Tea Time Treats, Chocolate & Little Spiced Chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe
Tea Time Treats, Chocolate and
Little Spiced Chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe
Little Spiced Chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe
I have been playing in the kitchen, now and then the urge to make childlike cakes and bakes takes over, and I need to be immersed in piping bags, edible glitter and lovely little cake decorations. There needs to be rich chocolate in the air and fairy gold dust on the table……there must also be exotic spices and warm vanilla fragrances and cake cases must be gold, silver or bright red foil. Noses must be wearing icing sugar and fingers must be laced with lick-able buttercream, it’s an elemental requirement for any Christmas baking. There must be garish food colourings and boxes of tree decorations to hand, the small edible tree decorations kind that is, not the big snowy spruce trees that I so love to view from my kitchen window. These Little Spiced Chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes are frivolous in looks but deliciously spiced and quite grown up in taste, proving the age-old adage to never judge a Christmas Tree cake by it’s sparkly sprinkles, or something like that………
Snow Covered Magical Christmas Tree
…….so, whilst I gaze out of my Jack Frost painted window and wonder at the wintry scene outside, as well as admire the snow-covered magical outdoor Christmas spruce trees, I can be munching on spiced chocolate cake with sweet vanilla icing, crunching on stars and little lustred pearls, it’s a pleasurable occupation that I need to immerse myself in now and then. These little Spiced Chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes have lit up many a glum face at my festive table, and they make fabulous gifts too……just pop half a dozen in a box with a suitably bright and brash bow and give them to family and friends – make it a new tradition, that small Christmas trees can be cakes and can be presented in dozens in boxes. (Don’t forget to make a Baker’s Dozen too, so that the thirteenth cake can be devoured by the cook in the kitchen….)
Spiced Chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes
These little cakes are my offering for Tea Time Treats this December, which, is a monthly baking challenge run by myself and Kate over at What Kate Baked, where the current challenge has been posted…….and the theme for the festive month is quite sensibly CHOCOLATE! But, cunning she fox that I am, I realise that these little cakes will also fit VERY nicely into TWO more baking and cooking challenges. We Should Cocoa, where the ingredient is Cinnamon this month and is hosted by Choclette, and also One Ingredient, where the ingredient is Ginger and is hosted by Nazima this month with Laura supporting in the wings……hence me killing three challenges with ONE very well dressed cake!
Little Spiced Chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes
I hope you enjoy these little cakes as much as we did, that’s the BIG kids in my family, as well as childish friends too, who suggested I bake a whole Christmas scene…..the recipe, as always, is shared below and please do let me know if you make these, they are delightful little festive morsels, as well as being pretty and also just a little bit kitsch. My Advent Calender window for the 11th of December has been opened, see below..,,….time is certainly rolling on quite rapidly now for the big day, but do try to take time out of a busy day for a cup of something hot with a cake. Bye for now, see you later with MORE festive recipes as well as some handy stand-by recipes to make when time has run away……..Karen
Little Spiced Chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe
Day Eleven on the Advent Calender:
11th December:
Gold Star for top of the Christmas Tree
Little Spiced Chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe
Little Spiced Chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes
Print recipe
| Serves | 12 Christmas Tree Cakes |
| Prep time | 15 minutes |
| Cook time | 30 minutes |
| Total time | 45 minutes |
| Allergy | Egg, Milk, Wheat |
| Dietary | Vegetarian |
| Meal type | Dessert, Side Dish, Snack |
| Misc | Child Friendly, Freezable, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold |
| Occasion | Birthday Party, Casual Party, Christmas, Formal Party |
| Region | British |
| By author | Karen S Burns-Booth |
Ingredients
Cakes
- 100 g (4 oz) butter or margarine (I sometimes use Stork margarine)
- 200 g (7 oz) caster sugar
- 50 g (2 oz) dark chocolate
- 2 medium eggs
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 175 g (6 oz) Self Raising Flour
- 120 ml (8 tbsp) milk
Buttercream
- 100 g (4oz) butter or margarine
- 225 g (8 oz) sieved icing sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- green food colouring
Decorations
- edible gold stars
- edible lustred pearls
- Edible green or gold glitter
Note
These delightful little Spiced Chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes will bring a smile to the faces of all who see and eat them! Lightly spiced chocolate cakes are decorated with vanilla buttercream to look like mini Christmas Trees, and are suitably decorated with stars and edible lustred pearls. The cakes can me made ahead of time and then frozen before decorating nearer the time or on the day. These also make wonderful and fun gifts for family and friends - just pop them in a cake box and add a BIG ribbon for BIG smiles!
