CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS TREE CAKE

By Nellie Palmer

This is so easy, you will fall in love with it and serve it every Christmas!

Purchase a set of star cookie cutters in graduated sizes. You should be able to find these at any department store. If you can’t find them locally, you can order them online for $9.99.

You will need a large - tall dowel. This can be found at a department store or craft store. Make sure the dowel is thick enough to be sturdy, but not so thick that it splits the cake pieces.

You only need five different cut out sizes to make this tree work.

Bake a boxed cake in a parchment and non-stick spray lined half pan cookie sheet- any flavor works, this one is devil’s food cake. You want the cooked cake layers to be about an inch to an inch and a half thick.

Wait until the cake cools to cut with the cutters.

Cut two to three of the largest size and one to two of the smaller sizes, depending on how much cake you have and how tall you want the tree.

Once the cakes are cut, decorate the edges with icing. Any color you wish!

On a flat cake plate, starting with the largest, layer the star cakes, alternating the points to form a tree.

Spear the center of the stars with the dowel to hold the cake together.

Cut the dowel, leaving 1 inch to place the top. Cut an extra small star and stand it vertical on the top, spearing it through the dowel to hold it in place.

You can leave this cake simple and plain or decorate it with candy for ornaments. The kids will have a lot of fun making this tree and will ask to make it every year!

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