Name: Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 13.25 ounce box yellow cake mix; 3 large eggs; 1 large egg yolk; 1 cup whole milk; ½ cup melted butter; 7 ounces marshmallow fluff; ¾ cup butter at room temperature; 2 cups powdered sugar; 2 tablespoons whole milk; 1 pound white almond bark; 1 cup red candy melts; Green sanding sugar

The magic of the holidays wrapped up in a petite, festive treat—this Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe is exactly what brings smiles and a little sparkle to my kitchen every year. These soft, fluffy, and perfectly frosted Christmas tree cakes feel just like biting into a holiday hug.

A close-up view of a white Christmas tree shaped cookie covered with smooth white icing sprinkled with small green sugar crystals, decorated with wavy red icing lines across the surface. The cookie is placed on a stack of white plates with other similarly decorated cookies visible in the background. The background has a soft white marbled texture, and the scene includes a blurred white cup behind the plates. The overall look is clean, festive, and bright, emphasizing the holiday colors of red, green, and white. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

What makes this Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe so special? Honestly, it’s the perfect harmony of nostalgic flavor and a little hands-on fun that turns baking into a joyful seasonal tradition. I’m always excited to share it because it captures the essence of the holidays better than most treats.

Authentic Taste: This recipe nails that recognizable, tender yellow cake flavor with a fluffy marshmallow filling just like the original.
Festive Presentation: The Christmas tree shape covered in white almond bark and green sanding sugar makes these a charming eye-catcher on any holiday dessert table.
Fun to Make: Cutting out tree shapes and decorating with red stripes reminds me of cozy family baking days—you’ll enjoy the process as much as the result.
Customizable: You can tweak the filling or decorations easily, making it a versatile recipe you’ll want to revisit year after year.

A close-up view of a small, two-layer yellow cake piece with a thick layer of white frosting between and around the layers; the top edge is coated with a smooth red layer that drips slightly over the sides, and tiny green sprinkles dot the white frosting near the bottom. A woman's hand gently holds the cake piece against a soft, out-of-focus white marbled surface with red and white striped patterns blurred in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe plays an important role—together, they create that tender cake and creamy filling that melts in your mouth. Also, picking quality ingredients really makes a difference in the final flavor and texture.

Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl filled with smooth yellow cake mix powder, three whole uncracked brown eggs, a small white ceramic bowl with whole milk, a small white ceramic bowl with melted golden butter, a small white ceramic bowl with fluffy white marshmallow fluff, a small pile of soft room-temperature butter, a small white ceramic bowl of powdered sugar, a small white ceramic bowl with white almond bark chunks, a small white ceramic bowl with bright red candy melts, and a small mound of vibrant green sanding sugar, all arranged with perfect symmetry and balanced proportions placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Yellow cake mix: Using a box mix keeps things super simple and reliably moist, but feel free to use your favorite homemade yellow cake batter.
Eggs and egg yolk: The extra yolk adds richness and helps the cake stay tender.
Whole milk: Adds moisture and a slight creaminess that keeps the cake soft.
Melted butter: I love butter here for its flavor punch—it makes the cake taste homemade, not bland.
Marshmallow fluff: This gives the filling a luscious, light sweetness that perfectly mimics the original.
Butter (room temperature): Soft butter whips smoothly into the filling, ensuring a creamy, spreadable texture.
Powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens the filling without graininess.
White almond bark: Melts easily and hardens with a smooth finish, creating that glossy coating you expect on these cakes.
Red candy melts: Perfect for piping on festive stripes that hold shape well.
Green sanding sugar: Adds texture and sparkle that make these trees feel magical.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I think part of the fun with the Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe is how easy it is to personalize. Whether you prefer a different candy color for the stripes or want to try a chocolate filling, it’s all fair game to make these your own festive creation.

Variation: One year, I swapped the marshmallow filling for raspberry jam mixed with cream cheese—a tangy twist that still worked beautifully and was a big hit with friends.
Dietary Modification: You can swap whole milk for almond milk and use dairy-free butter to make these dairy-friendly without losing too much richness.
Seasonal Change: Try purple and orange candy melts for a Halloween version—it’s surprisingly fun to adapt this recipe beyond Christmas!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe

Step 1: Prepare and bake the cake base

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a 16x12-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper. I like to lightly grease the parchment and secure its edges with binder clips—it really helps keep the paper flat and prevents sticking. Mix the cake batter by whisking together the yellow cake mix, eggs, extra egg yolk, milk, and melted butter until smooth. Spread it evenly in the pan with an angled spatula for a perfect even bake. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes and test with a toothpick; when it comes out clean or with moist crumbs, you’re ready. Let it cool completely. This step always feels like magic when the kitchen fills with that warm cake scent!

