Reese's Christmas Tree Farm!

Reese's Christmas Trees!
I've had Christmas Trees on my mind a lot lately!  

Not only have we been on the "Great Christmas Tree Hunt of 2011", but

Friday was my mother-in-law's birthday. It hit me in the morning...I'd forgotten her one request of Reese's brownies.

I know, I know, they've been done to death..but she LOVES them!

S0, I left work early (I've got a very lenient boss who also happens to be my hubby) to make a quick stop at the store and start baking.

I decided to not only bake each cupcake with a Reese's cup, but to also place one on top.

*Ding*  That's when the idea popped into my head to decorate those trees!

Now for the basics. Several years ago I purchased one of the "Cake Mix Doctor" cookbooks.

I love tips and I found two that I've used ever since. 

Whatever brownie mix you use, substitute buttermilk for the water and add vanilla.

 Add the oil and eggs as usual.

 Now for the buttermilk...

.

 and a little vanilla. I used 1 tablespoon.

 I so love visiting the cake decorating aisle of EVERY store !

 Here comes the fun part....

 Reese's! I may have eaten a couple..

 Press one candy into the center of the batter..

 ready to bake @ 350 for 20 minutes. Let cool.
Pipe a little icing onto the cupcake to set the candy tree into.

 We have regular and white chocolate covered trees!

 As my time was very limited, I picked up a couple of tubes of Cake-Mate ready to use decorator icing. 

 This little guy could have used a little more icing at the bottom!
Just buy a few different sprinkles and colored sugars to experiment with. So much FUN!

And this little guy was my favorite :o)

Hope you're all enjoying this wonderful Christmas season!

Happy Baking from Sugartown Sweets!