Christmas Tree Coffee Cake Food

CHRISTMAS TREE COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• In large mixing bowl throughly mix 2 cups flour, sugar, salt& dry yeast. Set aside.
• In small saucepan combine milk, water and butter.
• Heat to 130ºF (butter does not need to melt).
• Slowly add liquid to the above dry ingredients; beat for 2 minutes with electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally.
• Add egg and 1 cup flour.
• Beat at high speed additional 2 minutes.
• Stir in enough remaining flour to make stiff dough (approx. 1 cup).
• Cover tightly.
• Refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 3 days.
• When ready to make rolls, prepare filling.
• In large mixing bowl combine cream cheese, sugar, salt, nutmeg and vanilla.
• Beat just until well blended.
• Stir in drained pineapple.
• Grease 2 large cookie sheets.
• Divide dough in half; keep one half in refrigerator while working with other half.
• On lightly floured surface roll first dough half to an 11" x 10" rectangle.
• Spread with half of the cream cheese pineapple filling.
• Roll up on 11" side- pinch seams to seal.
• Cut into 1" slices and arrange in shape of Christmas tree on cookie sheet.
• Cover lightly with plastic wrap.
• Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
• Let arranged slices rise approximately 1 hour in draft free warm place.
• Preheat oven to 375ºF- Bake 15 minutes; cover with aluminum foil to prevent browning.
• Bake additional 5-10 minutes.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool.
• Place cherries, cut side down in center of each roll.
• Combine powdered sugar with milk and drizzle over the rolls.

CHRISTMAS CAKE COOKIES

Steps:

• For the cookie: Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the granulated sugar, butter and shortening. Add the eggs 1 at a time, mixing well between additions. Add the vanilla extract and vanilla seeds and mix well. Add the sour cream and mix until just combined. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat on low until just mixed through; the dough will be sticky. Shape into a rectangle and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for a couple of hours or overnight.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or silicone baking mats.
• Roll out the dough on a floured surface about 1/4 inch thick and cut into 2 1/2-inch rounds. Place the rounds on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until the cookies are puffed and cooked through but have not taken on any color, 13 to 15 minutes. Remove the cookies to a wire rack to cool.
• For the frosting: When ready to decorate, make the frosting. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and vanilla until smooth. Slowly add the powdered sugar and salt and beat on medium until smooth and fluffy. Add the heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time until the frosting is fairly thick. Add the gel paste and stir to evenly combine.
• Use a butter knife to spread the frosting on the cookies, then decorate with 3 cinnamon imperials in the center of each cookie. Leave overnight to set.

