Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls
Every December I buy a box of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes, and every December they vanish from my pantry before I can hide them. This year I turned them into something even more fun: Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls, a holiday twist on a familiar seasonal treat that needs only five ingredients and zero oven time.
If your December looks like mine, full of cookie swaps, classroom parties, bake sales, and last minute gift bags, this is the recipe to keep handy.
The cakes are blended into a soft, truffle style filling, rolled into bite sized balls, then dipped in a creamy white coating and drizzled with red so each one looks like a tiny decorated tree.
I mixed a batch after dinner one Tuesday and had the whole tray chilling in the fridge before my kids finished their homework.
While you plan your holiday sweets, look for more easy options to round out the platter. Rum cookie balls, sugar cookie truffles, and peanut butter balls with rice krispies all skip the oven and all disappear just as quickly.
Make a batch of these cake balls for a quick holiday gift you can pull together in about 30 minutes.
Jump To
- 1. Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls
- 2. Ingredients
- 3. Equipment Needed to Make Christmas Cake Truffles
- 4. How to Make Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls
- 5. Storage and Freezing
- 6. Recipe Tips
- 7. Additions and Variations
- 8. More Favorite Christmas No Bake Desserts
- 9. FAQs
- 10. Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls
Ingredients
Five ingredients, one bowl, and a baking sheet are all this recipe asks for. Exact amounts are listed below, and the printable recipe card has the full method in one place.
Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes (10 cakes, about 2 boxes). These are the tree shaped snack cakes with vanilla cake layers, cream filling, white frosting, green sprinkles, and a red icing drizzle. They are the heart of the recipe, so grab two boxes if your store still has them in stock.
Cream cheese (8 ounces, softened). Let it sit on the counter for about 30 minutes before you start, or soften it in short bursts in the microwave. Room temperature cream cheese mixes smoothly with the cakes and creates that traditional truffle style filling. It also cuts the sweetness, so the finished cake balls taste balanced rather than sugary.
Vanilla almond bark (16 ounces). This is the white coating that gives each ball its smooth shell. If almond bark is sold out, white candy melts work exactly the same way, and Ghirardelli White Chocolate Melts are a reliable swap.
Red candy melts (1 cup). Melted and piped on top, these become the red garland. If you cannot find red candy melts, melt a little extra almond bark and tint it with red gel food coloring.
Green sugar sprinkles. These are the chunky decorating crystals, also labeled sanding sugar. Edible glitter is a pretty alternative if you want extra sparkle.
This recipe makes 24 cake balls, and one cake ball is a single serving. Plan on about 30 minutes of hands on prep, 2 hours of chilling, and roughly 2 hours 30 minutes from start to finish.
Each cake ball has about 255 calories, 30 grams of carbohydrates, 26 grams of sugar, 14 grams of fat, 11 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of protein, 77 milligrams of sodium, and 10 milligrams of cholesterol.
Equipment Needed to Make Christmas Cake Truffles
Nothing fancy here. You likely already own most of it.
- A baking sheet, ideally one with a rim so the balls stay put
- Parchment paper or wax paper for lining the pan
- An electric mixer, hand held or stand, to beat the cakes and cream cheese
- A large mixing bowl
- A small cookie scoop, optional but very helpful for even sizing
A fork or a dipping tool also comes in handy later, and a piping bag or a zip top freezer bag handles the red drizzle.
How to Make Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls
The method is simple, and the chilling step does most of the work for you. Follow these steps in order.
- Line your pan. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper and set it aside.
- Make the dough. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and the Christmas tree cakes together until well combined. You want a thick, uniform mixture with no dry cake crumbs left.
- Roll the balls. Scoop out the dough and roll it into balls about 1 inch to 1.5 inches across. A cookie scoop makes this faster and keeps the sizes even. Place the balls on the lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- Melt the white coating. Melt the vanilla almond bark in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals, stirring after each one, until melted and smooth. You can also follow the package directions if they differ.
- Dip the truffles. Use a fork or a dipping tool to dip each chilled truffle into the melted coating. Gently tap the fork against the side of the bowl so the excess coating drips back in, then return the dipped ball to the lined baking sheet.
- Add the sprinkles. Immediately top each truffle with a pinch of green sugar sprinkles while the coating is still wet.
- Melt and drizzle the red melts. In a microwave safe bowl, heat the red candy melts in 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Spoon the melted red chocolate into a piping bag or a freezer bag with a tiny corner snipped off, then drizzle it over the truffles.
- Let them set. Allow the truffles to set fully before serving or storing, about 10 minutes in the refrigerator.
One quick note from experience: keep the uncoated balls in the fridge while you work in batches. Warm dough softens fast, and cold balls dip much more cleanly.
Storage and Freezing
These cake balls hold up well, which is one reason they make such an easy gift.
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Place wax paper between layers so the coating does not stick together.
- Freezer, coated: Freeze the finished cake balls in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 2 months.
- Freezer, uncoated: Freeze the plain cake balls, without any coating, for up to 3 months. Thaw them completely, then dip them in melted chocolate as usual.
Because these truffles contain cream cheese, keep them chilled until you are ready to serve them, and set them out only shortly before guests arrive. If you are packing them as gifts, a small stack of wax paper and a cold cooler bag will keep everything looking neat on the drive over.
