Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe (Easy Copycat)

These Homemade Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes are a delicious copycat of the classic holiday snack cake everyone looks forward to each Christmas season. Soft vanilla cake is layered with a fluffy marshmallow cream filling, coated in smooth white almond bark, and decorated with festive red icing and green sanding sugar for a homemade version that tastes even better than the original.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever wished you could make your own Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes at home, this easy Christmas Tree Cakes recipe is the perfect holiday baking project. They’re fun to make with family, beautiful on Christmas dessert trays, and always disappear quickly at cookie exchanges, parties, and holiday gatherings.

I make these homemade Christmas Tree Cakes every year because they have all the nostalgic flavor of the store-bought version with an even softer cake and richer filling. If you love recreating your favorite holiday treats, you’ll also want to try my Christmas Crack, Easy No-Cook Divinity, and Red, White, and Green Puppy Chow for even more festive Christmas desserts.

Why You’ll Love These Homemade Christmas Tree Cakes

There’s a reason these Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes have become one of my favorite Christmas desserts.

• They taste just like the classic Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes—but even better homemade.
• The soft vanilla cake and fluffy marshmallow filling create the perfect snack cake texture.
• They’re surprisingly easy to make using a boxed cake mix.
• They’re perfect for Christmas cookie trays, holiday parties, and edible gifts.
• You can make them ahead of time or freeze them for later.
• Kids love helping decorate them with the signature red icing and green sprinkles.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes recipe uses simple grocery store ingredients to recreate the classic holiday snack cake at home.

• White cake mix – Creates the soft, tender cake that’s closest to the original snack cakes.
• Eggs, oil, and water – Prepare the cake according to the package directions.
• Marshmallow creme – Gives the filling its signature fluffy texture.
• Butter – Adds richness to the filling.
• Powdered sugar – Sweetens and thickens the marshmallow filling.
• Vanilla extract – Adds classic bakery flavor.
• White almond bark – Creates the smooth white coating that’s easier to work with than white chocolate.
• Shortening – Helps thin the almond bark for easier dipping.
• Red decorating icing – Creates the classic zigzag decoration.
• Green sanding sugar – Gives the cakes their iconic festive look.

How to Make Homemade Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes

The homemade cake in these Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes starts with a simple boxed cake mix, but a few easy tricks transform it into a soft, light sponge cake that’s perfect for recreating the classic holiday snack cakes.

The secret is whipping six whole eggs for a full 6 minutes before adding the remaining ingredients. Be sure to set a timer—the eggs should become thick, pale yellow, and noticeably fluffy. Using the whole eggs (not separating the yolks and whites) gives the cake plenty of richness while keeping the texture light and airy.

Next, beat in the white cake mix, powdered sugar, water, and oil until the batter is smooth. The powdered sugar is another secret ingredient that helps create the tender, delicate texture that makes these homemade Christmas Tree Cakes taste so much like the Little Debbie original.

I like using a white cake mix because it gives the cakes their classic vanilla flavor and light color, but a yellow cake mix works well too if that’s what you have on hand.

Tips for the Best Homemade Christmas Tree Cakes

After making these Homemade Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes many times, I’ve picked up a few tricks that make the process much easier and help the finished cakes look just like the nostalgic holiday favorite.

Store the finished cakes in the refrigerator. They stay fresh for several days, and I actually think they’re even better chilled since the filling firms up and the coating stays perfectly crisp.

Whip the eggs for the full 6 minutes. This step creates a light, fluffy sponge cake that closely resembles the texture of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes. Don’t rush it!

Freeze the cakes before filling and dipping. Chilling the cake layers makes them much easier to handle and helps prevent crumbs from getting into the almond bark coating.

Use a sharp cookie cutter. Press straight down without twisting to create clean Christmas tree shapes with neat edges.

Thin the almond bark if needed. If the melted almond bark seems too thick for dipping, stir in a small amount of shortening until it reaches a smooth, pourable consistency.

Work in small batches. Keep the remaining cakes in the freezer while you dip a few at a time. Cold cakes are much easier to coat neatly.

