Copycat Homemade Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Recipe

Learn how to make classic Little Debbie Christmas Trees Cakes at home. Take this copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake recipe to your next holiday party for for a festive treat at home.

When the holidays roll around, nothing sparks nostalgia quite like Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes. With their soft layers of cake, sweet creamy filling, and festive green sprinkles, these treats are a holiday staple for many.

This copycat recipe brings the magic of these iconic cakes right into your kitchen—a perfect project for family gatherings or as a thoughtful homemade gift using our easy recipe.

Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to recreating this classic dessert at home, complete with variations, storage tips, and answers to common questions.

What Is a Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake?

A Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake is a festive snack cake shaped like a Christmas tree, layered with fluffy filling, coated in a white candy shell, and decorated with red icing and green sanding sugar sprinkles. These cakes are beloved for their sweet vanilla flavor and whimsical holiday charm.

This copycat recipe captures the essence of the store-bought treat while allowing you to enjoy the satisfaction of creating them from scratch. These cakes are not only a delicious dessert but also a fun activity to get into the holiday spirit.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. Nostalgic Holiday Treats
Making these cakes at home lets you revisit the joy of opening a box of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes as a kid. They’re just as tasty as the original but made with love and high-quality ingredients for a special sweet treat.

2. Perfect for Sharing
These cakes are a delightful addition to holiday parties, cookie exchanges, or as a heartfelt gift. The festive appearance, combined with the homemade touch, makes them irresistible to family and friends.

Ingredients

Before you get started making the Christmas Tree Little Debbie Snack Cakes copycat recipe, make sure you have the following simple ingredients from the grocery store.

Cake:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup milk

Filling:

• 4 egg whites
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened and cubed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

For Decoration:

• 16 oz white candy coating, melted
• 1/4 cup red candy melts, melted
• Green sugar sprinkles

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How to Make the Recipe

Let’s make this holiday treat with these step by step instructions for tree shaped little cakes for the Christmas season.

1. Make the Cake:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line and grease a 10×17-inch jelly roll pan.
2. In a stand mixer (or using a large bowl and electric hand mixer), combine butter, sugar, vanilla, almond extract, baking powder, and salt. Beat until smooth.
3. Add egg yolks and mix well, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
4. Gradually add the flour and milk, mixing until fully combined.
5. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared sheet pan using an offset spatula.
6. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the center is set. Cool completely.

2. Make the Filling:

1. In a heat proof mixing bowl, combine egg whites, sugar, and salt.
2. Place the bowl over a pot of simmering water, whisking constantly until the sugar dissolves and the mixture thickens.
3. Transfer to a stand mixer or bowl with an electric mixture and whip on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, or until doubled in volume.
4. Gradually add butter cubes, mixing until smooth and fluffy. Stir in vanilla and almond extract.

3. Assemble the Cakes:

1. Cut the cooled cake in half lengthwise to create two layers.
2. Spread the filling evenly over one layer, then add the second layer of cake on top of the filling. Press gently to secure.
3. Freeze for 30 minutes to firm up.
4. Use a 3-4 inch Christmas tree cookie cutter to cut out tree shapes. Return to the freezer.

4. Decorate the Cakes:

1. Melt the white candy coating and red candy melts in separate bowls.
2. Dip each cake in the white coating, ensuring all sides are covered. Let excess drip off.
3. Sprinkle with green sugar sprinkles immediately and drizzle with red candy melts. You can use a piping bag with red frosting as an alternative to red candy melts if you prefer.
4. Let set before serving.

Places to Take or Use This Recipe

• Christmas Party: These festive treats will be the star of any dessert table and the perfect addition to your baking list.
• Gifting: Package these cakes in decorative boxes or bags for a thoughtful homemade gift.
• Cookie Exchanges: Add variety to cookie swaps with these show-stopping cakes.
• School or Work Events: A crowd-pleasing addition to holiday celebrations.

Variations

1. Chocolate Coating: Swap the white candy coating for milk or dark chocolate for a richer flavor.
2. Different Shapes: Use other holiday-themed cookie cutters, like stars or snowflakes.
3. Flavor Twist: Add a teaspoon of peppermint extract to the cake batter or filling for a refreshing holiday spin. Or use a chocolate cake recipe for Chocolate Christmas tree cakes)
4. Gluten-Free: Make Gluten free Christmas tree cakes by substituting all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Storage: 

Store the seasonal snack cakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Make Ahead: 

Prepare the cake and filling a day in advance. Assemble and decorate the cakes the next day for convenience.

