Description
A delightful centerpiece for holiday gatherings featuring warm spice flavors and a festive design.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp fine salt
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup full-fat sour cream, room temperature
- 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- Green gel food coloring
- 3 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- 1 tsp fine salt
- 10 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature
- Green, yellow, and red gel food coloring
- Serrated knife
- Spinning cake stand
- Electric hand mixer or stand mixer
- 8-inch greaseproof cake board
- Small offset spatula
- Thick bubble tea straw or wooden dowel
- 2 large piping bags
- 3 small piping bags
- 1 open star piping tip
- 1 large French piping tip
- 2 small round piping tips
- 1 small French piping tip
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large bowl, mix flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg together.
- Add the room temperature butter and mix until crumbly.
- In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and mix with sour cream, apple sauce, oil, and vanilla until combined.
- Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture and mix until smooth.
- Divide the batter into prepared baking pans and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Once baked, let the cakes cool completely.
- While the cakes cool, make the buttercream. Beat the unsalted butter until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt, mixing until well combined.
- Add the heavy cream and mix until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Add green gel food coloring until you reach your desired shade.
- Once the cakes are cool, trim the tops to level them.
- Stack the cakes with a layer of buttercream in between each layer.
- Use the serrated knife to carve the cake into a tree shape.
- Frost the entire cake with the green buttercream.
- Decorate the tree with colored frosting using piping bags and tips to create ornaments and garlands.
Notes
Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for better mixing. Use a serrated knife for cleaner cuts when shaping the cake. Don’t rush the cooling process; cakes should be completely cool before frosting.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American