There’s something just utterly charming about these Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe—it’s like holiday magic you can pop in your mouth! With festive sprinkles and a smooth white chocolate coating, these little treats bring that jolly spirit straight into your kitchen. Let me show you how simple and fun they are to whip up.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe totally stole my heart because it’s not only quick and effortless but also super creative. Plus, it turns the classic Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes into an entirely new festive party snack that’s soft, sweet, and oh-so-delightful.
- Easy to make: You just need a handful of ingredients and minimal equipment—perfect for last-minute holiday baking.
- Fun for every age: Kids love rolling the truffles, and adults can enjoy decorating them with festive sprinkles.
- Perfect-size treats: Bite-sized truffles are great for parties, gifts, or just sneaking a sweet nibble.
- Customizable flavors: You can swap candy melts, add spices, or change sprinkles for your own holiday twist.
Ingredients & Why They Work
All the ingredients here come together to create rich, moist truffles with a creamy white chocolate coating—a sweet harmony that’s simple yet irresistible. Picking quality white chocolate and festive sprinkles really enhances both flavor and presentation.
- Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes: These are the heart of the recipe—soft, fluffy, and already packed with holiday flavor.
- White chocolate or candy melts: Creamy and sweet, perfect for coating and giving a smooth finish to your truffles.
- Festive sprinkles: Add a colorful, playful holiday touch that your guests will love.
- Red candy melts: Ideal for a pretty drizzle that mimics holiday ribbons or ornaments.
- Green sanding sugar: Adds sparkling green “needles” for that tree effect and extra crunch.
Make It Your Way
While I adore the classic look and flavors of this Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe, I’ve found some fun twists to try. Don’t hesitate to get creative—personalizing this recipe makes it even more special.
- Variation: One year, I swapped the white chocolate for dark chocolate and added crushed peppermint inside the truffle mix—deliciously festive and a little less sweet.
- Diet-friendly swap: Try vegan candy melts and dairy-free cake alternatives for allergy-friendly truffles.
- Seasonal twist: Use orange or gold sprinkles for a cozy Thanksgiving version.
- Extra texture: Mix in chopped nuts or dried cranberries for a delightful surprise in every bite.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe
Step 1: Crumble and Mix the Cakes
Start by unwrapping your Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes and placing them in a large mixing bowl. Using a handheld mixer, break down the cakes until you have a crumbly dough. It's important to get a fine crumble so your truffles hold together nicely—but don’t overmix into paste. Then, gently stir in those festive sprinkles for that extra holiday touch.
Step 2: Scoop and Roll Into Balls
Grab a tablespoon and scoop out the cake mixture. Roll it between your palms until each ball is smooth and compact, then place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet. The dough can be a touch sticky, so if your hands get messy, just lightly dampen them with water. Repeat until all the mixture is used.
Step 3: Melt Your White Chocolate
Time for the coating! Melt your white chocolate or candy melts gently—microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring each time, or use a double boiler so the chocolate doesn’t burn. You want it silky smooth, not lumpy, to get the perfect coat on your truffles.
Step 4: Dip, Drizzle, and Decorate
Using a fork or a dipping tool, dunk each chilled cake ball into the melted white chocolate, ensuring it’s fully covered. Let any excess drip off before placing it back on the parchment. For the finishing flourish, melt the red candy melts separately and drizzle over the truffles using a snipped piping or ziplock bag. Finally, sprinkle green sanding sugar on top to mimic pine needles. Chill in the fridge until set—then, just enjoy!
Top Tip
After making Christmas Tree Cake Truffles several times, a few simple tricks make all the difference between good and great. These tips really helped me nail the texture and look every time.
- Keep the truffle dough cool: If your hands get warm, pop the dough balls in the fridge before dipping to help them hold their shape.
- Use parchment paper: It prevents sticking and makes cleanup super easy.
- Microwave chocolate carefully: Short bursts and stirring prevent burning and clumps in your coating.
- Don’t skip chilling at the end: The fridge helps chocolate set quickly and keeps truffles looking neat and shiny.
