If you’re looking for a festive treat that’s as fun to make as it is to eat, you’re going to adore this Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe. These little bites are absolutely irresistible — packed with creamy, cake-y goodness and dressed up to look like mini Christmas trees. I absolutely love how this turns out every time, and I can’t wait to share all my tips so you nail it on your first try. Trust me, your family and friends will go crazy for these!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Festive & Fun: These truffles look like tiny Christmas trees, making them perfect for holiday gatherings or gift-giving.
- Easy to Make: You don’t need to be a pro baker to whip these up — the recipe is straightforward and quick.
- Deliciously Moist: The cream cheese mixed with the cake keeps the truffles super moist and rich.
- Customizable: You can tweak the colors and toppings to fit your holiday style or personal taste.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe lies in a simple mix of cake, cream cheese, and white chocolate coating. These ingredients combine perfectly to create a sweet, creamy, and festive treat. When shopping, grab the classic vanilla Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes — they’re the base that gives you that iconic holiday flavor and texture.
- Vanilla Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes: Their distinct green cake and vanilla frosting inside are essential; don’t substitute unless you want a different flavor.
- Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese blends everything together for that creamy truffle center — make sure it’s softened to avoid lumps.
- Almond Bark or White Chocolate Candy Melts: These melt smoothly and harden nicely for the perfect truffle shell. Candy melts are especially kid-friendly for dipping.
- Red Food Coloring: This adds the bright holiday accent in your drizzle — use gel food coloring for more vibrant color without thinning the chocolate.
- Green Sanding Sugar: Adds sparkle and that evergreen tree look you want.
Variations
I love how versatile this Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe is! Sometimes I like to mix up the colors or swap out the almond bark for dark chocolate to give it a richer flavor. Feel free to make it your own — these little truffles adapt well to all kinds of holiday themes and tastes.
- Chocolate Lovers: Replace white chocolate candy melts with milk or dark chocolate to suit your taste. I discovered this tweak when hosting a chocolate-themed party — total crowd-pleaser!
- Festive Colors: Swap green sanding sugar with colored sprinkles or edible glitter depending on your holiday decor theme.
- Allergy-Friendly: Use dairy-free cream cheese and allergen-free candy melts to accommodate dietary needs — my friend tried this, and everyone loved them!
- Flavor Boost: Mix a small amount of peppermint extract into the cream cheese mixture for a refreshing twist. This is a personal favorite of mine for that extra holiday cheer.
How to Make Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe
Step 1: Crumble and Mix Your Cake Base
The first step is where the truffles’ creamy magic begins. Crumble those vanilla Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes into a large mixing bowl. Don’t be shy — break them down well so your texture is even. Then, add your softened cream cheese. I like to use a hand mixer here because it gets everything perfectly smooth and combined. The mixture will look like a dough — that’s exactly what you want!
Step 2: Shape the Truffles and Chill
Use a small cookie scoop or tablespoon measure to form your truffle balls. Rolling them smooth with your hands is the fun part — think of it like play-dough! Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and pop them into the freezer for about 30 minutes so they firm up nicely. Here’s a trick I learned: after chilling, roll them again between your palms to smooth out any cracks for a polished look.
Step 3: Dip in Melted White Chocolate
Melt your almond bark or white chocolate candy melts in the microwave — just 30-second bursts stirring each time works best to avoid overheating. Then dip each truffle with a fork, tapping off excess chocolate so it’s not too thick or gloopy. Place them back on the parchment and let them set. This coating is what transforms these bites into those irresistible little Christmas trees.
Step 4: Add the Festive Drizzle and Sparkle
For the final festive touch, take a bit of your extra melted white chocolate and mix in red food coloring a drop at a time until you reach that perfect bright red. Use a fork or piping bag to drizzle over each truffle. Before the drizzle dries, sprinkle green sanding sugar on top — this gives the truffles that classic holiday sparkle and evergreen tree vibe.
Pro Tips for Making Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe
- Use Fresh Cakes: I’ve noticed using cakes closer to their sell-by date gives a softer, easier-to-mix base.
- Avoid Overheating Chocolate: Heat your candy melts in short bursts to keep it smooth and glossy — burnt chocolate dries dull and cracks.
- Freeze Before Dipping: Freezing the cake balls not only firms them up but makes dipping neater and less messy.
- Work Quickly with Drizzle: Add sanding sugar immediately after drizzling so it sticks well — I learned this the hard way when it dried too fast!
How to Serve Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe
Garnishes
I like to keep the garnishes simple but festive. The green sanding sugar gives a subtle sparkle, but sometimes I add tiny edible star-shaped sprinkles to the tops for a bit more whimsy. If you’re feeling extra creative, you can even add small candy pearls as “ornaments” on your trees. It’s a quick, playful way to amp up presentation without stress.
