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Christmas Tree Cakes – Little Debbie Copycat Recipe

Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes are a holiday tradition at our house, but they can be hard to find. Now you can make them at home! We’ve perfected the copycat recipe to get the classic look as well as the authentic flavor.

Christmas Tree Cakes

Little Debbie snack cakes have been a family tradition at our house since I was a little girl, so it’s no surprise that we had to make a copycat of our favorite holiday one. 

We brought these Homemade Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes to our family’s Christmas Eve party for dessert and they were a huge hit!

Everybody said they tasted better than the Little Debbie version.

We’re all heart eyes and giggles over this latest copycat recipe.

We’re thrilled that so many people are making this recipe for Christmas this year.

May it be a family tradition that you can do with your loved ones for years to come.

Disclosure – I may get a small commission for purchases made through affiliate links in this post.

Christmas Tree Cakes

🔑 Key to Success #1 – Make The Springy Sponge Cake Batter

The cake for the Christmas Tree Cakes is a classic sponge cake, but we’re making it easy by doctoring up a boxed cake mix.

To make the boxed cake mix into a sponge cake, we’re whipping six eggs for a full six minutes until they are thick and pale yellow.

Set a timer for 6 minutes so that you’ll be sure they are whipped enough.

We’re whipping the whole eggs together.

Not just the yolks. Not just the whites.

This will give it plenty of richness while also keeping the cake light and fluffy.

It’s one of my favorite tricks to make a delightfully light and delicious sponge cake.

Next, beat in the cake mix, powder sugar, water, and oil on medium speed.

Powdered sugar is also a secret ingredient in this recipe.

Trust me, you won’t want to skip it.

The recipe calls for a box of white cake mix; however, you can substitute a yellow cake mix if you prefer.

Christmas Tree Cakes

🔑 Key to Success #2 – Bake Thin Cakes

We’re baking our cake on a rimmed baking sheet so that the cakes will be thin.

Each Christmas tree cake will have two very thin cakes with a cream filling sandwiched in the middle of them.

Make sure your baking sheets are half-sheet-sized, which is 18×13 inches.

You will need two pans of this size.

If you only have one pan, you will need to bake your cake in batches.

It’s perfectly acceptable to bake the cakes one at a time.

You’ll just need to wait until both cakes are cool before going to the next step.

Line the pans with parchment paper so that the cakes will be easy to remove from the pan.

Be sure to spray the pan and the parchment paper with non-stick cooking spray.

Christmas Tree Cakes

Bake the cakes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 12 minutes until the cakes spring back when gently touched.

Rotate your pans halfway through cooking to ensure that the cakes bake evenly.

After the cakes come out of the oven, allow them to cool completely.

When cool, use your 3-inch or 4-inch Christmas Tree cookie cutters to cut out 20 or more cakes.

We were able to cut out 27 Christmas tree shapes from our cakes and it was more than enough.

We ended up with 13 finished Christmas tree cakes from the 27 Christmas tree shapes.

Since we started with an odd number, we had one left over. I promise you it did not go to waste.

Christmas Tree Cakes

🔑 Key to Success #3 – Make the Luscious Marshmallow Filling

The filling for these cute little Christmas Tree Cakes is a fluffy marshmallow frosting.

Using an electric mixer, whip together a jar of marshmallow creme, softened butter, and vanilla until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Next, slowly add in the powdered sugar and beat the filling until it is smooth and creamy.

If you have a piping bag, you can fit it with a small round piping tip like a Wilton #5, then spoon the filling into it.

If not, you can spoon the filling into a large zip-top plastic bag and then snip off the end to use it as a piping bag.

Since we are not doing any precise piping, you can use either method.

Homemade Christmas Tree Cakes - Little Debbie Copycat Recipe

Once you have your filling in the bag, you can use it to cover one Christmas tree shape with the filling.

Outline the cake with filling then continue piping toward the center until it is completely covered with the filling.

You do not have to smooth out the filling with a knife.

Just place the other Christmas tree shape on top of the filling and press it down gently.

