Make cake: Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat a 14-by-10-inch Christmas tree–shaped cake pan with baking spray. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture and milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, just until incorporated.
Spread batter into prepared pan and bake until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then invert onto rack to cool completely.
Make frosting and decorate: Beat sugar, butter, and salt with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in milk until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Frost top and sides of cake.
Shape fondant into Christmas lights using a light bulb–shaped silicon food mold. Place on cake.
Ingredients
Directions
Make cake: Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat a 14-by-10-inch Christmas tree–shaped cake pan with baking spray. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture and milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, just until incorporated.
Spread batter into prepared pan and bake until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then invert onto rack to cool completely.
Make frosting and decorate: Beat sugar, butter, and salt with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in milk until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Frost top and sides of cake.
Shape fondant into Christmas lights using a light bulb–shaped silicon food mold. Place on cake.