Christmas Tree Cake

Ingredients

 * 1 pack Cake Mix (any flavor)
 * 5 cup Confectioners' Sugar
 * 3/4 cup Crisco shortening
 * 1/2 cup water
 * 1/3 cup Non-dairy Creamer
 * 2 tsp vanilla extract
 * 1/2 tsp salt
 * 1 tbsp Green food coloring
 * Peppermint Candies
 * Pretzel Rods
 * Large Gumdrops

Directions

 * 1) Preheat the oven to 350°F.
 * 2) Grease and flour a 13x9 pan.
 * 3) Prepare, bake and cool cake following package directions.
 * 4) For decorator frosting: combine confectioners Sugar, shortening, water, non-dairy creamer, vanilla and salt in large bowl.
 * 5) Beat at medium speed with electric mixer for 3 minutes.
 * 6) Beat at high speed for 5 min. add more confectioners Sugar to thicken or more water to thin as needed.
 * 7) Reserve 1 c frosting.
 * 8) Tint remaining frosting w/ green food coloring.
 * 9) Cut cooled cake diagonally and invert one piece so that the cake takes on a tree shape with a wide base.
 * 10) Spread green frosting over cake.
 * 11) Decorate tree with reserved white frosting and peppermint candies.
 * 12) Make trunk from pretzel rods.
 * 13) Roll out large gumdrop and cut with star cookie cutter.
 * 14) Top tree with gumdrop star.