Directions
| Step 1 | Heat oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4. Grease a 12 hole muffin tray or line with paper or foil cases. |
| Step 2 | Cakes: Cream margarine/butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in melted chocolate and eggs. |
| Step 3 | Sieve salt, spices and flour and stir in alternately with the milk. |
| Step 4 | Divide the mixture between the prepared cake/muffin cases and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until well risen and cooked. Allow to cool for a few minutes in the tin before taking out and leaving to go cold on a wire rack before decorating. |
| Step 5 | Buttercream: Cream fat, gradually add icing sugar and cream together, then add the vanilla and colouring. |
| Step 6 | Decorating: Using a piping bag with a large star shape nozzle, pipe the green butter cream on top of the cold cakes as seen in the photos, like a mini tree. |
| Step 7 | Place a gold star on top and sprinkle the pearls over the trees....adding some edible glitter to a final flourish too! |
| Step 8 | Arrange on a cake stand and store excess cakes in an airtight container for up top 4 days. |
Little Spiced Chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe
A Christmas Tree! A Christmas Tree!
A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
With dark green needled memories
Of childhood dreams and mysteries
Wrapped present-like in front of me.
A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
I glimpse a past wherein i see
The child that then grew into me
Not forward fast but haltingly.
A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
A time for being with family
A time that’s gone so fleetingly
Yet lives for always deep in me.
A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
When twelfth night comes whole hauntingly
One lingered look and then i see
No Christmas tree where it would be.
A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
With feelings now felt longingly
No corner in my house to see
The magic of that Christmas tree.
David Keig
Spiced Chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes
thelittleloaf says
SUCH a cute idea! I love these – definitely going to make them for our Christmas Eve party.
Karen Booth says
Thanks! I loved making them and we ALL loved eating them! They do make a lovely display for the Christmas tea time table! Karen
Lorna says
What an absolute delight!
Karen Booth says
Thanks so much Lorna! Karen
Kathryn says
These are adorable and I love that you made them with a hint of spice as well – so perfect at this time of year!
Karen Booth says
I DO like spice with chocolate and it somehow makes them more grown up!
Jude A Trifle Rushed says
Karen, they are so cute, we well make a version this weekend, but maybe less spice, so they can go into school next week and be shared amongst my daughter’s class, I know the girls would just love them.
Karen Booth says
Thanks Jude, they would be huge fun to make with C and the spices can be left out for little ones! Karen
Dominic says
oh Karen, they are spectacular!… I love that really they are quite simple to make but the christmas tree frosting is genius and make them look so pretty and so sophisticated… well done my darling, they really really are lovely. x
Karen Booth says
You are too kind Dom, they are fun and taste good and I loved making them = result! Karen
Choclette says
Karen I do love your way over the top cakes that are so fun and cheerful. These have certainly put a smile on my face. And how clever of you to get them into three challenges too. I am honoured that We Should Cocoa is one of them 🙂
Karen Booth says
Thanks Choclette, the idea was for Tea Time Treats and then I added the spices, and eh voila! Karen
Sarah says
I think Christmas is going to have to stretch well into January, there are so many cakes I’d like to bake, there needs to be more time to fit them all in. These definitely have to go on the list – love the green icing!
Karen Booth says
Thanks Sarah – fun and pretty tasty too…..not bad! I MUST keep off them though, it’s just that I know there are still half a dozen lurking in the pantry! Karen
Sophie says
These are just adorable! I’m not feeling very festive at the moment, but these gorgeous cakes might just be the Christmassy kick I need – thank you!
Karen Booth says
I hope these get you in the mood Sophie! 🙂 Karen
KIT says
Oh WOW! These are such beautiful cakes! So festive & absolutely love the green color! Love your presentation & the pictures are so lovely & Christmassy ! 🙂
Flair 4 Cakes says
These are beautiful. So Christmassy, think I might have to give them a go and see what the office thinks.
Karen Booth says
Thanks so much! I am sure the office would love these brought in before the Christmas party! Karen
kellie@foodtoglow says
Adorably edible. Love the spices. You are very artistic. My version would look like the cat decorated them. He is quite talented though, so maybe not ;D
Sarah Lamb says
These look lovely!
ashleigh says
Wow love these – they look amazing!
Karen Booth says
Thanks, all gone now but they were fun to make and tasty to eat!
Camilla @Fabfood4all says
Aren’t these just divine!
Carol Peace says
These are very festive.
