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For the cake, you will need: - 2 cups all-purpose flour - 1 ½ cups granulated sugar - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened - 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature - 3 large eggs, at room temperature - 2 teaspoons baking powder - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - 1 teaspoon almond extract - ½ teaspoon salt - Green food coloring (1-2 teaspoons, to your liking) - 1 batch of buttercream frosting (see below) For the buttercream frosting, gather: - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened - 4 cups powdered sugar - 2-4 tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - Green food coloring (as needed) You can make your cake fun with these decorations: - Colorful sprinkles in red, gold, and silver - Mini candy ornaments for a festive touch - Star toppers to crown your cake If you want to change it up, think about using edible glitter or candy canes. You can mix and match styles to create your perfect cake! {{ingredient_image_2}} 1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 13x18-inch baking sheet or line it with parchment paper. This helps the cake come out easily. 2. In a large bowl, mix the softened butter and granulated sugar. Use an electric mixer to beat them until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. 3. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Then, add the vanilla and almond extracts and blend until smooth. 4. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Make sure they are well mixed. 5. Gradually add the dry mix to the wet mix, alternating with the milk. Start and end with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined, so you don’t overmix. 6. Add green food coloring a little at a time. Mix until you reach the shade you want. 1. Pour the green batter into the prepared baking sheet. Use a spatula to spread it evenly. 2. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. Check with a toothpick. It should come out clean when the cake is ready. 3. Once baked, let the cake cool fully on a wire rack before frosting. 1. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy. This takes about 2 minutes. 2. Gradually add in the powdered sugar, mixing on low speed. This helps avoid a sugar cloud! 3. Stir in 2 tablespoons of heavy cream or milk and the vanilla extract. Add more cream if needed to reach your desired consistency. 4. Add green food coloring if you want the frosting to match the cake. Beat the mixture until it is light, fluffy, and creamy. 1. Once the cake is fully cool, use an offset spatula to spread the green buttercream frosting evenly on top. 2. Get creative! Use colorful sprinkles, mini candy ornaments, or a festive star topper to make your cake look like a Christmas tree. 3. For fun shapes, cut the cake into triangle pieces. Arrange them on a festive platter to create a tree shape. Dust with powdered sugar for a snowy touch. To bake the perfect Christmas Tree Sheet Cake, keep these tips in mind: - Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter, eggs, and milk are at room temperature. This helps them mix well. - Preheat the Oven: Always preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures even baking. - Measure Ingredients Properly: Use dry measuring cups for flour and sugar. Level them off with a knife for accuracy. Common baking mistakes to avoid: - Overmixing Batter: Mix until just combined. Overmixing can make your cake dense. - Skipping the Parchment Paper: Line the baking sheet with parchment to make cake removal easy. - Not Testing for Doneness: Use a toothpick to check if the cake is done. It should come out clean. For even baking and texture, rotate the pan halfway through baking. This helps all sides bake evenly. Applying frosting smoothly is key to a pretty cake. Here’s how: - Use an Offset Spatula: This tool helps spread the frosting evenly. - Start in the Center: Place a dollop of frosting in the center and spread outwards. - Smooth the Edges: Run the spatula around the edge for a clean finish. For frosting styles, you can: - Create Swirls: Use the spatula to swirl the frosting for a fun look. - Make Peaks: Lift the spatula to create peaks for a festive touch. To cut the cake into tree shapes: - Use a Triangle Template: Cut the cake into triangles to mimic trees. - Arrange on a Platter: Place the triangles on a festive platter for a great display. For garnishes, consider: - Dusting with Powdered Sugar: This gives a snowy effect. - Adding Edible Decorations: Use colorful sprinkles or mini ornaments to bring the cake to life. These tips can help you create a beautiful and fun Christmas Tree Sheet Cake that will impress your guests! Pro Tips Make It Moist: Ensure all your ingredients, especially the eggs and milk, are at room temperature. This helps the batter mix more evenly and results in a moist cake. Perfectly Colored Frosting: Start with a small amount of green food coloring, and gradually add more until you achieve your desired shade. It’s easier to darken the color than to lighten it! Decorating Tips: For a festive touch, add edible glitter or gold sprinkles to your decorations to mimic the sparkle of ornaments on a Christmas tree. Cooling Time: Always let the cake cool completely before frosting. If it’s warm, the frosting may melt and slide off, ruining your beautiful design! {{image_4}} You can change the flavor of your Christmas Tree Sheet Cake. If you love chocolate, use cocoa powder. Replace ½ cup of flour with cocoa powder for a rich chocolate cake. Vanilla is another great choice. Simply skip the almond extract and use more vanilla for a classic taste. Frosting flavors can also switch things up. Try chocolate buttercream for a fun twist. Add melted chocolate to your basic buttercream recipe. You can even mix in peppermint extract for a minty flavor. This will taste great during the holiday season! Get creative with your cake decorations! You can choose themes beyond Christmas. For a winter wonderland, use white frosting and snowflake sprinkles. For a birthday, use colorful sprinkles and candles. Customize your decorations for any event. Use edible glitter for a magical look. You can also use fruit or candy to fit the theme. For Halloween, decorate with orange and black frosting. This way, your cake can shine at any occasion! To store your Christmas Tree Sheet Cake, follow these tips: - Short-term storage: Keep the cake in an airtight container at room temperature. It can stay fresh for up to three days. - Long-term storage: For longer storage, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. Place it in the freezer. It can last for up to three months when frozen. When you are ready to enjoy it again, thaw the cake in the fridge overnight. This keeps it moist and tasty. The cake lasts well at room temperature for about three days. If you keep it in the fridge, it can last for about a week. The buttercream frosting can also stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week. For edible decorations, keep them in a cool, dry place. They can last for several weeks if stored properly. Avoid placing them on the cake until serving time for the best look. Yes, you can make this cake ahead of time. Bake it one or two days before your event. Let the cake cool completely. Wrap it well in plastic wrap. Store it in the fridge to keep it fresh. When you're ready, frost it and add decorations. This makes it easy to enjoy your party without stress. If you want a dairy-free or vegan option, try using coconut oil or vegan butter. Both options work well and keep the cake moist. Make sure to use the same amount as the butter in the recipe. You can also use applesauce for a lighter texture, but reduce the sugar slightly. To reduce the sweetness of the frosting, use less powdered sugar. You can also add a pinch of salt to balance the flavor. Another tip is to mix in some cream cheese for a tangy twist. This change adds flavor without making it too sweet. Adjust until you find the taste you love. Yes, you can use a different size pan, but baking time may change. If you use a smaller pan, the cake will be thicker. This means you may need to bake it longer. For a larger pan, the cake will bake faster. Always check for doneness with a toothpick inserted in the center. Adjust time as needed. This blog post covered how to make a Christmas Tree Sheet Cake. You learned about the key ingredients and decorations. We walked through easy steps for baking and cooling your cake. I shared tips for frosting and presentation. You even saw a few fun variations. Now, you can create a festive treat for your holiday gathering. Enjoy making this cake and sharing it with loved ones. Let your creativity shine in the kitchen!

