Christmas Tree Cake {Tutorial}

Although I must extend my apologies immediately, because my dear little Christmas tree cake morphed into a 2nd Birthday Cake for my little girl.

I do hope you can still get the general idea of how it all comes about!

Lets get started!

First, start off by baking your cake.  I like a sturdy white cake, and this recipe has done me well.

Since we were actually planning on eating this cake, I wanted to make it an appropriate size for our family, so I used a 6in. pan.

This left me plenty of batter to make some pink and purple cupcakes, my little girls favorite colors.

1. Place your cake on your stand.

2. Find something that will give you a circle imprint on your cake.

3. Trace around it so you know where you are carving.  Do this on both sides of your cake.

Carve out a half circle.  This will be one half of the ornament we are putting inside.

 

I chose pink and purple for my ornament colors.  I just put four cupcake in a bowl for the pink and two for the purple, then added some on my white frosting to create a sturdy consistency.  (the same application you would use in making cake balls)

Cut out a tiny dot for the tippy top of the ornament.  I went ahead and cut through all the way to the cake stand.  

This will actually help me to remember which layer goes on top!

Start adding your cake ball mixture, and be mindful of the edges.  We are going for straight lines in our ornament, so I also used a glass to help me get a uniformly straight line.

Alternate your colors (you can use as many or as few colors as you want!) until both layers of cake are level.

Flip your 'top' layer on to your bottom layer and do a quick crumb coat.

Since this is going to be a ruffle cake, your crumb coat does not have to be perfect in the slightest!

And now for a SPECIAL treat... a ruffle tutorial! Hope you dont mind, but this technique is so fun and easy I couldnt resist sharing!

Martha recommends using a #103 tip.  I think you can easily use a #102 or a #104 as well, and I did end up using a #102 for this cake.

This tip has a small opening and a larger one on the opposite end.

Make sure the SMALL end of the tip is facing out and the larger end of the tip is touching the cake (slightly) as you pipe.

The technique itself is simple, just choose how wide you want your ruffle, then pipe back and forth... going left to right all the way up the side of the cake.

I would take a step back from the cake every three or four rows, just to make sure your rows are straight!

You can also make straight lines up the side of the crumb coat to help you keep upright all the way around your cake.

Wanna see the cake??

This ornament is definitely one of my favorites.  It lends itself beautifully to any color or design... I cant wait to see what fun I will have with it next year!

I hope you will try the Ruffle/Ornament cake.  And if you do, be sure to let me know!

(Audrey's birthday post is here.. short and sweet!)

Comments

[Alice Dwyer]

Gorgeous. I absolutely love the ruffle look. What a fabulous cake!

[susan]

we have to get you out here to california to do some classes!!! i am going to work on that.
you are my idol! xx

[Ai]

How cute!! The ruffles are amazing! If I got this cake on my birthday as a little girl, I'd cry with joy :)

xoxo
Ai

[Kristen]

This is amazing - can't wait to try it!

[holly]

Gorgeous!! I love the layered look:)

[Mela Kamin]

Amazing! That tree cake with the ornament inside is incredible too! You are so gifted. Thank you for sharing!

[Joy]

Just beautiful. My daughter would also approve of the colors as well! Merry Christmas!!!

[aimee]

Adorable - what a fun birthday cake!! :)

Aimee

[Paula]

Amanda, Amanda, Amanda! You stand alone in the field of decorating cakes with surprises inside. Your talent is undeniable and even with this wonderful tutorial I doubt that I would attempt this. You continue to inspire and awe me with your skills. Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and all the best to you and your *growing* family in 2011.

[Nic]

That is one gorgeous cake, thanks for the tutorial!
Happy Birthday to your daughter.

[Erica B.]

Thanks for sharing this info! The cake came out so pretty and I loved the pics of your little one on your other blog.

[Aimee @ Simple Bites]

Amazing, as always.

[Tanja]

Adorable!

[naomi]

Beautiful! You are so talented. Can you please teach me some piping skills?! I love it and can't wait to try this ribbon piping.

[CM @ A Little Lilac]

Wow, that's simply the most beautiful 2 year old's cake I have ever seen! Amazing.

[Ema]

cuteness!!!

[Jeri]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!! Happy Birthday to your little one:-). Have a blessed Christmas!

[Amy]

Thank you for sharing, this is a wonderful cake! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours. Can't wait to see what else you come up with.....

[linda]

happy b.day to your little girl!
thanks for this great tutorial…AMAZING!!!!
happy & joyous holiday!

