Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Recipe Copycat

If you love sweet treats, you’ll be delighted by this homemade Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes recipe. They’re a delightful way to bring some holiday cheer to your kitchen.

In this blog post, I’m sharing how you can recreate these delicious, festive cakes right at home.

Not only are these cakes beautiful to look at, but they are also incredibly tasty. They are perfect for serving at holiday parties or as a special treat with a cup of hot cocoa!

You’ll find a helpful ingredient breakdown, easy-to-follow baking instructions, and some decorating tips that will make your cakes look just like the classic Little Debbie version.

With just a few common baking ingredients and some creativity, you can enjoy these delicious Christmas tree cakes any time you want.

Key Takeaways

  • Learn how to make delicious homemade Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes.
  • Follow simple baking instructions and decorating tips for festive results.
  • Impress your family with this easy and fun copycat recipe.

Ingredient Breakdown

Dry Ingredients

For the dry ingredients, you will need all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt.

Flour is the base that gives structure to the cake. I usually use all-purpose flour as it works well for most cake recipes.

Granulated sugar adds sweetness and helps to keep the cake moist. The baking powder ensures the cake rises properly, creating a light and fluffy texture. The salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients and balances the sweetness.

Combine these dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk them together to ensure they are evenly distributed.

Wet Ingredients

Wet ingredients include eggs, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and water.

Eggs are crucial as they provide moisture, fat, and structure. They also help the cake to rise and give it a rich texture. Be sure to beat them well to incorporate air, which contributes to the cake’s fluffiness.

Vegetable oil is used instead of butter to keep the cake moist. Vanilla extract adds a warm, sweet flavor that complements the other ingredients. Water is added to thin out the batter and ensure it mixes smoothly with the dry ingredients.

Mix the wet ingredients together first until they’re well combined, then gradually add the dry ingredients to create a smooth batter.

Frosting and Decorations

The frosting is made with powdered sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and a small amount of milk.

Beat the butter until it is light and creamy, then slowly add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Add milk a little at a time until the frosting reaches the desired consistency.

To create the iconic Christmas tree look, you’ll need white chocolate for the coating, green sanding sugar, and red icing for decoration, and green sprinkles to add extra flair.

Melt the white chocolate and evenly coat each cake before decorating with green sanding sugar and adding red icing stripes. Sprinkle green sprinkles on top for a festive finish.

Baking Instructions

We will go through the key steps to make your Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes, from preparing the batter to baking and shaping the cakes.

Preparing The Batter

First, I preheat the oven to 350°F.

Then, I prepare my baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper and spraying a light layer of cooking spray.

Next, I mix the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.

In a separate large mixing bowl, I beat the eggs for about 5-6 minutes until thick and a light pale color.

I then add in the cake mix, powdered sugar, water, and oil, mixing until it’s smooth and consistent.

Shaping The Cakes

After the batter is ready, I pour it evenly into the prepared baking sheets.

I smooth out the top with a spatula for even thickness.

Once baked and cooled, I use the Christmas tree cookie cutter to create the iconic shapes.

If you prefer, you can also use a knife to cut the cakes into tree shapes. Be careful to get even cuts for uniformity.

Sometimes I also make mini cakes using smaller cutters, which can be fun for cake pops, too.

Baking Process

With the batter shaped, I bake the cakes for about 10-15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

As they bake, I keep an eye on the oven to ensure they don’t overcook. The result should be sponge cakes that are light and fluffy.

After baking, I let the cakes cool completely on a wire rack.

Once cooled, they are ready for decoration. Keeping the cakes on the parchment paper during cooling helps prevent them from sticking to surfaces.

Decorating Tips

A festive kitchen counter with ingredients and utensils for making Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes

Decorating Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes can be a fun and creative process. I’ll share some key techniques for applying the coating and adding the final touches to make your cakes look festive and delicious.

Applying The Coating

First, I prepare my work area with parchment paper to keep things neat.

I like to use melted white candy melts for the coating. I dip each cake into the melted candy and let the excess drip off.

This gives the cakes a smooth, even layer.

To ensure a light and fluffy coating, I sometimes place the cakes in the freezer for a few minutes after dipping. This helps the coating set quickly and evenly.

For a festive look, I also use buttercream.

I spread a thin layer over the cake first, then add the candy melt coating. The buttercream adds an extra layer of flavor and keeps the cake moist.

To smooth out any bumps, I gently run a spatula over the coating before it sets completely.