How to Serve Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe
Garnishes
When I serve these truffles, I love adding extra green sanding sugar on top for sparkle, with a sprinkle of edible glitter or tiny silver sugar pearls to mimic ornaments. They look festive and invite ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from guests!
Side Dishes
For an irresistible holiday spread, I pair these truffles with spiced hot chocolate or mulled wine, and a light plate of fresh fruit or nuts for balance. They’re a sweet highlight amidst savory treats.
Creative Ways to Present
One of my favorite ways to present these is on tiered serving trays decorated with pine sprigs and cranberries. I’ve also wrapped individual truffles in clear cellophane tied with festive ribbons to hand out as holiday favors—they always make a hit!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftover truffles in an airtight container in the fridge. They stay fresh and tasty for up to a week—just remember they’ll firm up a little in the cold, so bring them to room temp before serving.
Freezing
These freeze beautifully. I wrap each truffle individually in parchment, place them in a freezer bag, and they can last up to 2 months. When ready, thaw overnight in the fridge to keep their shape and flavor.
Reheating
No reheating needed here! If the chocolate gets too firm in the fridge, just let the truffles sit out for 15 minutes before serving for the perfect creamy bite.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! You can try any soft cake, like pound cake or even leftover birthday cake, just make sure it’s moist enough to crumble and shape into truffles.
Chilling the rolled truffles before dipping helps them firm up and hold their shape. Also, avoid overmixing the cake crumbs so you keep some texture that binds well with the sprinkles or any additional ingredients.
Yes! These truffles can be made a few days in advance and stored in the fridge. Just keep them in an airtight container, and bring them to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
Microwave candy melts in 20-30 second intervals, stirring in between. Using a double boiler is also a gentle method. This helps avoid overheating and keeps the chocolate smooth and glossy for dipping.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, this Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe is one of those holiday projects that’s super rewarding and just plain fun. I love how it transforms a simple snack cake into something elegant and festive with minimal fuss. Give it a try—you’ll have a new favorite to share at every holiday gathering (and maybe a sneaky treat for yourself too!).
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Christmas Tree Cake Truffles Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in these festive Christmas Tree Cake Truffles made from Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes, coated in creamy white chocolate and decorated with sprinkles and sanding sugar. Perfect for holiday parties or a sweet seasonal treat.
Ingredients
Cake Base
- 1 box of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes (5 cakes)
- 3 tablespoons Festive sprinkles
Coating and Decoration
- 8 ounces white chocolate or candy melts
- 3 tablespoons Red candy melts for drizzling (optional)
- Green sanding sugar for decoration
Instructions
- Prepare the Cake Mixture: Unwrap the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes and place them into a large bowl. Use a handheld mixer to crumble the cakes into a dough-like consistency. Then mix in the 3 tablespoons of festive sprinkles evenly throughout the mixture.
- Form Cake Balls: Using a tablespoon, scoop portions of the cake mixture and roll each between the palms of your hands to form smooth balls. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Continue until all the mixture is used.
- Melt White Chocolate: Melt 8 ounces of white chocolate or candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave using 30-second bursts, stirring in between, or use a double boiler until fully melted.
- Coat the Cake Balls: Dip each chilled cake ball into the melted white chocolate using a fork or dipping tool, ensuring it is completely coated. Let the excess chocolate drip off before placing the coated truffles back onto the parchment-lined tray.
- Melt Red Candy Melts: In a microwave-safe piping bag or ziplock bag, melt 3 tablespoons of red candy melts in 30-second increments, massaging the bag between melts until fully smooth.
- Drizzle and Decorate: Snip the tip of the bag and drizzle the melted red candy melts onto each truffle. Immediately sprinkle green sanding sugar over the truffles for festive decoration. Place the truffles in the refrigerator to set for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- To prevent white chocolate from seizing, avoid overheating and stir regularly while melting.
- Use parchment paper or silicone mats to preserve the coating and prevent sticking.
- Customize decoration colors and sprinkles to match your holiday theme.
- Store truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- If you don't have festive sprinkles, mini chocolate chips or crushed candy canes make great alternatives.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 truffle
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
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