I'm just getting started with decorating and I plan on taking a decorated cake to the dinner we're doing with my IL's. I was thinking about doing cupcakes because they're easy to eat and also so everyone gets a "finished product"...once the cake is cut it's not so pretty anymore. It doesn't HAVE to be cupcakes, though. I just want something cute, easy to transport (since we'll be travelling a few hours) and something that looks really nice (without being too hard). Any ideas?

If you go to the galleries at the top of the page and type "christmas" in the search you will get tons of great ideas for cakes, cookies and cupcakes. And they are all at different levels from easy to intricate.

Since you mentioned cupcakes; how about cupcakes layed out (and decorated) to look like a Christmas Tree? Easy to transport, everyone gets a finished product. You could even decorate some of them to look like Christmas Ornaments. There is a tutorial on this site.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! I'm sure anything you make, they will love!

Beth in KY

Yeah, I've looked at the gallery. I was just wondering if anyone has any specific suggestions since I'm feeling lazy and there are SO many pictures.

Hmmm....the CCC isn't a bad idea! I like the idea of making some of them ornaments.

I absolutely LOVE this one! Maybe I could do just 1 tier to make it easier to travel with....
http://cakecentral.com/cake-photo-82054.html

I'll search the gallery some more, though.

you can ice your cupcakes with a large round tip add a large marshmellow on top make a scarf around the bottom of the marshmellow put some eyes and carrot nose and a blk hat on top and you will have a snowman cupcake they are really cute I made them once and they were a hit. Found it in one of Wiltons year books. Sorry I don't have a pic for you.

The snowmen also sound cute...how would one go about making the scarf and hat. I'm assuming you'd just do the face in frosting or something.... Thanks for the idea!

The snowmen also sound cute...how would one go about making the scarf and hat. I'm assuming you'd just do the face in frosting or something.... Thanks for the idea!

These were easy cupcakes, but festive. I made one batch of pale blue MMF, cut out 40 or so little snowmen & added details, but you could leave them plain.
-Or just do a simple star shape maybe? Or a mitten?
-Wilton has some really pretty pre-made toppers.
-easier still - top with a nice festive candy or chocolate Santa (eek, more chocolate!)

They were fast - box mix choc cakes with a swirl of thick ganache (choc & cream - easy), then sprinkles & a snowman on top. They make a pretty display, I used a white plate with poinsettias.

Just adding to your idea file

those are really cute, missy! I have never made or used fondant before...is it hard to make? I don't have a stand mixer yet, so I don't know how that would work...

Really simple...
Make a round/square cake ice, and add cookies around the edges, The gingerbread cake would be easy with a cookie, mix in a few trees and impressive and each child (or young at heart) can have a cookie, Bring along the extra cookies.
I find that the simplest cake looks better and more impressive by staging , put a pretty cake on a great cake plate, and you get a WOW factor of 10
Good Luck and Merry Christmas, Anne

Anne, you are SO right about the presentation, a perfect platter or stand can make the look of your finished product SO much better...

Mrs Mom: I use the MMF recipe on this website and make a small batch (with just one cup of marshmallows)...that way I can add my colour to the melted mallows and it mixes easily with the pwd sugar - I do it all by hand, as I find it comes together quite quickly (grease your hands!)..and it's really fun to work with; I've only ever used it to make small decorations; I haven't been brave enough to try covering a cake yet.

And you can always go the storebought-topper route - easy & festive.

I like the 'personal individual' serving aspect of cupcakes, no forks!