Christmas Tree Sheet Cake

A festive and colorful sheet cake designed to resemble a Christmas tree, topped with green buttercream frosting and decorated with edible ornaments.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 20

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 cups granulated sugar
  • 0.5 cups unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cups whole milk, room temperature
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 1-2 teaspoons green food coloring
  • 1 batch buttercream frosting
  • as needed edible decorations

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a 13x18-inch baking sheet by greasing it or lining it with parchment paper for effortless cake removal.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter and granulated sugar. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Incorporate the eggs into the mixture one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Follow with the vanilla and almond extracts, blending until fully combined.
  • In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until well mixed.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the room temperature milk. Start and finish with the flour mixture, mixing until just combined — aim for no lumps without overmixing.
  • Blend in the green food coloring gradually until you reach your desired shade of green, ensuring the color is evenly incorporated throughout the batter.
  • Pour the vibrant batter into the prepared baking sheet, using a spatula to spread it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • While the cake bakes, prepare the buttercream frosting. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Gradually add in the powdered sugar, mixing on low speed until fully combined.
  • Stir in 2 tablespoons of heavy cream (or milk), vanilla extract, and additional green food coloring if desired. Increase the mixer speed to high and beat until the frosting is light, fluffy, and creamy, adding more cream as needed to reach your ideal consistency.
  • Once the cake has fully cooled on a wire rack, use an offset spatula to spread the green buttercream frosting evenly over the top of the cake, creating a smooth layer.
  • Get creative with your decorations: sprinkle colorful edible decorations like sprinkles or mini candy ornaments across the frosting, and crown the cake with a festive star topper to complete the Christmas tree look.

Notes

Cut the sheet cake into triangle shapes to mimic Christmas trees and arrange them on a festive platter.
Keyword cake, Christmas, dessert, sheet cake