[Jessica @ How Sweet]

You blow me away ALL the time. I could never, ever, ever do this. I would end up throwing the entire thing out of the window out of impatience. You are amazing.

[Renee]

So cute! I love it.

[Crystal Whittaker Gracioso]

Love it, my friend! Sorely tempted...I have two more cakes this season...Jesus' birthday cake (I've decided to NOT do the star inside...lol) and Genesis' My Little Pony cake. I'll let you know if I attempt the ruffles on either one. I'm thinking Jesus' birthday cake, mostly because the MLP cake will have Pony figures on it. I'll tag ya! :-)

[shari]

I make baskets filled with cookies and brownies, every year for people at Christmas. Been doing it every year for 16 years. This cake is so beautiful, next year I might do one for everyone, as a change. Bet you by the time I do my 10th cake, I will be an expert! I sae the ruffles on Martha Stewart, and you took it one step further.
I follow you with a passion!

[Tiffany @ Conor & Bella]

Thanks for the tutorial! This looks so fantastic.

[Merlot]

Wow! That looks amazing! Thanks for the step-by-step instructions! I think i might attemt this soon!

[marla {family fresh cooking}]

So that is how you make these SPECTACULAR cakes! OMG, Amanda this is so fun. Your little girl must be so pleased with her cake. Can you imagine the stuff you will be baking as she gets bigger?!
Great step by step. XO

[Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com}]

LOVE IT!
So beautiful, I love the colors. What a perfect cake for you little sweetie!

[Jenny]

I love you for posting this tutorial.

[Cookbook Queen]

I love this more than the first one!!!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Will you adopt me so I can have pink and purple cakes for MY birthday? I'll be 31 on Jan 9th, so be thinking about what kind I'm getting.

Thanks :)

You are so dang talented, I can hardly stand it. Are you a robot? Surely you are not human.

[Mayerlin]

yum yum yum yum!!!!!! I am celebrating my son's 13th month day just to make this cake (actually making a disastrous looking thing but i promises to give it my best shot) =)

[Nicole]

adorable! I specially love all the girly ruffles!

[Robyn]

Thank you for sharing some of your magic. And you made it look doable!!!

Merry Christmas to your family! Can't wait to see what all you come up with in 2011!

[Wenderly]

Happiest of Birthdays to you Audrey! You are one lucky little girl to have such a talented momma!

[colleen]

Thank ypu for showing us how to make the ornament! I was trying to figure it out on my own :O) I am going to make this cake for Christmas eve!

[SMITH BITES]

BRILLIANT!!!!

[bridget {bake at 350}]

You ROCK, Amanda!!! Thank you so much for posting the tutorial. I may never be brave enough to put an ornament in a cake, but I have big plans for that ruffle! ;)

[Eva]

Really pretty cake and great tutorial! Happy Holidays!

[Jen @ Passion-for-Parties.com]

Ever since you posted the bat cake I have been DYING to know how in the world you got a design inside! I am SOOOO excited that you are sharing a tutorial! THANK YOU, brilliant cake woman, and Merry Christmas to you! :)

[infinitsky]

Thank you for taking the time to make this wonderful tutorial.... You should write a cake decorating book with all your technics and different designs on making a cake pattern inside another cake?
I think it will sell good....
Have a Merry Christmas an a Nice New Year! :-)

[Amy's blah, blah, blog]

Another Amazing Amanda creation!

I have got to do those ruffles next time I make a cake. I could just eat them up...literally!!

[Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather]

So pretty! I love that cake! I will definitely give that a whirl next time I need an awesome cake.

[Anne Marie]

What an awesome idea!!

[Mary C.]

So cute! I think I am going to have to give the stuffed cake another try. My cross cake didn't turn out last year. This cake gives me hope!

[Stella]

Did you use the swiss meringue buttercream as well? Your cake is just lovely!

[grace]

yes, this is pretty, and yes, this is festive, but do you know the main reason i love it so? more frosting, less cake. :)

[abenk]

pleased to meet your blog...
COME VISIT ME...OK...thank you very much

[Miranda]

Thanks so much for this post! I tried to make a cake, and even though I have a lot of practice a head of me to make it look perfect - it was FUN!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2062433&id=1493380090&l=59a474f898

[Dina]

that's really cute!

[Dianne]

You are so creative! I love this!

[momsib]

Wow! Just found your site. I can't believe how good your instructions are and how cute this cake is. Can't wait to see what you do for Valentine's Day!!! This looks delicious. Thank you for sharing your talents!