Ingredients:
For the Cake:
2 boxes of your favorite cake mix (or homemade cake batter) 🎂
4 large eggs 🥚
1 cup vegetable oil 🛢️
1 cup water 💧
1 tsp vanilla extract 🍦
For the Buttercream Frosting:
2 cups unsalted butter, softened 🧈
4 cups powdered sugar 🍩
2 tsp vanilla extract 🍦
2-4 tbsp heavy cream 🧴
Green food coloring 🎨 (for the tree color)
A pinch of salt 🧂
For the Decoration:
Colorful sprinkles (for ornaments) 🎉
Mini candy stars or star-shaped sprinkles (for the tree topper) 🌟
Red candy (like M&Ms or red hots) for berries 🍬
Miniature candy canes (optional) 🍬
Powdered sugar (for snow effect) 🍚
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Cake:
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans or two 9-inch round cake pans, depending on how large you want the tree. 🎂
Mix the Cake Batter: In a large bowl, follow the instructions on the cake mix box (or your homemade recipe). Typically, mix together the cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, water, and vanilla extract until smooth. 🥚🛢️🍦
Bake the Cake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake according to the package instructions (usually 25-30 minutes), or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. ⏲️
Cool the Cake: Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. ❄️
2. Prepare the Buttercream Frosting:
Beat the Butter: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy. 🧈
Add Powdered Sugar: Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition until the frosting is light and fluffy. 🍩
Add Vanilla and Cream: Mix in the vanilla extract, and then add the heavy cream a tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency for spreading or piping. 🧴🍦
Color the Frosting: Add green food coloring to the frosting and mix until you achieve your desired shade of green for the tree. 🎨
3. Assemble the Christ