Adding The Final Touches

Once the coating is set, it’s time to get creative with decorations.

I like to use red cookie icing to add small details and lines, mimicking the garlands on a Christmas tree.

Green sugar sprinkles work great for adding a bit of sparkle and texture.

For a festive touch, I also use sprinkles and small candies. A few colorful sprinkles go a long way in making these cakes look special.

If I want a more traditional look, I stick with gold and silver sprinkles.

Another fun idea is to pipe some fluffy, white buttercream on top to resemble snow.

This not only looks cute but adds a delicious, creamy texture.

For the final touch, I use a piping bag with a fine tip to add precise details and make the decorations pop.

Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Copycat

Recipe by thisrecipelifeCourse: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

12

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

40

minutes

Enjoy a festive treat that brings back childhood memories with every delicious bite.

Ingredients

  • For the Cake:

  • 1 box white cake mix (plus ingredients listed on the box)

  • Red and green food coloring

  • For the Frosting:

  • 2 cups powdered sugar

  • 2-3 tablespoons milk

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

  • For the Filling:

  • 1/2 cup marshmallow fluff

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • For the Decorations:

  • White chocolate, melted

  • Red and green sprinkles

  • Red gel icing (for garland)

  • Star-shaped sprinkles (for tree topper)

Directions

  • Prepare the Cake:
  • Preheat your oven according to the cake mix instructions.
  • Prepare the cake mix as directed on the box.
  • Divide the batter evenly into two bowls.
  • Tint one bowl of batter with red food coloring and the other with green food coloring.
  • Pour each colored batter into separate 9×13 inch baking pans.
  • Bake according to the package instructions. Let the cakes cool completely.
  • Prepare the Frosting:
  • In a large bowl, beat together the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and softened butter until smooth and creamy. Add more milk if necessary to reach a spreadable consistency.
  • Prepare the Filling:
  • In a medium bowl, beat together the marshmallow fluff, softened butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and fluffy.
  • Assemble the Cakes:
  • Use a tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out tree shapes from both the red and green cakes.
  • Spread a layer of filling on a red tree-shaped cake piece and top with a green tree-shaped cake piece to create a sandwich.
  • Repeat with the remaining cake pieces.
  • Decorate the Cakes:
  • Spread a thin layer of frosting over the top and sides of each tree cake.
  • Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the cakes to resemble snow.
  • Add red and green sprinkles, red gel icing for garland, and a star-shaped sprinkle on top.
  • Serve and Enjoy:
  • Allow the decorations to set before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

A festive kitchen scene with ingredients and utensils laid out for making Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes

I’ve gathered some common questions about making Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes at home. From recipes to specific steps, here’s everything you need to know.

How can I make my own version of the Little Debbie Christmas tree cake at home?

To make your own version at home, start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees.

Line your sheet pans with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray.

Beat the eggs, then add cake mix, powdered sugar, water, and oil.

Follow baking directions and let cool. For more details, check out this step-by-step guide.

What is the recipe for the Christmas tree cake dip that mimics Little Debbie’s version?

To create a Christmas tree cake dip, you can start with crumbled Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes.

Mix the crumbled cakes with cream cheese and whipped topping.

Serve with graham crackers or fruit for dipping. This easy dip is perfect for parties.

Is there a simple way to prepare a Christmas tree cake similar to Little Debbie’s?

Yes, you can prepare a simple version by baking cake mix according to package instructions.

After cooling, cut the cake into tree shapes using a cookie cutter.

Frost with vanilla icing and decorate with green sugar and sprinkles. Here’s a quick recipe that you might find helpful.

What are the steps to make a Christmas tree cake cheesecake inspired by Little Debbie?

For a cheesecake inspired by the Christmas tree cake, prepare a cheesecake base.

Crush some Little Debbie cakes and mix with cream cheese and sugar.

Pour the batter into a graham cracker crust and bake. For more detailed steps, try adapting this recipe.

Can you share an easy chocolate Christmas tree cake recipe?

To make a chocolate version, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Use a chocolate cake mix and bake according to instructions.

Once cooled, cut into tree shapes and frost with chocolate icing.

Decorate with your choice of sprinkles or icing. Check out this similar recipe here.

What decorations are used on the outside of a homemade version of Little Debbie’s Christmas tree cakes?

For decorations, use green sugar, sprinkles, and white icing to mimic the original. Some recipes also suggest adding colored sugars and mini-chocolate chips to enhance the festive look. You can find a good example by following this recipe guide.