Pine Cone Cakes
Every guest gets their own individual cake.
1. With an oval cookie cutter, cut eight ovals from the cake (or cut ovals freehand using a paring knife). Trim ovals to resemble real pine cones, creating the pointed tip on one end and a rounded base on the other; round off corners and top with the knife so that each little cake further takes on a pine cone shape.
2. Once cakes are frosted, arrange sliced almonds to look like the scales of a pine cone: Starting at the base, set almond slices at an angle and with pointy ends facing outward in a spiral pattern. Decorate row by row, overlapping slices slightly. Cover entire surface. For snow-covered pine cones, dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.
