Description
A festive and luxurious Red Velvet Christmas Tree Layer Cake, perfect for holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups (300g) sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp fine salt
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk, room temperature
- ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil
- ½ cup (115g) softened butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 2 tbsp red food coloring gel (or more for deep color)
- 12 oz (340g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (115g) butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2–3 tbsp heavy cream (for creaminess)
- 1 cup (225g) butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2–3 tbsp heavy cream
- Pinch of salt
- Red velvet cake crumbs (from trimming edges)
- Edible silver pearls
- Red edible glitter balls
- Optional: edible star topper
- Optional: fresh cherries or berries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two 8-inch/20cm pans.
- In a bowl, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, salt, baking powder, baking soda.
- In another bowl, combine buttermilk, eggs, oil, butter, vanilla, and food coloring.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until smooth.
- Add vinegar last and mix until combined.
- Divide batter evenly between pans and bake for 22–28 minutes.
- Cool completely and chill layers for 30 minutes before assembly.
- Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, then add powdered sugar gradually.
- Mix in vanilla and heavy cream until thick and spreadable.
- Beat butter until pale, then add powdered sugar gradually, followed by vanilla, salt, and heavy cream.
- Whip until stiff and fluffy, then fill a piping bag with a large star tip.
- Assemble the cake by placing the first layer on a board, spreading cream cheese filling, adding the second layer, and frosting the top.
- Pipe tall swirls in a “Christmas tree” shape and decorate with crumbs, pearls, and glitter balls.
Notes
- Chilling the cake layers makes slicing easier.
- Use gel food coloring for a deeper red color.
- Ensure the cream cheese filling is thick for stability.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 28 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 60mg