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