You know those nostalgic Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes — the little frosted vanilla cakes shaped like evergreen trees, all decked out with red icing stripes and green sugar sprinkles? Well, imagine turning them into bite‑sized truffles: soft, creamy, and dipped in white chocolate. These Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Truffles are like a holiday hack that brings back childhood memories in a completely new way. With just a handful of pantry staples, you can whip up a festive dessert that’s perfect for parties, gifting, or cozy nights by the twinkling lights. Ready to get rolling (literally)? Let’s dive in.

Christmas Tree Cake Truffles on a festive holiday plate

What Are Christmas Tree Cake Truffles?

What Makes These Holiday Truffles So Special

They start with pre-made Christmas Tree Cakes, which are soft, spongy snack cakes with creme filling.
By mixing them with cream cheese, you create a smooth, moldable “dough” that’s rich yet tender.
The mixture is chilled, rolled into balls, then dipped in melted white chocolate or candy melts for a festive outer shell.
To finish, you decorate with sprinkles and maybe a drizzle of colored candy melts to mimic the original tree design.

Why Use Pre-Made Tree Cakes?

Convenience: These cakes are pre-made, so there’s no baking required — perfect for a quick, no-cook holiday dessert.
Nostalgia: They bring that classic Christmas snack-cake flavor, but turned up a notch in sweetness and presentation.
Versatility: You can use either vanilla or chocolate versions of the cakes, and you can switch up coatings or decorations depending on the occasion.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Core Ingredients for the Truffles

Here’s what you’ll need for a typical batch:

1 box of Christmas Tree Cakes (about 5 cakes)
8 oz (about 1 block) cream cheese, softened
16 oz white chocolate or candy melts (for coating)
Decorations: seasonal sprinkles, red candy melts or icing, green sanding sugar

Optional Flavor Twists & Variations

Peppermint twist: Add a drop or two of peppermint extract to the melted coating for a minty finish.
Chocolate-based: Use chocolate Tree Cakes if you prefer a richer base.
Alternate coatings: Instead of white chocolate, try colored candy melts or almond bark for a smoother dip.
Dietary tweaks: For a lighter version, some people use Neufchâtel instead of regular cream cheese.

Step‑by‑Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Cake Base

Unwrap each Christmas Tree Cake and place them in a large mixing bowl.
Use a spatula or a mixer to break them up — you want to get a fine, even crumble.
Add in the softened cream cheese and mix until the texture is thick, smooth, and dough-like.

Step 2: Chill and Shape

Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls using your hands or a cookie scoop.
Place the truffle balls on a parchment-lined baking tray.
Refrigerate the balls for at least 2 hours (or overnight) so they firm up nicely.

Step 3: Melt Coating and Dip

Melt your white chocolate or candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 20–30 second intervals and stir between to prevent burning.
Using a skewer or fork, dip each chilled truffle into the melted coating. Make sure it’s fully coated, then let the excess drip off.
Place the coated truffles back on the parchment paper as you work.

Step 4: Decorate

While the coating is still wet, sprinkle on green sanding sugar or festive sprinkles.
Melt red candy melts (or red icing) in the same interval-style method, then drizzle in thin stripes over each truffle to resemble the classic stripe design.
Let the truffles set: either leave them in the refrigerator until the coating hardens, or let them sit at room temperature briefly.

Tips, Serving & Storage

Pro Tips for Easy and Clean Preparation

Chill your dough well — if it’s too sticky, rolling into balls will be messy.
To make dipping easier, thin out the melted coating with a little coconut oil (or shortening) if it’s too thick.
Work in small batches when decorating so you can add sprinkles before the coating sets.

Serving Suggestions

Arrange these truffles on a holiday dessert tray, maybe lined with parchment or festive holiday decor for a cozy, homey feel.
They make a fantastic addition to a cookie swap, or packaged in a clear box for a sweet homemade gift.

How to Store Them

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for about 5–7 days.
For longer storage, freeze the truffles (pre‑dip or post‑dip). If frozen, thaw in the fridge before serving.

Why These Truffles Are a Holiday Crowd-Pleaser

A Nostalgic Twist on a Classic

Turning Christmas Tree Cakes into truffles bridges childhood memories with adult baking creativity. It’s a way to enjoy the flavor you grew up loving — but in a fresher, more festive format.

Perfect for Parties and Gifting

These truffles are bite-sized, easy to transport, and customizable. Whether you’re making a dessert platter for a holiday party, or packaging them in a gift box, they’re cute, shareable, and hard to resist.

No-Bake, Stress-Free Holiday Baking

Because you don’t need an oven, this recipe is great for anyone who wants to make something special without complicated baking. Even people who don’t normally bake can handle this — just mix, chill, dip, and decorate.

FAQs

Can I turn these truffles into cake pops instead?

Yes! Use lollipop sticks or candy cane sticks: after shaping the balls, insert a stick, then dip in the melted coating and decorate.

How many truffles does one box of Tree Cakes make?

A typical box of Christmas Tree Cakes combined with 8 oz of cream cheese yields about 15 truffles.

Can I use milk chocolate instead of white chocolate?

Absolutely. You can swap in milk chocolate or dark chocolate for dipping. Just melt it carefully and dip as usual.

What if I don’t have red candy melts for the drizzle?

You can use red decorating icing, gel food coloring mixed into white chocolate, or even a red piping icing. The goal is just to mimic the red stripe design.

Are these truffles freezable?

Yes — you can freeze the truffle balls either before or after dipping. Thaw in the fridge to maintain shape and texture.

Conclusion

These Christmas Tree Cake Truffles are a clever, no-bake holiday treat that combine sweet nostalgia with easy, festive fun. With just a box of snack cakes, some cream cheese, and melted chocolate, you’ll have a dessert that’s both cozy and crowd-pleasing. Whether you’re making them for a party, a gift, or just because, they bring that warm, cheerful Christmas spirit one bite at a time. Go ahead — give them a try and spread some holiday cheer.

Christmas Tree Cake Truffles

Author: David Tag
Total Time: ~2 hours 20 minutes

Print Recipe

Description

These no-bake Christmas Tree Cake Truffles transform nostalgic snack cakes into creamy, festive bites perfect for holiday parties, gifting, or cozy family treats.

Ingredients

– 1 box (5) Christmas Tree Cakes
– 8 oz cream cheese, softened
– 16 oz white chocolate or candy melts
– Green sprinkles or sanding sugar
– Red candy melts (optional) for drizzle

Instructions

1. Crumble the unwrapped Tree Cakes into a bowl.
2. Mix in the softened cream cheese until smooth.
3. Roll into 1-inch balls and chill on a parchment-lined tray.
4. Melt white chocolate/candy melts in the microwave, stirring every 20–30 sec.
5. Dip each truffle into the melted coating; let excess drip off.
6. While coating is still soft, decorate with green sugar or sprinkles.
7. Melt red candy melts, then drizzle over truffles to mimic the tree stripe design.
8. Refrigerate until set.

Prep Time: 20 minutes + 2 hours chilling

Nutrition

Serving Size: About 15 truffles