Star Cookie Tree Cake
INGREDIENTS
1 box white cake mix 9 ounces
2 sticks butter at room temperature, 1/2 pound
2 large eggs
2 packages sugar cookie mix 17.5 ounces each
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
10 graduated star-shaped cookie cutters
Decorator sugar crystals
1 container fluffy white frosting 16 ounces
2 bottles white cookie icing 10 ounces each
Assorted decorating candies and white edible glitter
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Prepare batter and bake one 9-inch cake layer, according to package directions. Set cake aside to cool and increase oven temperature to 375°F.
Cut parchment paper to fi t a large baking sheet. Cut 9 more pieces.
In a large bowl, beat together butter and eggs. Add cookie mixes and fl our, stirring until dough forms. Divide dough into 10 equal portions.
Using masking tape, adhere 1 sheet of parchment to a work surface. Place a portion of dough on the parchment and roll to a ¼-inch thickness. (Dust rolling pin with fl our as needed to keep dough from sticking.) Cut out 2 stars using the largest cutter. (Pull of excess dough from parchment). Remove tape from parchment and transfer parchment with star shapes to baking sheet. Repeat procedure with remaining dough, cutting out 2 cookies in each star size. (You need a total of 20 cookies.)
Bake, in batches, for 8 to 10 minutes each, or until cookies are lightly golden around edges. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with sugar crystals. Cool on pan 1 minute. Remove to wire rack to cool completely (about 20 minutes).
Place cake layer on a serving platter or cake stand. Spread entire container of frosting over top and sides of cake.
To create tree, place 1 of the largest cookies on cake layer, pressing down gently to adhere. Squeeze a dab of icing in center of cookie. Arrange the other largest cookie on top of the base cookie, alternating points. Repeat stacking, using cookies in descending size and squeezing a dab of icing between each cookie. Reserve one of the smallest cookies for the top.
Press a wooden pick into the edge of reserved cookie, then press into center of top of tree so star stands upright.
Decorate tree with additional sugar crystals, icing, and candies. Sprinkle cake layer, platter, and tree with edible white glitter to resemble snow.
