Celebrating January babies and ushering in the Year of the Tiger with this CNY Tiger Tree Trunk Cake. Why tiger and tree trunk? Hmm, I’m not sure … perhaps the heart is still holding on to Christmas vibes of log cakes and pinecones hence birthed this TSC version for the Lunar Tiger Year 😄

And so the Sun came in as I was taking my shot and it transformed into a scintillating gold. Can you hear angels singing 恭喜发财, 新年蒙福?! 😄 I almost ran out to buy 4D 😛 😆 !!

Lunar Tiger Year golden halo … HUAT AHH!! 

I made this CNY Tiger Tree Trunk Cake using a delicious walnut cake (gifted by lovely neighbours) layered with homemade dark chocolate ganache, paired with my favorite mint and coffee frosting.

If you would like a cake recipe for this Tiger Tree Trunk Cake, check out my Chocolate Zucchini Cake for a  refreshing chocolate cake packed with veggie goodness and my creamy dark chocolate ganache. For an unbeatable mint coffee frosting, check out my Christmas Coffee Mint Cake.

Love the periderm lines of the tree …

OR, simply use your own favorite cake and frosting(s). Just go with what you love. That’s the spirit of welcoming a new season! This Tiger Tree Trunk Cake is easy and great fun to assemble. And it’s so versatile on its own, decorate it as you like and it could morph into a Faraway Tree or an Elf home or even Tinkerbell’s favorite seat!  Hope you will enjoy making it 😊

If you like this recipe tutorial and like to see more, do subscribe to my YouTube channel here!

Adding some nicely scrubbed gold …  what would you use? 😊

Here’s wishing all a blessed Lunar New Year 2022. May it be a wonderful season of new beginnings and all things amazing. Keep safe, have roaring tiger health and be Super Tigger Happy! 🈵 🈵

Easy 3-Step Tree Trunk Cake assembly

Step #1 – Layer each cake tier with the preferred ganache and frosting and do a simple crumb coat. This is a most forgiving cake when it comes to frosting. The crumb coat does not need to be perfect as all will be hidden when the trunk is piped on.

Step #2  – Using Ateco 825 open star tip, pipe on the trunk in random lines and concentric circles using frosting (watch the recipe tutorial @1:45min to see how this is done).

Step #3 – Decorate with a festive Tiger cake topper（虎年蒙福), almond pinecones, some gooseberries (大吉大利) and gold coins/ ingot (金玉满堂）.

So what’s with the Pinecone?

Historically, pinecones have been associated with the symbol of enlightenment, regeneration, even everlasting and eternal life. Perhaps for that reason, did you know – in the Catholic Church, the Pope even has a pinecone iconograph carved on the holy staff that he carries!

The holy pinecone …

For me, it’s nothing as complicated as that. I simply love the look of almond pinecones. They are just so festive and inviting. And they taste delicious too!

Use your preferred ganache or buttercream

I made these cute pinecones out of matcha ganache layered with almonds slices (watch the recipe tutorial @2:47min to see how I made them). You can use any ganache you like or your favourite buttercream; they would work too.

I like to use almond slices with skin on as they give the pinecone a rustic and natural look. These pinecones will also look amazing on Christmas log cakes. In fact, dust them with icing sugar and they immediately transform into wintery pinecone magic!

Nicely frozen & firmly set

One important tip for these pinecones, WORK QUICKLY. If the ganache starts to get soft, stick it in the freezer for 5-10 minutes to firm up before continuing with the almond slices. Otherwise if the ganache starts to melt, the whole pinecone may collapse and you will have to start over again!

Blessed Lunar Tiger Year 😊  !

Did you make this? I would love to know how it turned out. Please leave me a comment or hashtag me on Instagram or FB at #thesugarcrumble .

Thank you!

Print Recipe

CNY Tiger Tree Trunk Cake

I made this CNY Tiger Tree Trunk Cake to celebrate January Babies and to usher in the Lunar Tiger Year. I used a walnut cake layered with chocolate ganache, paired with my favorite mint and coffee frosting. You can use your preferred cake and favorite frosting. Go with what you love. Wishing everyone a blessed Chinese New Year 2022!

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Assembling & Chilling2 hours hrs

Total Time2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Keyword: Chinese New Year, Tiger Cake, Tree Trunk Cake

Servings: 6 inch 3 tier cake

Author: Kai

Ingredients

Tree Trunk

• 3 layers of 6 inch walnut cake
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate ganache
• 2 cups fresh cream mint frosting
• 8 cups fresh cream coffee frosting

Pinecone (makes ~ 4-5 )

• 1/2 cup matcha white chocolate ganache
• 1 cup sliced almonds (skin on)

Other decor

• Gooseberries
• Gold coins x 3 (inedible - scrubbed and cleaned)
• Gold ingot x 1 (inedible - scrubbed and cleaned)
• CNY Tiger Cake Topper (thoroughly wiped and cleaned)

Instructions

Tree trunk cake

• Place the 1st cake tier on the board and brush generously with chocolate ganache. Then frost generously with the coffee and mint frosting. Repeat with the 2nd and 3rd tiers.
• Crumb coat the sides and top of the cake and let it chill in the refrigerator for an hour.
• Once the crumb coat has set, using Ateco 825 open star tip, pipe on the trunk in random lines and concentric circles using frosting (watch the recipe tutorial @1:45 minute to see how this is done). Set aside to chill in the fridge and start on the pinecone decor.

Almond pinecone

• Pipe a small cone shape using the ganache
• Starting from the top, press the almond slice into the ganache to form layers of the pinecone (watch the recipe tutorial @2:47min to see how this is done). Work quickly. If the ganache starts to get soft, put it in the freezer for 5-10 minutes to firm up before continuing with the almond slices.
• Once the pinecone is completed, freeze for 30 minutes or until the pinecone is well set.

Final assembly

• Decorate the tree trunk cake with a festive Tiger Cake Topper (虎年蒙福), the homemade almond pinecones, some gooseberries (大吉大利) and gold coins/ ingot (财源滚滚).

Video

Notes

If you like this recipe tutorial and like to see more, subscribe to my YouTube channel here!

Quick tip on the almond pinecones...

I made these cute pinecones out of matcha ganache layered with almonds slices. You can use any ganache you like or your favourite buttercream; they would work too.

I like to use almond slices with skin on as they give the pinecone a rustic and natural look. These pinecones will also look amazing on Christmas log cakes. In fact, dust them with icing sugar and they immediately transform into wintery pinecone magic!

One important tip for these pinecones, WORK QUICKLY. If the ganache starts to get soft, stick it in the freezer for 5-10 minutes to firm up before continuing with the almond slices. Otherwise if the ganache starts to melt, the whole pinecone may collapse and you will have to start over again!