Impress guests this holiday season with this adorable Christmas Tree Cake recipe! It’s festive, surprisingly easy to make, and perfect for everything from holiday parties to cozy family celebrations. With soft cake layers, fluffy frosting, and fun decorations, this cake looks adorable without being complicated!
The Perfect Holiday Cake
This Christmas Tree Cake recipe is everything a holiday dessert should be — festive, delicious, and made with love! She might not be perfect, but she’s cute! Whether you’re creating a new tradition or adding a little extra holiday magic to your baking, this cake is guaranteed to bring smiles!
I had recently purchased a Multi-Tier cake pan and it made this cake SO simple – no stacking, shaping, etc. was required. However, you can definitely use 3 small round cake pans. I’ll leave directions for both, below! The best part about this holiday cake is that it can be made using your favorite store-bought or homemade cake recipes/mixes or frostings! So it can easily be customized to be vegan, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, gluten-free, etc.!
I hope you guys have so much fun baking this, be sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see!
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Tree Cake
- Beginner-friendly (no fancy cake skills required). You can’t mess it up, it just adds character!
- Perfect Christmas centerpiece dessert!
- Customizable with flavors, colors, and decorations.
- Can be made ahead of time.
- A guaranteed holiday crowd-pleaser!
- Dietary friendly: You can really use whatever cake mix and frosting fit your dietary needs!
This recipe also works beautifully as a homemade alternative to store-bought Christmas cakes, with way more personality!
Recipe video
Equipment needed to make a christmas tree cake
- Frosting knife: This helps create the tree shape and texture!
- Tiered cake pan or 3 small round cake pans: I prefer to use the special cake pan as you don’t have to cut or shape the cake. However, if you don’t want to purchase it, you can use three small round cake pans and cut/shape the cake.
gather your ingredients
The full recipe and measurements is in the recipe card at the bottom of the post! Keep in mind you can use your favorite cake and frosting recipes, however here are the ingredients I used!
- Cake Mix: I used Simple Mills cake mix, however you can use a homemade cake recipe or your favorite store-bought mix. Simple Mills makes a pumpkin mix (my fave!), vanilla, or banana.
- Frosting: Use your favorite store-bought or homemade frosting! If you’re looking for a store-bought option with better-for-you ingredients, Miss Jones Organic Frosting is great!
- Natural green food coloring
- Pink ribbon
- Natural sprinkles: I like to use a mix that has ball sprinkles, to add to the ends of the “tree”.
How to Make a Christmas Tree Cake
You can make this cake with the Multi-Tier cake pan or by using 3 small, round cake pans. I’ll give detailed directions for both in the recipe card at the bottom of this post! But here’s an overview:
Step 1: Bake the Cake
Prepare your cake batter. Grease the multi-tier cake pan or 3 small 4″ round cake pans, VERY well.
Pour batter into the prepared pan(s) and bake according to your cakes instructions. If using the multi-tier pan, I usually get enough batter to make one mini cake and enough left over to fill a second. The second never has a full bottom tier, but it’s still cute. Let the cake cool completely (this is super important!).
Step 2: (skip this step if using the multi-tier pan) Form the Christmas Tree Shape
Once cooled, remove the cake from the pan. Start with one larger cake on the bottom and smooth a small amount of frosting over the center. Take the second cake and cut around the edges slightly
Step 3: Make the Green Buttercream
Grab your frosting (either homemade or store-bought) and add a few drops of natural green food coloring. I like to start with just a little at a time and gradually add more if it needs to be a bit darker. I like to do a very thin amount of frosting all over the cake to start. This helps prevent any naked areas. Then transfer the remaining frosting to a piping bag fitted with a round tip.
Step 4: Decorate your christmas tree cake
Pipe frosting in large circles on the bottom tier all around the bottom of the cake. Then take the frosting knife and holding it handle-up, press the end of the knife flat into one round of frosting at a time. You’ll want to press somewhat firmly, and drage the knife upward to create the shape shown in the photo above. Repeat this on each round. Move to the second tier and repeat the same steps (piping rounds of frosting, then using the knife to spread it upward). When you get to the top of the cake, I like to pipe smaller rounds around the edges of the top and pipe them towards the very center of the cake. You’ll place a bow on top so it’s okay if it’s not perfect! You can also go over the same “leaf” to smooth it out if it didn’t look perfect the first time.
Add a few sprinkles to the “leaves” of the tree and place a pretty bow on top!
Tips for the Best Christmas Tree Cake
- Let the cake cool completely before removing from the pans. This helps prevent crumbing.
- If your frosting is thick, heat it for just a few seconds in the microwave. This will make spreading it easier.
- Don’t overbake — moist cake is key!
- Pipe from the bottom up for a realistic tree shape
christmas tree cake variations
- Chocolate Christmas Tree Cake: Use chocolate cake!
- Red Velvet Tree Cake: Perfect for a dramatic holiday twist
- Vegan cake: use vegan cake mix and vegan frosting!
Frequently Asked Questions
- What pan works best? I really can’t recommend the multi-tier pan enough! However, 3 4″ small, round cake pans will work! I wouldn’t recommend using larger cake pans as they’ll be too wide and large and it won’t resemble a tree.