Tink Rhonda Lee Mse says
Mmmmmmm these look lovely!
Kelly Koya says
I love the decoration on these, I’ve been hunting for some festive decorating ideas – will def be trying this one!
Mark Whittaker says
These sound delicious . I have been experimenting with putting a little jrat into my chocolate cake with something other than ginger, I have come close but the best I think I have managed so far is by heating the frosting, rather than putting it into the cake, the sweetness seems to make getting the balance right much easier.
Mark Whittaker says
The last comment should say getting some “heat”
Andrea MacLeod says
These look delicious !
Karen Booth says
Thanks!
tracy says
Awww these are so cute, wish I could make something as lovely as this.
Clare Webb says
Oh my! It wasn’t a good idea looking at these before starting my diet! They look yummy! Don’t think they’d last long enough to share though!
Makey-Cakey says
These are so cute – gorgeous!
Sophie Mellish says
I made cupcakes just like these before christmas, except I just used a hint of vanilla bean paste in the sponge for fussy relatives! Everyone loved them, whether young or old. Such a lovely idea 🙂
Karen Booth says
Thanks Sophie! I added vanilla to my butter cream as the cakes were spiced chocolate, but, I would happily make them again with vanilla in the cakes too!
Emma Hicks says
What a fabulous idea, I have never thought to make cupcakes with a Christmas tree design! One to bookmark for next Christmas, thank you!
Christine Mutter says
These look devine, Ive just started to improve on my cupcake skills and managed to make pumpkin cupcakes at haloween but didn’t have enough time over xmas, think I’ll give it a go over valentines
Jo Young says
These look so delicious, I especially love the way you’ve iced them, the stars are so cute!
Karen Booth says
Thanks Jo! These went down so well over Christmas!
anthony harrington says
what a fab idea! will deffo bookmark these!
Eva Vida says
I would make them one day.They look great
Karen Booth says
Thanks Eva! Next Christmas maybe!
Patricia Bond says
Your cupcakes look great I am love cupcakes but my icing skills are not good so always interested to see different ways to decorate them that are not too complicated. In my case simple is always best!
Karen Booth says
These little Christmas fairy cakes were very easy to make, I am sure you could manage to make them!
Avvie Cunnington says
These look amazing! I know its not xmas anymore but think of the designs you could add on these. Love the little spice surprise aswell.
Helen Tyler says
Well if these taste as good as they look I’d eat the lot! 🙂
Joanne Martin says
These looking stunning
Dee says
beautiful, i love cup cakes. These look absolutely fab. I dont think i know anyone that doesnt like them. These give me the inspiration to get baking myself.
Beverley says
Wow! Just – wow! I shall definitely be making these for our second Christmas this February (long story!).
sarah pearce says
cakes aren’t just for christmas!!!will be trying out these at the weekend with my daughter,she loves this sort of thing.maybe get some hearts instead of stars for valentines!?
Jen Schofield says
These are great not just for at christmas too!
Jo Turner says
Wow! These look and sound yummy. Will definitely give these a go next Xmas x
Rhian Bailey says
These look so pretty!
Franglais kitchen says
wonderful pictures and such a pretty arrangement for these lovely spiced cupcakes! thanks for linking to one ingredient Karen. Doing a (late) roundup post.
lisa hughes says
missed these lovely cakes for the xmas just gone ,but have made a note of them for this year.
Hollie Adlam says
WOW! These look absolutely stunning, i am going to bookmark this for next Christmas!
olivia kirby says
Definitely making these this Christmas!! Must bookmark! Melody would love them.
Joanne Benham says
I am so going to make these this x-mas, the look Amazing!! Bet they taste pretty darn good too!!
Tracy Nixon says
shared via G+1
Maya Russell says
Shared on Twitter as @maisietoo – https://twitter.com/maisietoo/status/302097644908593153
shelley jessup says
yummy I love cupcakes they are my weakness! sharing on twitter as @jessups
Janice says
Very creative cakes as is expected of you my dear.
Maya Russell says
Shared on Twitter again as @maisietoo – https://twitter.com/maisietoo/status/312504970060652544
Katie Last says
These look gorgeous. Not usually a fan of cupcakes but these look like something I could get on board with!
ursula hunt says
Very festive and a great idea for a cupcake
ursula hunt says
I had Christmas early in my house because I couldn’t resist making these!
Maya Russell says
Shared with G+. Not only do these cakes look so good, I love the cupcake stand. Trouble is, do I have room in the kitchen for one?
Paul Wilson says
These would certainly perk up tea time.
Maya Russell says
Shared on Facebook.