Recipe Tips
Use a small cookie scoop. Even sizing is not just about looks. Balls of the same size chill at the same rate and dip more evenly.
Do not skip the chilling time. This is the step that keeps everything together. Chilled dough holds its shape when it hits the warm coating, and the cold surface also helps the chocolate set faster.
Keep the coating warm but not hot. If the almond bark starts to thicken, give it another short interval in the microwave and stir again until it flows easily.
Swap in Zebra cakes if the trees sell out. In December, the tree cakes can be hard to find. Zebra cakes are very similar and work beautifully as a replacement. Make Zebra Cake Balls and decorate them the same way with sprinkles and a red drizzle.
On busy weeks I roll the dough, chill it overnight, and dip the next morning while my coffee brews. Splitting the work into two short sessions makes the whole project feel effortless.
Additions and Variations
Once you have the basic method down, there is plenty of room to play.
- Crushed peppermint topping. Skip the sprinkles and red drizzle and top the truffles with crushed peppermint candies instead. You can crush your own candy canes or buy crushed peppermint in the baking aisle during the holidays.
- Chocolate tree cakes. Little Debbie Chocolate Christmas tree cakes work well too. Coat them in white chocolate or milk chocolate for a darker, richer finish.
- Cake pops. Insert cake pop sticks before dipping and you have a whole new treat on a stick.
- Extra vanilla. Add up to 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the dough before mixing for a little more vanilla flavor.
I usually make one tray with the classic green sprinkles and red drizzle, then a second tray with crushed peppermint for the family members who love chocolate and mint together. Labeling the containers helps when you hand them out as gifts, and it saves you from guessing which tray is which at the party.
More Favorite Christmas No Bake Desserts
If these cake balls become a tradition in your house, here are a few more no bake sweets worth adding to your holiday rotation.
- Biscoff Truffles. Made with just four ingredients, these get their warm spice flavor from Biscoff cookies and cookie butter.
- No Bake Brownie Truffles. Great for parties because you can decorate them with different colored sprinkles for any holiday, or coat them in crushed nuts, crushed peppermint, or coconut.
- Christmas Popcorn Balls. Sweet and salty, and a fun change of texture on a dessert tray.
- Homemade Peanut Butter Buckeyes. A classic no bake treat that pairs creamy peanut butter with chocolate.
Between these options and the cake balls, you can build an entire holiday dessert platter without turning on the oven once. That is a real win during the busiest weeks of the year, and it means more time at the table with the people you are cooking for.
FAQs
How do you make Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls?
Crumble 10 Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes and mix with 8 ounces of softened cream cheese until combined. Roll into 1-inch to 1.5-inch balls and chill for at least 2 hours. Dip in melted vanilla almond bark, top with green sprinkles, and drizzle with melted red candy melts.
What are the ingredients needed for Christmas Tree Cake Balls?
The recipe uses 10 Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes (2 boxes), 8 ounces of softened cream cheese, 16 ounces of vanilla almond bark, 1 cup of red candy melts, and green sugar sprinkles. These five ingredients create the filling, coating, and festive decorations.
How should you store Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls?
Store the cake balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week, placing wax paper between layers to prevent sticking. They can also be frozen for up to 2 months, making them a great make-ahead dessert option.
Why are my cake balls falling apart when I dip them?
Cake balls most often fall apart because they were not chilled long enough before dipping. Make sure to chill the rolled balls for at least 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. If the balls are cracking from being too cold, let them sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before coating.
Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls
- Total Time: 150 min
- Yield: 24 cake balls 1x
Description
Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls Every December I buy a box of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes, and every December they vanish from my pantry before I can hide them. This year I turned them into something even more fun: Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls , a holiday twist on a familiar seasonal treat that needs only five ingredients and zero oven time.
Ingredients
Main
10 Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
16 ounces vanilla almond bark
1 cup red candy melts
green sugar sprinkles
Instructions
Main
1-Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2-In a large mixing bowl, beat to: In a large mixing bowl, beat to combine softened cream cheese and Christmas tree cakes.
3-Scoop out the dough and roll into: Scoop out the dough and roll into 1-inch to 1.5-inch balls (a cookie scoop is helpful). Place balls on the lined cookie sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (or overnight).
4-Melt white almond bark in a microwave-safe: Melt white almond bark in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted and smooth (or as per package instructions).
5-Use a fork or dipping tool to: Use a fork or dipping tool to dip chilled truffles into the melted candy coating. Gently tap on the side of the bowl to allow any excess coating to drip off, then return the dipped balls to the lined baking sheet.
6-Immediately top each truffle with a pinch: Immediately top each truffle with a pinch of green sprinkles.
7-In a microwave-safe bowl, heat red candy: In a microwave-safe bowl, heat red candy melts in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Spoon into a piping bag or freezer baggie and snip off a tiny bit of the corner. Drizzle the red chocolate over the truffles.
8-Allow the truffles to set fully before: Allow the truffles to set fully before serving or storing (about 10 minutes in the refrigerator).
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Method: no_cook
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cake ball
- Calories: 255kcal
- Sugar: 26g
- Sodium: 77mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Keywords: Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls