Christmas Tree Cake

Ingredients

 * 1 pack cake mix (any flavor)
 * 5 cup confectioners' sugar
 * ¾ cup Crisco shortening
 * ½ cup water
 * ⅓ cup non-dairy creamer
 * 2 tsp vanilla extract
 * ½ 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 confectioner's 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 minutes.
 * 7) Add more confectioners sugar to thicken or more water to thin as needed.
 * 8) Reserve 1 cup frosting.
 * 9) Tint remaining frosting with green food coloring.
 * 10) Cut cooled cake diagonally and invert one piece so that the cake takes on a tree shape with a wide base.
 * 11) Spread green frosting over cake.
 * 12) Decorate tree with reserved white frosting and peppermint candies.
 * 13) Make trunk from pretzel rods.
 * 14) Roll out large gumdrop and cut with star cookie cutter.
 * 15) Top tree with gumdrop star.