This will squish the filling to the edges and make it fill in perfectly.

You just want to make sure that the filling gets all the way to the edges of the Christmas tree shape.

Christmas Tree Cakes

🔑 Key to Success #4 – Freeze For Easy Dipping

After all the Christmas Tree cake sandwiches are made, it’s time to freeze them so that they will be easy to dip in white almond bark.

Place all the Christmas Tree sandwiches onto a baking sheet that has been lined with waxed paper then pop it into the freezer.

Freeze the Christmas tree cakes until they are completely firm, for at least 2 hours.

You can leave them in the freezer uncovered for 2-3 hours or overnight.

If you are freezing them longer than this, individually wrap the cakes in plastic wrap to protect them from freezer burn.

Homemade Christmas Tree Cakes

🔑 Key to Success #5 – Cover with White Almond Bark

For the white coating on our Christmas Tree Cakes, we’re going with vanilla almond bark that has been thinned a bit.

Thinning the almond bark is a key to making a Christmas Tree Cake just like Little Debbie.

After the candy coating has melted, add in two tablespoons of Crisco shortening.

You can find Crisco shortening in the baking aisle of any grocery store.

It comes in a can or in sticks.

I prefer the sticks because it’s easier to use and store.

Make sure you get the plain unflavored variety, not the butter-flavored Crisco.

Stir the Crisco shortening into the melted candy until it is melted and smooth.

Homemade Christmas Tree Cakes

One by one, dip the frozen Christmas Tree sandwiches into the melted almond bark.

Spoon the almond bark over the Christmas Tree cakes to make sure they are completely covered.

Use two forks to remove the coated Christmas Trees to a sheet of waxed paper to dry and harden.

While the almond bark is still wet, sprinkle green sanding sugar over the almond bark.

The pouches of red cookie icing that you can find at the grocery store are the perfect consistency to make the stripes on our Christmas Tree Cakes.

This is not the tiny tubes of decorating gel.

They are pouches of colored frosting that you can find in the baking aisle.

You can find pouches that come with decorating tips.

But many of them are the kind where you just snip off the tip of the nozzle and then squeeze the icing out.

Tip! Cut the tip of the frosting packet smaller than you think you need it then pipe a line onto a sheet of waxed paper to test the flow. Snip more if needed.

Wait until the almond bark has dried and hardened before applying the red icing stripes.

Start about halfway down the side of the Christmas Tree Cake.

Hold the pouch of frosting about a half-inch above the Christmas Tree so that the icing falls across the cake gently.

You don’t want to pipe a hard straight line across the cake or it won’t look natural and authentic.

Pipe four or five red lines across the cake.

They do not have to be straight. In fact, they should not be all straight and perfect.

Christmas Tree Cakes

Allow the red cookie icing to dry before moving the Christmas tree cakes.

Once the Christmas Tree Cakes are fully dried, they are easy to move around or transport as needed.

We ended up with 13 fully decorated Christmas Tree cakes and had plenty of filling and red cookie icing left over.

I was concerned that I might run out of those two items, but I really had more than enough.

You can use your leftover cake, filling, and supplies to make Christmas Tree Cake Balls!

📌 Get the Printable Recipe for Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Copycat

Save this Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes copycat recipe to your favorite Christmas board or your Cute Christmas Treats board.

Christmas Tree Cakes

Christmas Tree Cakes (Little Debbie Copycat Recipe)

Yield: 10 cakes
Prep Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Freezing Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 12 minutes

Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes are a holiday tradition at our house, but they can be hard to find. Now you can make them at home! We've perfected the recipe to get the classic look as well as the authentic flavor.

