Chocolate Tree Cake {Fall or Thanksgiving}

Quick and easy chocolate tree cake with colorful leaves, homemade with simple ingredients. Perfect for Fall, Autumn, Thanksgiving parties.

I love using chocolate for cake decorating, as shown by this Chocolate Leaves Cake, and many others in my archives. Now, many cake decorators have strong preferences when it comes to decorating cakes. Some bakers prefer decorating with buttercream. If that is the case with you, then try this Easy Rustic Cake {Tiered cake}, while others work their magic with Marshmallow Fondant and Modeling Chocolate. I like to work with all mediums because it allows me to think outside the box and get creative with my designs. This cake is an easy way to start working with chocolate if it isn't something you have done before.

How to make chocolate tree cake?  

1. Bake, cool, level, stack, and ice cake- Smoothly.
2. Cover cake- In chopped nuts or crushed graham crackers.
3. Make the tree branches- By piping chocolate on wax paper.
4. Make leaves- Using red, one yellow, orange chocolate.
5. Chill- To allow the chocolate to set.
6. Attach lollipop stick- On the backside of tree.
7. Push the tree- On top of your dessert.

Variations

Try other cake flavors- Such as Moist Carrot Cake, Easy Spice Cake {Chai Tea Cake}, Easy Pumpkin Cake {With Cake Mix}, or this Easy Ginger Cake .

Pair with another frosting- Such as Chocolate Whipped Cream {3 Ingredients}, Caramel Frosting {3 Ingredients}, Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting, or Chocolate Buttercream Frosting.

Use crushed pretzels- Instead of nuts or graham crackers. This adds a salty crunch to the cake.

Add green leaves too- Fill a 4th piping bag with green and add more colored leaves. You can also use only green leaves and make a Spring/Summer cake.

Make different size trees- You can make big chocolate trees to decorate cakes and smaller ones to decorate cupcakes or mini cakes.

Make a large cake- This is a mini cake, but you can make a single large cake as well.

Tips and techniques for tree cake

I highly recommend sketching a tree design first- Because this ensures the shape turns out exactly how you want. If you are good at art work, you can freehandedly pipe the chocolate design but I don’t do that. 

Make extra mini trees- Because they are very fragile and some may break in the process. Be gentle with them too.

Try not to touch them too much- Because the warmth of your fingers can cause them to melt or create smudge marks.

The size of the tree should reflect the size of your cakes- Don't make a really big tree for a small cake.

How to pipe leaves? Squeeze the piping bag at a 45 degree angle and pull away.

Make sure to go over the tree trunk portion in chocolate a few times- Because this makes it thicker and stronger.

Storage of decorated cakes

Refrigerate- In a sealed container for up to 3 days.

Freeze- I do not recommend freezing this cake because the crushed graham crackers will become wet and soggy upon thawing.

More easy decorated cakes

• Chocolate Pretzel Cake {With Ganache Frosting}
• Fondant Turkey Topper {For Cakes and Cupcakes}
• How To Make Gold Cake {With Edible Spray}
• Easy Candy Corn Cake {With Frosting}
• Easy Cereal Cake

Recipe