CHRISTMAS TREE SURPRISE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
• You have to bake 3 cakes, but bake them one at a time, mixing up the batter only when you're ready to bake. For 2 of the cakes, tint the batter green. For the third cake, tint the batter red. Bake each cake until the center springs back when lightly touched, about 45 minutes.
• Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert the cake onto a wire rack to cool. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes so the cake becomes firm.
• Carve and level the cakes: Using plates, bowls, glasses or round cookie cutters to trace around, cut the following: From the two green cakes, cut out 4 rounds: 8 inch, 6 inch, 4 inch, and 2 inch. Then from the red cake, cut out 4 rounds: 7 inch, 5 inch, 3 inch, and 1 inch. Take the round cookie cutter and cut a hole through the centers of the 4 inch, 5 inch, 6 inch, and 7 inch layers. (Save all the scraps for making Christmas-colored cake pop dough!)
• Make the buttercream frosting. Measure out 1 cup and tint it red. Tint the rest dark green.
• Spread a little green frosting on the cake board, lay down the 8 inch green cake layer, and spread a layer of frosting on top. Add the 7 inch red layer and repeat, taking care not to frost the inside edges of the center hole. Continue stacking and frosting gradually smaller cake layers until you reach the 4 inch layer.
• Take the 3 cups of candy and fill the center core of the tree, pressing down a little to compact the candy. Frost the top of the 4 inch layer and continue stacking and frosting until all the layers are stacked.
• Once stacked, take a serrated knife and gently carve away the sharp edges of the layers to form a tall cone shape. Apply a very thin "crumb coat" of frosting all over the outside of the cake. Set in the fridge for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the Christmas lights. Melt the Candy Melts. Cut the colored Tic Tac candies in half crosswise. Use a toothpick dipped in the melted candy to attach a Tic Tac to the end of a peanut M and M of the same color (the M and M is the bulb and the Tic Tac is the base). You will need about 40 of these.
• To make the star for the top of the tree, trace around a star cookie cutter onto parchment. Pipe an outline of white melted candy, then fill in the shape. Place a lollipop stick in the center and cover with more melted candy. Sprinkle with sanding sugar and let set at room temperature.
• Place the green frosting into a piping bag fitted with a number 21 open star tip. Starting at the top of the cake, pipe 3/4 inch long strands of frosting in neat rows around the entire cake, like layers of pine branches on a Christmas tree.
• Once the cake is covered, place the red frosting into a piping bag fitted with a number 21 piping tip and pipe draping lines of "tinsel" around the cake. Attach the colored M and M lights directly to the red frosting. Work quickly here, as the frosting will start to form a crust, which can make attaching the decorations difficult.
• Take the star and flip it over. Coat the back with white melted candy and sprinkle with sanding sugar. Allow to set. Insert the lollipop stick into the center of the top of the tree.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8 x 3 inch round cake pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a round of parchment paper.
• In a stand mixer, with the whisk or paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar, and eggs on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Using the tip of a sharp knife, scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the mixer bowl. Add the oil to the creamed mixture and combine.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Add the flour mixture and milk to the creamed mixture and beat on high speed until the flour is completely mixed, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Scrape the batter into the pan and use an offset spatula to smooth the top.
• Bake until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes. Check after 45 minutes, and if the top is browning too much, tent with foil. Cool the cake in the pan for 15 minutes, then run a metal spatula around the edge of the cake and invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• In a stand mixer with the whisk or paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed for at least 5 minutes, until the butter has lightened in color and is thoroughly whipped. Using the tip of a sharp knife, scrape the vanilla seeds into the butter and beat to incorporate.
• Add 1 cup of the sugar and begin mixing on low speed to combine, then beat on high speed for about 2 minutes. Repeat this process 1 cup at a time until all the sugar has been added. Add milk a dash at a time if the mixture becomes too thick or dry. Scrape down the sides as needed and make sure no sugar is visible.
• The frosting will last for 1 month in the freezer, 2 weeks in the fridge, and 3 days at room temperature.

CHRISTMAS COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the first five ingredients; mix well. Set aside. Drain cherries on paper towels. In a bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla; mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream. Fold in cherries., Pour half of the batter into a greased 9-in. springform pan; sprinkle with half of the pecan mixture. Top with remaining batter and pecan mixture. Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen. Remove sides of pan just before serving.

CUPCAKE CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line the muffin tin with the muffin cases. Put half the butter, sugar and vanilla in a bowl, and beat until pale and fluffy. Add one egg and mix well. Add half the flour and milk, and mix with a spatula until combined. Use 2 teaspoons to distribute the cake mixture evenly among the cases and bake for 12 mins until risen and golden, and a skewer inserted to the centre comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Repeat to make another batch of 24 mini cakes.
• While the cakes are cooling, make the icing. Put the butter and icing sugar in a bowl and beat until smooth. Add the vanilla and food colouring, and blend again until evenly coloured. Transfer the icing to a piping bag fitted with a small star nozzle. Once the cakes have cooled, use a skewer to make a small hole in the base of each cake. To decorate the cakes, pipe blobs of green icing over the surface of each one.
• Now you're ready to start assembling your Christmas tree. Paint the foam cone all over with green paint and leave to dry - don't worry about it being too neat. Push the cone into the pot. To build the tree, push a cocktail stick into the base of each cake and press it into the cone. Continue until the cone is covered in cakes, trying to keep them as close together as possible. You may have some left over, which you can serve alongside the tree.
• Spray the chocolate star gold and put on top of the tree, then decorate the rest of the tree with sweets. The cakes will last for 3 days.

CHRISTMAS COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Cream together shortening, sugar, and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat well after each. Sift together flour, baking powder, and baking soda. add 1/3 dry ingredients to batter, then 1/3 sour cream. Repeat additions of dry ingredients and sour cream two more times, beating only until incorporated after each addition.
• For topping: mix with a fork the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans. Grease a 9x13-inch pan. Put half the batter in the pan, then half the topping, remaining batter, and remaining topping.
• Bake at 350 for 28 minutes in a metal pan, or at 325 for 30-35 minutes in a pyrex pan.