Side Dishes
Pair these truffles with a warm cup of hot cocoa or spiced tea to balance their sweetness. They also go great alongside a cheese board or fruit platter for a varied holiday spread. I’ve served them with cranberry-orange scones during Christmas brunch — a combo my guests raved about!
Creative Ways to Present
Presentation can make these truffles even more special. I’ve wrapped them individually in clear cellophane with a festive ribbon for gifting. Another time, I arranged them on a tiered cake stand dusted with powdered sugar “snow” and miniature candy canes — it’s like a winter wonderland in sweet form! You could even use green cupcake liners to mimic the tree base.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store any leftover Christmas Tree Cake Truffles in an airtight container in the fridge. They keep well for up to a week, though honestly, mine rarely last that long! Bringing them back to room temperature before serving helps soften the white chocolate coating slightly, which I prefer.
Freezing
These truffles freeze beautifully. I wrap each one individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw in the fridge overnight. I’ve found freezing maintains the truffle’s texture and flavor without drying out the cake base.
Reheating
Since these are bite-sized treats, reheating isn’t usually necessary. But if you want to soften the chocolate coating a bit, let them sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes or microwave gently for 5 seconds. Just don’t overdo it or you’ll melt the coating more than you want!
FAQs
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Can I use a different flavor of Little Debbie cakes in the Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe?
Absolutely! While vanilla Christmas tree cakes are traditional, you can experiment with chocolate or other flavored cakes. Just keep in mind it will change the flavor and color of the truffles, but they’ll still be delicious and festive.
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What if I don’t have almond bark or candy melts?
You can substitute high-quality white chocolate bars, but melt them gently and add a small amount of vegetable oil or shortening to help smooth the texture and avoid seizing up during dipping.
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How long should I let the truffles set after dipping?
Allow them to rest at room temperature or in the fridge for about 10-15 minutes until the chocolate is fully hardened. For faster setting, you can place them in the fridge, but watch out for condensation creating a dull finish.
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Can kids help make these truffles?
Definitely! Kids love rolling the cake balls and adding sprinkles. Just be careful with the melted chocolate step, or have an adult handle the dipping part.
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How many truffles does this recipe make?
This recipe makes about 15 truffles, perfect for small gatherings or holiday gifting.
Final Thoughts
I have to say, this Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe holds a special place in my holiday baking traditions. There’s something so satisfying about taking a simple cake and turning it into these adorable, bite-sized festive treats that everyone loves. Plus, they’re super easy to make, which is a huge win during the busy season. I hope you enjoy making and sharing these as much as I do — they truly bring a little extra joy to the holiday table. Give it a try and watch your friends’ faces light up!
Print
Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 15 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delight in these festive Christmas Tree Cake Truffles, combining soft vanilla cake with creamy cream cheese, all coated in luscious white chocolate and decorated with red drizzle and green sanding sugar for a perfect holiday treat.
Ingredients
Truffle Base
- 10 vanilla Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
Coating and Decoration
- 12 oz almond bark or white chocolate candy melts
- Red food coloring
- Green sanding sugar
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside to keep the truffles from sticking during assembly and cooling.
- Form Truffle Mixture: Crumble the vanilla Christmas Tree Cakes into a large mixing bowl. Add the softened cream cheese and use a hand mixer to beat everything until combined and a dough-like mixture forms.
- Shape Truffles: Use a small cookie scoop to portion out tablespoon-sized balls. Roll each into a smooth ball with your hands, placing them on the prepared baking sheet. Freeze for 30 minutes or until firm. For an even smoother finish, roll again between your palms after freezing.
- Melt White Chocolate: Place the white chocolate or almond bark in a bowl. Heat it, stirring every 30 seconds until fully melted and smooth.
- Coat Truffles: Using a fork, dip each cake ball into the melted white chocolate, tapping off any excess. Place it back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet to set.
- Add Festive Drizzle: Pour some extra melted white chocolate into a separate bowl. Gradually add red food coloring a few drops at a time until the desired red hue is achieved. Use a fork or piping bag to drizzle this colored chocolate over the truffles.
- Decorate with Sugar: Immediately sprinkle green sanding sugar on top of the red drizzle before it sets to add sparkle and a festive Christmas tree effect.
Notes
- Freezing the truffles before dipping helps them hold their shape better and avoid melting the cream cheese.
- Use white chocolate candy melts or almond bark for easier melting and coating.
- Red food coloring gel works better than liquid for more vibrant color without thinning the chocolate.
- Store the finished truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- You can use different colors of sanding sugar to customize the look for other occasions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 truffle
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
