Christmas Tree Cakes

Title: Christmas Tree Cakes

Categories: Cakes

Yield: 1 servings

1 pk Yellow cake mix,

18 1/4 oz

1 tb Grated orange peel

1 c Softened butter

1 1/2 pk Softened cream cheese,

8 oz

1 1/2 ts Vanilla

1 1/2 pk Confectioners' sugar,

16 oz

Green food coloring

Assorted decorations: small

Candies,

Colored sugars, assorted

Sprinkles, nonpareils, small

Caramel rolls,

Licorice sticks (cut in 1

-1/2 in pieces)

350. Grease

1 jelly roll pan; line with

waxed paper; grease paper. Prepare cake mix according to pack

directions for "lite" recipe, beating in orange peel. Pour batter

into pan; bake 20 minutes or until wooden pick comes out clean. Cool

cake in pan at least 15 minutes. Invert onto board covered with waxed

paper; lift off pan; peel away paper from bottom of cake. Cool

completely. While cake cools, from lightweight cardboard, cut 4 base,

1/2 sides;

3 base,

4 sides;

2 1/2 base,

3 1/2 sides;

2 1/4 base,

2 3/4 sides. Using cardboard patterns, cut triangles of cake,

turning & fitting patterns, as necessary, to use all of cake. Take

care to remove waxed paper from under cake. In large bowl with mixer

at medium speed, beat butter, cream cheese & vanilla until light &

fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar; beat 5-7 minutes

until thoroughly blended & smooth. Remove half of frosting & stir in

green food coloring to desired shade. Using flexible metal spatula,

spread frosting over top & sides of cake triangle, smoothing it on or swirling gently to resemble tree branches. Decorate cakes as desired

with candies, colored sugars, assorted sprinkles & nonpareils. Using

tip of small knife, gently hollow out small area in center of bottom

edge of each tree; insert caramel roll or licorice sticks for trunks.

MMMMM