Christmas cupcake tree by Hansells Recipes
Cakes and Tarts
Serves: 1
Ingredients:
8, 4cm base diameter cupcake cases
34, 2cm base diameter cupcake cases
24, 2cm base diameter truffle cases
250g butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
4 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
2 tablespoons Hansells Baking Powder
2 teaspoons Hansells Baking Soda
2 cups water
To Assemble and Decorate
3 cups icing sugar
4 -6 tablespoons hot water
Edible decorations such as hundreds and thousands, silver balls and food colouring
1 brick of florists' dry arrangement foam
Foil
Toothpicks
Icing sugar
Method:
Place the cupcake cases in muffin tins.
Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until combined. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda together. Mix into the creamed mixture a little at a time alternately with the water.
Three quarters fill the cupcake cases with the mixture. Bake at 180 degrees C for 10 minutes for the small cakes and 15 – 20 minutes for the larger cakes. The cakes are cooked when they spring back when lightly touched. Cool on a cooling rack.
When ready to assemble, ice and decorate the cakes as wished. Leave until the icing has set.
Using a sharp knife, carve a cone shape from the foam, starting from the centre of the foam and carving down to the base. It is best to do this a little at a time, down the tall sides. Cover the foam with foil. Place on a plate.
Arrange the 8 large cakes around the bottom of the come, securing with toothpicks if necessary.
Arrange 8 medium sized cupcakes on their side on top of the base cakes, securing into the cone with toothpicks. Arrange another 8 cakes into the dips of the second layer of cakes securing as you go. Repeat this process with another layer of 7 cakes, then 2 layers of 5 cakes. Top with the last medium cake, standing it on its base.
Use the small cakes to fill the gaps and make the tree look beautiful. Depending on your arrangement, you may not use all the small cakes.
Dust the finished tree with icing sugar.
TIP
To separate paper cupcake cases easily, wipe your fingers on a damp cloth before pulling them apart.
