Are you looking for a showstopping dessert for your holiday party? Look no further than this Ugly Christmas Sweater Cake! This fun and festive cake is sure to be the talk of your celebration. Follow our easy guide to create your own edible ugly sweater masterpiece.
How to Make an Adorable Ugly Christmas Sweater Cake: Easy Step-by-Step Guide
Hi, I'm Kim, The Partiologist. Today, I'm going to show you how to decorate a festive Christmas cake that will be perfect for an Ugly Christmas Sweater party.
Why You'll Love This Ugly Christmas Sweater Cake:
- perfect conversation starter for holiday gatherings
- customizable design to match your favorite ugly sweater
- fun baking project for the whole family
- a delicious and visually impressive dessert
Ingredients for Your Ugly Christmas Sweater Cake:
- 1 box Pillsbury Plus White cake mix (or your favorite flavor)
- Buttercream frosting (divided and colored: white, red, green)
- Fondant in various colors
- White sanding sugar
Essential Tools:
- Sweater-shaped cake pan
- Pastry bags and tips (basketweave #46, grass #233)
- Light bulb mold
- Oval cookie cutters
- Clay gun for fondant
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare the Cake
- Grease the sweater pan with Baker's Joy (or other non-stick baking spray).
- Mix the cake mix and pour it into the greased pan.
- Pour the entire mix into the pan and bake for approximately 25 minutes.
Create the Frosting Design:
- Make your buttercream frosting and divide it into thirds, color each third white, red, and green.
- Fill one pastry bag with white frosting and add a basketweave tip #46.
- Fill another pastry bag with red frosting and add a basketweave tip #46.
- Fill the last pastry bag with the green frosting and add a grass tip #233.
- Get your fondant ready for the lights.
Pipe on the sleeves:
- Start piping white frosting down the side for the sleeves.
- Next, pipe another row of frosting, this time red.
- Continue piping frosting, alternating the colors.
- When each sleeve is covered in stripes, sprinkle with white sanding sugar.
Add fuzzy frosting to the sweater cake:
- Cover the middle with green "grass" frosting
Craft Fondant Decorations:
- Make antlers using a leaf cutter. You may want to squish the cutter so that your antlers are not too wide.
Make fondant Christmas lights:
- Create fondant Christmas lights using a silicone mold.
Make fondant reindeer's eyes and light string:
Using two oval cutters, I made the eyes from black and white fondant.
Then I used my clay gun and pressed out a long rope for the light string.
Assemble Your Ugly Christmas Sweater Cake:
- Arrange fondant pieces on the green frosting
- Attach the light string to the antlers (Paint a bit of water to the backside of the black rope and stick it to the antlers.)
- Add light bulbs to the antlers
- For an extra touch, add a blinking light for Rudolph's nose!
Now watch it BLINK!
Tips for the Perfect Ugly Christmas Sweater Cake:
- Get creative with your design – the uglier, the better!
- Use different frosting tips for varied textures
- Experiment with fondant colors for unique decorations
Variations:
- Try different cake flavors like chocolate or gingerbread
- Use cookie cutters to create other holiday shapes
- Add edible glitter for extra sparkle
Storing Your Ugly Christmas Sweater Cake:
Store at room temperature for up to 2 days. Refrigerate any leftovers. Consume within 3-4 days for best freshness.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Can I use a regular cake pan? Yes, you can. You'll need to carve the cake into a sweater shape.
- How far in advance can I make this cake? 1-2 days before your event is ideal.
- Can I use store-bought frosting? Absolutely, just be sure to color it as needed.
- What if I don't have a light bulb mold? You can hand-shape the bulbs or make Almond M&M Christmas Lights.
- How do I transport this cake? Use a cake carrier and handle with care to preserve the decorations.
This Ugly Christmas Sweater Cake is not just a dessert – it's a festive piece of edible art that will bring joy and laughter to your holiday gathering. With our easy-to-follow guide, you'll create a memorable centerpiece that tastes as good as it looks. Happy baking and happy holidays!
Be sure to check out all my fun Christmas Recipes!
- Irresistible Sweets with Dixie Crystals® - July 13, 2024
- How to make peanut butter? - February 15, 2024
- OREO Penguins - December 20, 2023
Pamela says
Do you remember where you purchased the light bulb pan and also the blinking nose? I see so MANY cake decorating supplies on so many sites I can't remember where I see what. However I definitely don't remember seeing the christmas light bulb or the blinking nose anywhere. Thanks
Anonymous says
Well Beth, I think you missed the mark on this one. There's nothing ugly about this sweater, it's freaking adorable. As usual, you still and always will be queen of chocolate. Trish
beth says
Trish, Kim, the Partiologist made this adorable sweater cake. She's now a regular contributor here. She is so amazingly talented. I'm so happy to heave her.
J says
Your designs are just as charming as Beth's are! You fit right in over here!
beth says
She sure does. I love her creativity and am happy you agree!
The Partiologist says
You're both so sweet, I am honored to be a contributor!
Sugartown Sweets says
Your "ugly sweater" cake is adorable! I can say this because I too may have had a couple of fashion faux pas! ;o) Love this idea!
The Partiologist says
Thank you, I actually looked in my closet, it looks like I still have some Ugly Christmas Sweaters!! 🙂
Anonymous says
Okay that is adorable, in an ugly sort of way. from,twobeautifulgirls
The Partiologist says
I have to agree! LOL
June Baby says
Haha such a fun idea! Your skills with cake decorating never cease to amaze 🙂
The Partiologist says
Thank you June, this cake was really quite easy to make! 🙂