Special Occasion Cakes Recipes - Christmas Tree Cake

Ingredients

• 45ml apricot jam

• 20cm round rich fruit cake

• 900g marzipan

• green, red, yellow and purple food coloring

• 225g royal icing

• edible silver balls

• 25cm round cake board

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Method:

1. Warm, then sieve the apricot jam and brush the cake with it. Color 675g cups of the marzipan green. Use to cover the cake. Leave to dry overnight.

2. Secure the cake to the board with royal icing. Spread the icing halfway up the cake side. Press the flat side of a palette knife into the icing, then pull away sharply to form peaks.

3. Make three different-size Christmas tree templates. Tint half the remaining marzipan a deeper green than the top. Using the templates, cut out three tree shapes and arrange them on the cake.

4. Divide the remaining marzipan into three and color red, yellow and purple. Use a little of each marzipan to make five 9cm/3in rolls. Loop them alternately around the top edge of the cake. Make small red balls and press on to the loop ends.

5. Use the remaining marzipan to make the tree decorations. Arrange on the trees, securing with water, if necessary. Finish the cake by adding silver balls to the Christmas trees.