Let the coating set before decorating. Allow the almond bark to harden slightly before piping on the red icing and adding the green sanding sugar so the decorations stay in place.

What Is the Filling in Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes?

One of the best parts of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes is the sweet, fluffy filling tucked between the soft layers of vanilla sponge cake. While the exact recipe is a closely guarded secret, it’s widely believed to be a marshmallow-flavored creme filling.

For this homemade version, I use a simple combination of marshmallow creme, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract to recreate that classic flavor and texture. The result is a light, creamy filling that’s sweet without being overpowering and tastes remarkably close to the nostalgic holiday snack cakes.

I think this homemade filling is even better than the original because it’s extra creamy and pairs perfectly with the soft sponge cake and smooth white almond bark coating. Once you try these Homemade Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes, you may never want the store-bought version again!

The exact measurements and step-by-step instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

How to Make the Marshmallow Cream Filling

The fluffy marshmallow cream filling is one of the best parts of these Homemade Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes. It’s light, creamy, and perfectly complements the soft sponge cake and sweet white coating.

Using an electric mixer, beat together the marshmallow creme, softened butter, and vanilla extract until the mixture is light and fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar and continue mixing until the filling is smooth and creamy.

Transfer the filling to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip, such as a Wilton #5. If you don’t have a piping bag, a large zip-top bag with one corner snipped off works just as well.

Pipe a border around one of the cake trees, then fill in the center with the remaining marshmallow filling. There’s no need to smooth it with a knife. Simply place a second cake on top and gently press down until the filling spreads evenly to the edges. This creates the classic thick layer of filling that’s so similar to the original Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes.

Freeze the Cakes Before 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.

Coat the Cakes with White Almond Bark

The smooth white coating is what gives Homemade Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes their signature look. I like using vanilla almond bark because it melts smoothly, is easy to work with, and creates a sweet coating that’s very similar to the original snack cakes.

For the best dipping consistency, stir 2 tablespoons of plain Crisco shortening into the melted almond bark. This simple step thins the coating, making it much easier to completely cover each cake without creating a thick, uneven layer. Be sure to use plain shortening, not butter-flavored.

Working with a few cakes at a time, dip the frozen cake sandwiches into the melted almond bark. Use a spoon to coat any uncovered areas, then carefully lift each cake out with two forks and transfer it to a sheet of wax or parchment paper to set.

While the coating is still wet, immediately sprinkle the tops with green sanding sugar so it sticks before the almond bark hardens. Once the coating is set, the cakes are ready for the classic red icing decoration.

Decorate the Christmas Tree Cakes

The classic red icing stripes are what make these Homemade Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes instantly recognizable. I like using the pouches of red cookie icing found in the baking aisle because they’re already the perfect consistency for decorating. Look for the larger frosting pouches rather than the small tubes of decorating gel.

Before decorating, make sure the almond bark coating has completely hardened. Starting about halfway down the tree, hold the icing pouch about ½ inch above the cake and gently squeeze while moving across the surface. Let the icing fall naturally onto the cake instead of piping it directly against the coating.

Pipe four or five red stripes across each Christmas tree. Don’t worry about making them perfectly straight—the slightly uneven lines are part of the signature look. Finish by adding a few extra sprinkles if needed, then let the icing set before serving or storing.

Allow the red cookie icing to dry completely before moving or stacking the Christmas Tree Cakes. Once both the icing and almond bark have hardened, the cakes are easy to transfer to a serving platter or store in an airtight container.

This recipe makes about 13 homemade Christmas Tree Cakes, and you’ll likely have a little marshmallow filling and red cookie icing left over. Don’t let it go to waste! Use the leftover cake scraps, filling, and coating to make delicious Christmas Tree Cake Balls for another festive holiday treat.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Christmas Treats You’ll Love

If you’re planning your holiday baking, don’t stop with these Homemade Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes! From easy no-bake treats to festive desserts perfect for cookie exchanges and Christmas parties, these reader-favorite recipes are guaranteed to make the season a little sweeter.