Step 2: Whip up the luscious filling

While your cake cools, beat room temperature butter, marshmallow fluff, and powdered sugar on medium with a hand mixer. Add milk and whip until fluffy and smooth, about 1–2 minutes on high speed. The filling should be light and whipped, almost like a cloud. It helps to scrape down the sides of your bowl once or twice for an even mix. This filling is exactly what makes these cakes nostalgic and dreamy.

Step 3: Assemble and chill

Carefully slice the cake horizontally into two equal halves using a serrated knife. Spread the filling evenly over one half and gently set the other half back on top. I find freezing the sandwich for about 30 minutes makes cutting out the tree shapes much easier, so pop the layered cake into the freezer on a parchment-lined tray. After cutting out Christmas tree shapes with your cookie cutter, chill the individual trees in the freezer for another 30 minutes to firm up before dipping. This step saves you a lot of frustration—trust me, I’ve learned the hard way!

Step 4: Coat and decorate the festive trees

Melt the white almond bark in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until silky smooth. Dip each frozen tree slowly, tapping off excess coating and placing them on parchment paper to set. Before the coating hardens completely, sprinkle the tops with green sanding sugar for that icy-snow effect. Next, melt the red candy melts, thinning with a bit of coconut oil if needed. Transfer to a small piping bag (or sandwich bag) and pipe wavy red stripes onto each tree. This part is where your creations really start to shine—don’t hesitate to get creative or add your own flair!

Top Tip

From baking these Christmas tree cakes several times, I’ve learned a few key things that make the biggest difference between a so-so batch and showstopper treats you’ll be proud to serve.

Secure Parchment Paper: Using binder clips to hold the parchment in place prevents it from shifting while spreading batter, giving you a smooth, even cake layer.
Freeze Before Cutting: Chilling the filled cake layers makes the tree shapes much easier to cut and reduces crumbly edges for a cleaner look.
Work Quickly When Dipping: Coat one tree at a time in the melted almond bark to prevent the coating from hardening before you sprinkle the sugar and pipe decorations.
Thin Candy Melts If Needed: I sometimes add a teaspoon of coconut oil to candy melts to get a smoother piping consistency—this tip really improved my decorating finesse.

How to Serve Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe

Christmas Tree Cakes - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep garnishes simple yet festive: green sanding sugar covers the “tree” beautifully, and those bright red candy stripes add a perfect holiday pop. Sometimes, I sprinkle a few edible silver stars for an extra sparkle effect that guests love.

Side Dishes

These little cakes pair wonderfully with a cozy cup of hot chocolate or a spiced apple cider, making the perfect holiday snack break. I also serve them alongside a platter of fresh fruit or nuts to balance out the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I like arranging these Christmas tree cakes on a tiered dessert stand with fairy lights woven around it to create a festive focal point. Wrapping each cake individually in clear gift bags tied with red or green ribbons also makes charming edible presents or party favors.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover tree cakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or pop them in the fridge for 5 days if you want them to last longer. Just be sure to let refrigerated cakes come to room temperature a little before serving to regain their softness.

Freezing

If you want to freeze these beauties, wrap each cake tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. They freeze well for up to one month. When ready to enjoy, thaw them overnight in the fridge for best texture.

Reheating

Reheating isn’t necessary—but if you want to freshen up the cake a bit, a few seconds in the microwave (about 10-15 seconds) helps bring back softness. Just watch carefully so you don’t melt the coating!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use homemade cake batter instead of box mix?

Absolutely! Using homemade yellow cake batter will work wonderfully and might add that extra homemade charm if you prefer starting from scratch. Just make sure your batter isn’t too thin so it holds the shape when cutting the trees.

How do I keep the almond bark from cracking?

Melting the almond bark gently in short intervals and stirring frequently helps avoid overheating, which can cause cracks when it hardens. Also, be sure to coat the cakes while they’re chilled but not frozen solid, so the coating adheres well without cracking as it sets.

What if I don’t have a tree-shaped cookie cutter?

No worries! You can freehand cut tree shapes with a sharp knife or use any other festive cookie cutter shape you like. Even simple triangles work great and still look adorable when decorated.

Can I make these gluten-free?

Yes, you can substitute the yellow cake mix with a gluten-free version. Just make sure the mix you pick behaves similarly in terms of moisture and texture to ensure the cake holds together well for filling and cutting.

Final Thoughts

This Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe has become one of my favorite holiday baking traditions. It’s not just about recreating a beloved treat—it’s about the memories made while mixing, decorating, and sharing them with loved ones. I hope you enjoy making these as much as I do, and that they bring a sweet slice of Christmas cheer to your home!