- Can kids help with this recipe? Yes! Decorating is especially kid-friendly and fun.
More holiday dessert recipes
- Cinnamon streusel dessert pizza
- Sugar cookie cups
- Mini pumpkin cheesecake jars
- Cookie tiramisu cake (dairy & gluten-free)
- Mint brownies
- Snickerdoodle Creme Pies (paleo)
- Paleo Millionaire’s shortbread bars
- Gluten-free baked apple crumble cheesecake
If you try this recipe, don’t forget to share how you decorated your tree — no two are ever the same! Tag me on Instagram @danishealthyeats so I can see! It’d mean the world to me if you left a star rating and review below!
Christmas Tree Cake
Equipment
- multi-tier cake pan or 3 4" round cake pans *linked in the notes below!
- frosting knife *linked in the notes below!
- ribbon (for topping)
Ingredients
- 1 box of your favorite cake mix or homemade cake recipe, prepared *I used Simple Mills cake mix or you can use any of my cake recipes (linked in the notes!)
- 1-2 11.2oz containers of your favorite frosting or batch of homemade frosting *I used organic Miss Jones Baking Frosting!
- natural green food coloring
- natural pearl sprinkles (i used white & pink!)
Instructions
Multi-tier pan instructions
- Preheat oven according to your cake recipe's instructions.
- Prepare your cake according to it's instructions. You can use a box cake mix or homemade cake of your choice! I've linked some of my favorite cake recipes in the notes but I also love using Simple Mills cake mix for a paleo/gluten-free/dairy-free/refined sugar-free option!
- Grease the multi-tier cake pan WELL. Fill it about 3/4 of the way full (it'll rise!). I usually get 1 1/2 cakes out of one box. Typically i'll frost one for the holiday and keep the smaller one to enjoy myself, however you could decorate both for a larger and smaller cake!
- While the cakes are cooling, make your frosting. If using store-bought frosting, simply add it to a large bowl and add a few drops of natural green food coloring. I like to add just a few at a time and add more as needed until it's the color I like.
- Remove the cakes from the pan. You can use a sharp knife to cut off the bottom of the cakes so they sit flat. Spread a light layer of frosting all over the cakes.
- Add the remaining frosting to a piping bag with a large circle tip.
- Pipe frosting in large circles on the bottom tier all around the bottom of the cake (see video). Then take the frosting knife and holding it handle-up, press the end of the knife flat into one round of frosting at a time. You'll want to press somewhat firmly, and drag the knife upward to create the shape shown in the photo above.
- Repeat this on each round. Move to the second tier and repeat the same steps (piping rounds of frosting, then using the knife to spread it upward). When you get to the top of the cake, I like to pipe smaller rounds around the edges of the top and pipe them towards the very center of the cake. You'll place a bow on top so it's okay if it's not perfect! You can also go over the same "leaf" to smooth it out if it didn't look perfect the first time.
- Add some pearl sprinkles to the ends of the "leaves" and place a bow on top!
3 4" round cake pan instructions
- Preheat oven according to your cake recipe's instructions. Grease your pans REALLY well.
- Prepare your cake according to it's instructions. You can use a box cake mix or homemade cake of your choice! I've linked some of my favorite cake recipes in the notes but I also love using Simple Mills cake mix for a paleo/gluten-free/dairy-free/refined sugar-free option!
- Divide the batter amongst the 3 greased pans. Bake the cake according to the package instructions. Keep an eye on it, to ensure they don't over-bake. Let cool completely.
- While the cakes are cooling, make your frosting. If using store-bought frosting, simply add it to a large bowl and add a few drops of natural green food coloring. I like to add just a few at a time and add more as needed until it's the color I like.
- Remove the cakes from the pan. Place your first round on a serving platter or cake tray. Spread a little frosting over the center, then place the second round over-top. Repeat with the last layer.
- Using a sharp knife, trim the cake from the top into a cone-like, tree shape. Essentially start at the top layer and start cutting at a diagonal angle downward to create a slant. Do this all the way around the cake.
- Do a light layer of frosting all over the cake. Then, add the remaining frosting to a piping back with a large circle tip.
- Pipe frosting in large circles on the bottom tier all around the bottom of the cake (see video). Then take the frosting knife and holding it handle-up, press the end of the knife flat into one round of frosting at a time. You'll want to press somewhat firmly, and drag the knife upward to create the shape shown in the photo above.
- Add some pearl sprinkles to the ends of the "leaves" and place a bow on top!
Video
Notes
- Frosting knife: This helps create the tree shape and texture!
- Tiered cake pan or 3 small round cake pans: I prefer to use the special cake pan as you don’t have to cut or shape the cake. However, if you don’t want to purchase it, you can use three small round cake pans and cut/shape the cake
- Cake Mix: I used Simple Mills cake mix, however you can use a homemade cake recipe or your favorite store-bought mix. Simple Mills makes a pumpkin mix (my fave!), vanilla, or banana. You could also use my pumpkin cake recipe!
- Natural green food coloring
- Pink ribbon
- Natural sprinkles: I like to use a mix that has ball sprinkles, to add to the ends of the “tree”
- Frosting: Use your favorite store-bought or homemade frosting! If you’re looking for a store-bought option with better-for-you ingredients, Miss Jones Organic Frosting is great!
