Ugly Christmas Sweater Cake and Party

The "Ugly Christmas Sweater" 
are back in after 20 years and 
Ugly Christmas Sweater parties

are all the rage now.  We started holding

them about 4 or 5 years ago after my oldest

son came home from one and suggested we

all wear them for Christmas morning.

We raided the local thrift store and got

everyone outfitted.  Now I think it is

hard to find a used one but stores are

selling Christmas sweaters and sweatshirts

again.  I wish I had kept my original one.

They were expensive - I paid $50 for

mine back in the early 90's!!

So we decided to have our first

Ugly Christmas Sweater party 

and invite our dinner group.

I  started searching on the internet

for ideas and 

just had to make one of the cakes I

found on Pinterest.  

There were no instructions on the link,

and no one to give credit to for their

creation, just the picture, but thanks to whomever

created this idea. 

I am going to show you how

to make this adorable and easy cake

for your Christmas party.  

The Ugly Sweater cake will take 30 regular

size cupcakes.  I baked mine and then laid

them out on a black foam board for my 

serving tray as it makes a pretty big cake.

I like how the black made the cake pop.

You will start at the bottom and do 4 rows of

4 and then reduce to two rows of 2 and 

finally add the arms.

After achieving my shape, I took

the cupcakes a row at a time and

frosted and sugared them to keep

the shape and to avoid getting

the frosting on the board.

To achieve a dark red frosting is a little

tricky.  I tripled my basic recipe 

so it had 12 C. powdered sugar

and it took a full small squeeze bottle

of Americolor's Super Red.  It still was a

little on the pink side, but it does deepen in

color if you let it sit for a while.  I was dipping mine

in sanding sugar so I wasn't that picky about how

red the frosting was.  You have to use gel or paste

to get a red frosting.  I flavored mine with almond

so that you don't get that funky red food coloring

flavor.

I love Americolor's gel colorings rather than

Wilton's because I have never had one of theirs

dry up in the bottles.  Wilton's always dry up in

their bottles so I have switched over to Americolor's.

Almond Frosting

(I tripled this)

1/2 C. butter, soft

4 C. powdered sugar

1 tsp. almond extract

Red gel food coloring

3 T. water (I like water because it 

makes a firmer frosting than milk or cream.)

In a large mixing bowl beat all of the

ingredients together adding additional 

water if needed.  Beat for five minutes for

a nice creamy frosting.  You don't want it too

stiff or too soft.  I test it by scooping up a bit

with my finger.  It should be soft enough to

scoop but not so soft it falls off my finger.

This should cover all of your cupcakes

as most recipes make more than 12 and you

are going to have some extra cupcakes you

don't use in the cake.

Dip each cupcake into a small bowl

of sanding sugar, covering all the frosting.

After all the cupcakes are frosted and dipped

use mini marshmallows to create the fur trim

at the collar, hem and cuffs.

Then decorate with colorful candy.

I finished like the one I found on 

Pinterest with a string of 

green Christmas lights piped on in different colors.

My wonderful niece made up some 

cute Ugly Christmas Sweater picks for the food

and some fun drink labels.

I found these bottle sweaters online

which were perfect for the theme.

We dressed up some sparkling

apple cider bottles,

but we served Cherry Cream Sodas

as I wanted a dark red drink for the 

fun bottles.

Everyone got into the spirit of

things with their sweaters. 

The couple in the middle did the 

DIY Ugly Christmas Sweater kits!

He won the prize for the men's ugly

sweater with his creation.

Cari

won the prize for the women!

Don't you love the vintage 1996 Barbie

in a Christmas sweater that I found online!!

Notice her white tights too!  I remember 

wearing those a lot back then too!

I thought that was the perfect women's prize.

It couldn't have matched her sweater more

perfectly which was her MIL's. 

While searching for Ugly Sweater Party ideas

online, I also found these 

Ugly Christmas leggings!!

And hubby and I have had 

Ugly Christmas Slippers for ages.  

Maybe they will be classics!  I am 

holding onto these!!

Everyone brought appetizers and desserts

and we made Lettuce Wraps.  

We tried to keep the main dish light

but with all of the appetizers and desserts

we were still stuffed!

Instead of a gift exchange this year I asked

everyone to bring a Christmas story to share

and 5 copies of it so we could all have a copy.

That was a fun change as we sat and read stories

together and shed a tear or two.

We all agreed that this isn't so much

an Ugly Christmas Sweater Cake as a cute

one so make it for any Christmas Party.

It really is easy and fun and a great 

conversation piece.

I think it is so fun that the Ugly Christmas Sweater

has turned into sweater love!  Wear yours all

through the season!!

I am wearing this sweater to these parties! 

Metamorphosis Monday

and Foodie Friday