Name: Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 box Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes (5 cakes); 3 tablespoons festive sprinkles; 8 ounces white chocolate or candy melts; 3 tablespoons red candy melts for drizzling (optional); Green sanding sugar for decoration

There’s something truly joyful about biting into a bite-sized holiday treat that tastes like Christmas itself. This Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe is a festive little delight that combines the nostalgic charm of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes with creamy white chocolate and colorful sprinkles. It’s quick, fun, and perfect for gifting or sharing at any holiday gathering.

A white round plate filled with white chocolate balls covered in smooth white chocolate, each decorated with thin red icing stripes and small green sprinkles on top. One ball is cut open, showing a textured inside with bits of red and green throughout. The plate sits on a white marbled textured surface, and a festive red and green decoration softly blurs in the background. 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 Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I can’t get enough of how simple and fuss-free these Christmas Tree Cake Truffles are to make. You don’t have to be a baking pro to whip them up, yet they feel like a special holiday treat that impresses everyone.

Convenience: Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes give you a perfect base with minimal prep.
Festive Fun: The colorful sprinkles and green sanding sugar add that magical holiday sparkle.
Deliciously Decadent: The white chocolate coating adds creamy richness that nicely balances the sugary cake inside.
Customizable: You can easily switch up colors or add your own drizzle designs to make them your own.

A white speckled oval plate holds nine round treats and one treat shaped like a Christmas tree. Each treat is covered with smooth white icing and decorated with thin wavy red lines across the surface. Small green sprinkles are scattered on top, adding a festive touch. The background has a white marbled texture with some blurry warm lights on the left side. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This recipe is all about pairing a familiar holiday snack with beautiful coatings and a sprinkle of festive magic. Each ingredient is chosen to create easy bite-sized treats that taste better than store-bought desserts.

Flat lay of a few whole unwrapped Christmas tree-shaped cakes with visible green, red, and white layers, a small white bowl filled with smooth white chocolate melts, a small white bowl of colorful festive sprinkles in red, green, and white, a small white bowl with bright red candy melts, and a small white bowl of fine green sanding sugar, all arranged symmetrically 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

Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes: These pre-made cakes have the perfect texture and flavor base for truffles — soft, sweet, and festive.
White chocolate or candy melts: They give a creamy, smooth shell that's easy to melt and dip, sealing the truffle into a neat ball.
Festive sprinkles: Added directly into the cake crumbs, they boost the holiday vibe with pops of color and texture.
Red candy melts (optional): They make a beautiful drizzle that adds a professional touch and contrast to the white coating.
Green sanding sugar: Sprinkled on top for sparkle and mimicking Christmas tree decorations.

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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 like to play around with the colors of the sprinkles or switch up the candy drizzle colors depending on the season or party theme. If you like, you can add crushed peppermint candies inside the mixture for an extra burst of flavor. This recipe is incredibly forgiving, so don’t hesitate to make it your own!

Variation: One year, I swapped the white chocolate for dark chocolate and drizzled some gold edible glitter on top — it was a real crowd-pleaser and looked so elegant.
Diet-friendly: For a dairy-free option, try using vegan white chocolate melts — they work well and keep the texture just right.
Seasonal twist: You could swap in other holiday-themed Little Debbie cakes for different occasions, tweaking the sprinkles to match.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe

Step 1: Crumble and Mix the Cakes

Unwrap the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes and toss them into a large mixing bowl. I usually use a handheld mixer here—just pulse until you get a fine crumbly dough. It should stick together but still be easy to scoop. Then gently fold in your festive sprinkles for that extra jolly pop. This step is key—don’t overmix or the crumbs get too dry!

Step 2: Shape the Truffles

Using a tablespoon, scoop portions of the mixture and roll between your palms to form smooth little balls. Don’t worry if a few aren’t perfect; the chocolate coating helps smooth out any cracks. Lay each truffle on your parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill them for about 10 minutes to firm up before dipping.