Freezing: 

Undecorated cakes can be frozen for up to one month. Thaw before decorating.

Common Questions

1. Can I make these without a stand mixer?
Yes, a hand mixer will work for both the cake batter and filling. It may take slightly longer to achieve the desired consistency.

2. What if I don’t have a jelly roll pan?
You can use a 9×13-inch pan, but the cake layers will be thicker. Adjust the baking time accordingly.

3. Can I use store-bought frosting?
While homemade filling provides the classic taste and texture, store-bought frosting can be a time-saving alternative.

4. How do I prevent the candy coating from cracking?
Ensure the cakes are cold but not frozen solid before dipping, and let the coating set at room temperature.

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Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes

Learn how to make the classic snack cakes at home with this homemade copycat recipe.

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Cool Time1 hour hr

Total Time1 hour hr 45 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Christmas, christmas cake, Christmas dessert, Christmas recipe, Copycat Recipe

Servings: 10 cakes

Equipment

• 1 Christmas Tree Cookie Cutter

Ingredients

For the cake

• ½ c unsalted butter softened
• 1 c sugar
• 2 t vanilla
• ¼ t almond
• ½ t salt
• 2 t baking powder
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 ½ c flour
• ⅔ c milk

For the filling

• 4 egg whites
• ¾ c sugar
• ½ t salt
• 1 c unsalted butter softened, cubed
• 1 t vanilla
• ¼ t almond

To decorate

• 16 oz white candy coating melted
• ¼ c red candy melts melted
• Green sugar sprinkles

Instructions

For the Cake

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line and spray a 10×17 or similar sized jelly roll pan. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, sugar, vanilla, almond, baking powder and salt. Mix until combined.
• Add in the egg yolks and mix until combined, scraping the sides often.
• Add in the flour and mix until combined.
• Add the milk and mix thoroughly, scraping the sides often.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and using an off-set spatula, spread evenly.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden brown and the center is set. Allow to cool.

For the Filling

• In a large heat-proof bowl, combine the egg whites, sugar and salt.
• Place this bowl over a large stock pot filled with about 2 inches of water. Do not let the bowl touch the water. Bring to a boil.
• As the sugar mixture begins to heat, whisk constantly until thickened and the sugar is dissolved (no longer grainy).
• Remove the bowl from the heat. Using a hand mixer, or transfer the sugar mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer, and whip on med-high for about 5 minutes or until doubled in volume.
• Gradually add in the butter cubes and continue to mix on low for several minutes until all combined and smooth. It will appear broken and clumpy, but just keep mixing.
• Once fully incorporated, add in the vanilla and mix just until combined. Cover and set aside.

To Assemble

• Once the cake is cooled, carefully remove from the pan.
• Cut the cake in half length wise to create two equal-sized layers.
• Lay one half on a sheet of parchment.
• Spread the filling over the entire surface of the cake.
• Top with the remaining cake layer and press firmly into place to secure the layers together.
• Place the entire cake into the freezer for about 30 minutes or until firm but not fully frozen.
• Remove from the freezer and use a 3-4 inch sized Christmas tree cookie cutter to cut out the cake layers. You should be able to get 8-10 trees if spaced correctly.
• Place back into the freezer until ready to decorate.

To Decorate

• Melt the white candy coating in a medium sized bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds at a time and stir well between each interval until melted and smooth. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, melt the red candy melts using the same instructions. Transfer the red candy coating into a piping bag and set aside.
• Remove the cut cake pieces from the freezer and dip to coat in the white chocolate. Fully immerse, flip and coat until all sides are covered in the white candy coating. Using a fork will help and then carefully lift from the bowl and tap the fork against the side of the bowl to allow the excess to drip back into the bowl. Set back on the parchment and repeat with the remaining cakes.
• Immediately sprinkle with the green sugar sprinkles.
• Drizzle with the red candy coating.
• Allow to set and then serve.

Notes

Storage: Cakes can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Conclusion

Recreating Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes at home is easier than you might think, and the results are well worth the effort for a perfect treat. These homemade treats capture the nostalgia of the original while adding your personal touch. Whether you’re making them for a party, a gift, or just to enjoy with your family, they’re sure to be a holiday hit.

Ready to bring some festive fun into your kitchen? Try this easy dessert recipe and share your creations on social media! Don’t forget to tag us and let us know how your cakes turned out. Happy baking!

More fun Christmas Treats to Bake this holiday season to go with these Christmas tree snack cakes:

• Candy Cane Puff Pastry
• Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
• Sugar Cookie Fudge
• Gingerbread Sheet Cake

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