the 9-inch square onto the frosting. Spread a layer of frosting in the center of the cake, avoiding the corners. Place one 8-inch cake square on top of the first square, offsetting it slightly so that the corners of the 2 cakes do not line up. Spread some frosting in the middle of the second cake, avoiding the corners. Place the second 8-inch cake square on top, offsetting it so that the corners do not line up with either cake underneath it. Repeat this process with the remaining cake squares, working with progressively smaller squares and continuing to stack them in offset layers with frosting in between.
• Trim a wooden skewer to 10 inches and insert it through the cake from the top down to add support.
• Transfer the remaining frosting to a piping bag fitted with a small fluted tip. Pipe rows of separate leaves in a downward motion to cover the exposed tops of all the cakes, creating the illusion of pine needles; leave the sides bare.
• For the decorations: Dust the cake with the desiccated coconut and white nonpareils to give the appearance of snow.
• To make lights: Cut the gumdrops in half widthwise. Press the cut side of each gumdrop half into the bottom of a candy-coated chocolate to adhere. Press into the freshly piped frosting to make retro Christmas lights.
• For the star topper: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Lightly spray a 2 1/2-inch metal, star cookie cutter and a parchment-lined baking sheet with nonstick spray. 
• Put the cookie cutter on the baking sheet and fill with a single layer of the crushed mint candies. Bake until the candies have melted and filled the cutter, 4 to 6 minutes. Cool for 3 minutes, then unmold.  
• Before serving, place a birthday candle at the top of the cake with the star topper in front. Light the candle.  

Steps:

• Prepare the Cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat butter with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Gradually add sugar; beat until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, and beat just until incorporated after each addition, about 1 minute total. Beat in lemon juice and vanilla until combined, about 15 seconds. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl using a flexible spatula.
• Whisk together flour and baking soda in a small bowl until combined. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk in 4 additions, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating on low speed just until combined after each addition.
• Coat a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with baking spray, and line with parchment paper, leaving a 3-inch overhang on long sides. Lightly coat parchment paper with baking spray. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes. Remove cake from pan using parchment paper overhang as handles, and transfer to wire rack; let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Prepare the Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Reduce mixer speed to low, and gradually add powdered sugar, beating until incorporated, about 3 minutes. Increase mixer speed to medium, and beat frosting until fluffy, adding lemon juice, 1 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency.
• Measure 1 cup frosting into a small bowl, and set aside. Add 1 to 2 drops green food coloring gel to remaining frosting in mixing bowl; beat on medium speed until fully incorporated, adding additional gel if needed to reach desired shade of green.
• Assemble the Cake: Place cake on a platter. Using a serrated knife, cut cake into a triangular Christmas tree shape. Cut cake scraps into a tree trunk base and assorted-size presents. Frost top and sides of Christmas tree with green-dyed frosting. Attach cake base; frost base top and sides with green-dyed frosting.
• Sprinkle cake base with gold sugar pearls to completely cover top and sides. Sprinkle Christmas tree lightly with white sparkling sugar. Decorate cake with red decorating gel to resemble a light string. Attach green chewy candy halves to top of peanut candy pieces, pressing lightly to adhere to candy. Attach assembled candy lights to red string to resemble Christmas lights. Randomly press candy stars onto tree to resemble decorations.
• Frost top and sides of cake presents with reserved undyed white frosting. Pipe bows and ribbons onto presents using red and green decorating gel.