“The Christmas Eve Tree” by  Delia Huddy and Emily Sutton 

This book is a heartwarming story about a little Christmas tree who finds purpose and joy.  It starts off as a tree much smaller than the other trees and is overlooked and under appreciated.  Then one night a little homeless boy sees potential and beauty in the tree and it finds new life as a Christmas tree to bring holiday cheer.  After the holiday season is over the little tree is drying up and is therefore tossed out.  However, it receives new life yet again as a city worker sees the potential in it and plants it in the park where the little tree thrives to the best of its ability and brings yet more joy to others.  The illustrations in this book are incredible, like swoon-worthy incredible, and I love the message about seeing potential and always looking on the bright side of things.  It is quite poignant and a beautiful addition to Christmas libraries everywhere.

Click here to purchase “The Christmas Eve Tree” *affiliate link

Sugar & Spice “Christmas Eve Tree” Inspired Cupcake Recipe

I found the little tree in this story inspiring and thought it would make for a fabulous cupcake recipe.  (You know how I adore a good cupcake!)  When coming-up with a cupcake recipe for this book I chose spice cake for three reasons: 1) In the book it mentions the “wonderful spicy smell of Christmas” and these cupcakes are not only spice cupcakes but they fill your home with that wonderful holiday scent.  2) They are brown so they make a nice “dirt” color for the tree base  3) I LOVE spice cake! (That’s a good reason right?!)

After the spice cupcakes are baked they are topped with a dense cream cheese frosting that makes a nice round “snow patch” when pressed gently in “sugar crystal snow” which is then topped with adorable pretzel, chocolate Christmas trees which are just a bit on the scrawny side like our little tree hero.  Also, once again like the tree in the book, these “Christmas” trees are “planted”.   I have the recipe below but before we get to it here are just a couple photos and tips of the super easy process of pressing the frosting and making the trees.  Seriously though, these cupcakes are easy enough for kids to bake them alongside you.  It could even make a lovely holiday tradition.

Pretzel and Chocolate Christmas Trees

1. Lay your pretzel sticks out on a long sheet of wax paper in preparation. Then melt the candy melts according to the directions on the bag and fill in a piping bag with a small, round nozzle.
2. Then pipe/drizzle your tree shape onto the pretzel sticks and wax paper. (You can also drizzle your candy melts with a spoon instead of piping) Sprinkle with some colorful candy sprinkles. Once the candy melts are completely hardened carefully peel them off of the wax paper. Your trees are then ready to be stuck into the center of your cupcakes.

Snow Patch with “Sugar Snow”

1. Pipe the frosting onto the center of the cupcakes to create a medium sized dollop/circle.  They don’t have to be perfect because they will flatten out and fill out nicely when they are pressed. (The bottom right hand cupcake in this photo is what they look like after they are pressed.)
2. Then, place the raw cane sugar in a shallow bowl and flip the cupcakes upside down and gently press them into the sugar. (This will flatten the frosting to make a dense, round “sugar snow” patch in the center of your cupcakes for the trees later.)

If you give this Beyond the Book activity a try I’d love to hear how it goes! Share it on Instagram using hashtag #beyondthebook (I’m on Instagram as @book.nerd.mommy) or even just comment here with your thoughts. It would make my day! Or to simply save for later pin the image below.