Ingredients

For the Cake

  • 6 eggs
  • 1 box white cake mix
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar

For the Filling

  • 1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme
  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

For the White Coating

  • 24 oz white almond bark
  • 2 Tbsp Crisco shortening

For the Decorations

  • green sanding sugar
  • 1 red cookie icing pouch

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line bottoms of two half-sheet pans (18x13-inch) with parchment paper. Spray parchment paper with cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, beat eggs with an electric mixer on high speed for 6 minutes, until thick and pale yellow.
  3. Add cake mix, powdered sugar, water, and oil. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds then scrape the bowl. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute.
  4. Measure out 2 1/4 cups of batter into each pan. Spread evenly.
  5. Bake 10-12 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Allow to cool completely.
  6. Use a 3-inch or 4-inch Christmas Tree cookie cutter to cut out 20 or more Christmas Trees from the cakes. (We were able to get 27 total using a 4-inch Christmas Tree cutter. You need two Christmas Trees for each Christmas Tree Cake.)
  7. For the filling, beat marshmallow creme, softened butter, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
  8. Spoon the filling into a piping bag fitted with a round tip OR spoon filling into a zip-top plastic baggie and snip off the tip. Pipe frosting all over the top of one Christmas Tree then place a second Christmas Tree on top of the frosting. Repeat for all other Christmas trees.
  9. Place the Christmas Trees into the freezer for two hours or more until they are firm.
  10. In a deep bowl that is big enough to fit a Christmas Tree Cake, melt the almond bark by microwaving on high power for 1 minute then stir well. Continue heating in 30-second increments until almond bark is smooth. Stir in Crisco shortening until it melts.
  11. Dip each frozen cake into almond bark, spooning the almond bark over the cake to coat it well. Use two forks to remove the cakes to a sheet of waxed paper. Immediately sprinkle the green sanding sugar over each cake. Allow to dry completely.
  12. When dry, snip off the tip of the red cookie frosting and drizzle stripes over each cake.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 789Total Fat: 63gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 45gCholesterol: 150mgSodium: 533mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 8gSugar: 31gProtein: 19g

Nutrition Information Provided For Educational and Informational Purposes Only.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have suggestions for improvement?

Your feedback helps us create better recipes for you. Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts!

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Kristin

Monday 18th of December 2023

We live in Guam and there is no little Debbie here so I have to make these myself. I’m struggling to find white almond bark, but I can find white chocolate bars. Would this be the same?

Marissa

Thursday 14th of December 2023

Hi !

I want to make a 8 inch round cake. About how many layers would you think this batter would make ? How many cups of batter could I distribute for each layer I bake ?

Jennifer

Friday 15th of December 2023

Hi, I think you could make three layers with this batter. Two layers would probably also work if you like tall cake layers.

Amanda

Saturday 4th of November 2023

I was wondering if anyone has made these and then put them in the freezer to eat/give away later? If so, how long are they good for, if froze properly?

Tuesday 9th of January 2024

So I froze my completed Christmas tree cakes and they were perfect when they thawed! I frozen 20 of them for about a month. I put them in a freezer bag and then in a plastic bin with a locking lid. They tasted just as good after freezing, as they did fresh 😊

Alicia

Monday 30th of October 2023

Can you substitute coconut oil for the crisco?

Jennifer

Tuesday 31st of October 2023

Yes, you can substitute coconut oil for the Crisco

Madeline

Friday 14th of April 2023

EDIT

Hi Jennifer, I was wondering if I could add gel food coloring? It’s for someone’s birthday they love the white Debbie cakes. I know you CANT** use liquid food coloring in chocolate, at least I don’t think you can due to chocolate not hardening again if moisture gets mixed in and having some moisture is a lot less liquid than drops of food color lol.. her favorite colors are black and hot pink..so, I got black gel food coloring which will come out like a charcoal color I’m guessing and I have pink decorating icing (also bought black decorating icing as well). I used some gel food coloring in almond bark for dipped pretzels but I hardly used any in fear of the bark not hardening. I would have to use much more for this to turn out of. I played it safe and bought 2 bars of almond bark. Would the gel type of food color be okay?

Jennifer

Friday 14th of April 2023

Hi Madeline,

I have never had great success with adding a lot of gel food coloring to chocolate or almond bark. You really need an oil-based food coloring for chocolate. I would recommend that you try to find candy melts that are already colored in your desired shades of black and hot pink. I think this would end up with the best result for your friend's birthday. Let us know how your cake turns out!

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