Step 3: Melt and Dip

Melt your white chocolate or candy melts gently—either in short bursts in the microwave or over a double boiler. Dip each chilled truffle completely, then lift with a fork, letting the excess chocolate drip off before placing it back on the baking sheet. This coats them beautifully and seals their shape.

Step 4: Decorate and Chill

Melt your red candy melts in a piping bag or ziplock bag, warming in 30-second intervals and massaging in between to avoid lumps. Snip a tiny hole and drizzle the red candy over your truffles in pretty zigzags. Before the drizzle sets, sprinkle green sanding sugar on top for that signature Christmas tree shimmer. Pop everything in the fridge for a few minutes until set.

Top Tip

From my experience making these, the texture of the truffle mixture is everything — too dry and the balls crack; too wet and they won’t hold their shape. Getting that crumbly dough just right makes dipping easier and the finished truffles look flawless. Here are some tried-and-true tips to help you nail this every time:

Perfect Crumble: Use the handheld mixer in short bursts and check texture frequently. It should clump slightly when pressed between fingers.
Chill Time: Don’t skip chilling your truffles before dipping—the cold helps keep their shape and prevents melting the chocolate coating.
Even Coating: Use a fork with wide gaps to lift truffles from chocolate so excess melts off easily—this avoids messy drips.
Sprinkle at the Right Moment: Add your sanding sugar as soon as you drizzle finishes but before the chocolate sets, so it sticks perfectly.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe

Christmas Tree Cake Truffles - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love to add a little extra sparkle by serving these truffles with a dusting of powdered sugar or edible glitter for festive occasions. Rosemary sprigs or mini candy canes placed nearby on the serving platter add to the seasonal feel and make a pretty contrast for photos too.

Side Dishes

These truffles pair beautifully with warm drinks like spiced cider, eggnog, or peppermint hot chocolate. For a party, set them alongside a charcuterie board or other small bites for easy mingling.

Creative Ways to Present

At my last holiday gathering, I arranged the Christmas Tree Cake Truffles on tiered cake stands lined with evergreen branches and tiny fairy lights. It instantly elevated the display and made guests eager to grab one. You could also package them in clear treat bags tied with ribbons for gifting — everyone loves a homemade treat!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once chilled and set, these cake truffles store well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. I always keep them separated by parchment paper layers to prevent sticking or damage to the chocolate coating.

Freezing

You can freeze these truffles for longer storage. Just place them in a single layer on a baking tray to freeze individually before transferring to a freezer-safe container. When you want to enjoy them, just thaw in the fridge overnight to keep the integrity of the coating.

Reheating

Since these are cold treats, I don’t recommend reheating. Instead, let frozen or refrigerated truffles come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving. This softens the cake inside without melting the chocolate shell.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use other Little Debbie cakes for this recipe?

Absolutely! While the Christmas Tree Cakes bring a festive flavor and shape, you can substitute with other Little Debbie cakes like Swiss Roll or Cosmic Brownies for different tastes and textures.

What’s the best way to melt the candy melts without burning?

Use either a double boiler or microwave in 20-30 second increments, stirring well between each session. Massaging the candy melts if using a ziplock bag helps maintain even melting and avoids hot spots.

Can I make these truffles ahead of time?

Yes! They’re perfect make-ahead treats. Store them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week or freeze them for longer. Just remember to let them come to room temperature before serving.

Any tips for getting a smooth, shiny coating?

Make sure your candy melts are fully melted and smooth before dipping. Also, dip the truffles while they’re well chilled and let excess chocolate drip off before chilling. Using a fork with spaced tines helps achieve an even coating.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe holds a special place in my holiday kitchen because it’s simple, quick, and brings so much joy in the form of bite-sized magic. Whenever I make these, it’s like reliving the excitement of holiday treats as a kid, but with a grown-up twist. I wholeheartedly recommend giving this recipe a try — you’ll have a festive showstopper in no time that everyone will ask for again.