Page 408 - Cupcakes

CUPCAKE CHRISTMAS TREE

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With twelve cupcakes you can create a small tree, and with twenty-five you can
create a larger one, perfect for winter holiday gatherings. Top the cupcakes of
your choice with a green-tinted Buttercream Frosting or the richer Cream Cheese
Frosting. Cover the cupcakes that form the tree trunk with chocolate sprinkles.
Decorate the tree with candies to make it festive. Yum. Thanks to Gentiana
Grajqevci of Knoxville’s Bearden High School for helping me to envision
cupcake trees.

SERVES UP TO 25

Buttercream Frosting (page 318) or Cream Cheese Frosting (page 336; you’ll
need ½ recipe for 12 cupcakes)

Green food coloring
12 or 25 cupcakes of your choice (see “the Cupcake Doctor says”), baked in
paper liners
Chocolate sprinkles

18-by 12-inch platter or board (for the smaller tree) or 24-by 18-inch serving
platter or board (for the larger tree)

Colorful candies, such as gumdrops, M&M’s, or Skittles
Popcorn strings, for garnish (optional)

1. Prepare the frosting and once it is sufficiently beaten, set aside about 2
heaping tablespoons if making the smaller tree, ¼ cup if making the larger one.
Tint the rest with the green food coloring, using 1 to 2 drops for the smaller
batch, 2 to 3 drops for the larger.

2. If making the smaller tree, place a heaping tablespoon of the untinted frosting