Ice Cream Cone Christmas Trees turn simple sugar cones into a fun Christmas treat decorated with frosting, candy, and coconut — and yes, they’re meant to be eaten, not just admired. At just $0.51 per serving, they’re an inexpensive dessert for the holiday season that doubles as a hands-on activity for kids.
My kids have always enjoyed recipes where they can get involved with the decorating, and this is one of those treats that lets everyone be creative. We like setting out different candies and letting each person decorate their own Christmas tree.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
- Easy to Make. A few simple ingredients come together without complicated baking or decorating techniques.
- Kid-Friendly. Children can help frost the cones and choose their favorite candies for decorating.
- Budget-Friendly. At just $0.51 per serving, this treat is an affordable option for holiday gatherings.
- Fun to Decorate. Use different candies, sprinkles, and coconut to give each Christmas tree its own look.
- No Baking Required. Since the cones are decorated with ready-made frosting and candy, there’s no need to turn on the oven.
- Great for Parties. These individual treats are easy to arrange on a dessert table and serve to guests.
After more than 14 years of baking and creating recipes, I know how much a simple presentation can add to a dessert. These Christmas trees are a fun example of turning everyday ingredients into something festive without needing complicated decorating skills.
We also make Christmas Tree Brownies, Christmas Ice Cream and Christmas Tree Rice Krispie treats with the kids.
Ingredients
- Sugar Ice Cream Cones (the pointy ones.) Check each cone for cracks before you start. A cracked cone can break apart once it’s frosted and loaded with candy. Buy a couple extra in case any arrive damaged.
- White Frosting. This creates the base for the green Christmas tree coating. Use your favorite store-bought white frosting for an easy option.
- Green Gel Food Coloring. Tint the frosting a bright or deep green to give the cones their Christmas tree color.
- Assorted Candies. Use small candies to decorate the trees like colorful ornaments. Choose different shapes and colors to make each tree unique.
- Shredded Coconut. Sprinkle coconut over the frosted cones to create a snowy look.
You can scroll to the bottom and find the complete ingredient list for this Christmas treat.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1. Dye the white frosting green. Use the green food coloring until it is the desired shade of green.
Step 2. Place the ice cream cones upside down on wax paper.
Step 3. Spread the green frosting onto the outside of the ice cream cones with a butter knife or plastic knife if kids are doing this step.
Step 4. Continue to spread until the frosting is covering the cones.
Step 5. Then decorate the ice cream cones with the various candies of your choice to look like ornaments.
Step 6. You can also use shredded coconut to look like snow. They are ready to enjoy. You can use these as decoration or to eat.
Pro Tips
- Check the Cones First. Look over each sugar cone for cracks or breaks before you begin. Keep a few extra cones on hand so you have sturdy ones for decorating.
- Use Gel Food Coloring. Gel coloring gives the frosting a vibrant green color without adding extra liquid that could thin the frosting.
- Frost Gently. Use a light touch when spreading the frosting over the cones to keep them from cracking.
- Work Over a Plate. Decorate the cones over a plate or baking sheet to catch extra frosting, candy, and coconut and make cleanup easier.
- Let Kids Decorate. Once the frosting is on, let everyone choose their own candies and create their own Christmas tree design.
- Make Ahead. Make these a few hours ahead for a party by letting the frosting fully set before adding candy. They’ll hold their shape nicely as a table centerpiece until it’s time to eat them.
Variations
- Powdered Sugar. Sprinkle a dusting of confectionary sugar instead of coconut for the appearance of snow.
- Store bought or Homemade Icing. Either option is fine for this recipe. You can use pastry bags or piping bags if you desire. However, you can easily spread frosting with a plastic knife if kids are doing this project.
- Twizzlers. Get creative and hang garland on your tree using candy rope.
- Gum Drops. Place these around the bottom of the tree for decoration or to look like presents.
- Star sprinkles. Top each tree with a yellow star sprinkle to complete the look.
- Hidden Candy Surprise. Drop a few small candies inside the cone before frosting it. Kids get a fun surprise when they bite into the base of their tree.
Quick Theme Ideas
- Classic ornaments: M&M’s, Skittles, and Reese’s Pieces
- Candy cane forest: crushed candy canes plus a few red hots
- Snowy village: shredded coconut all over, with white sprinkles for extra sparkle
- Gumdrop garden: gumdrops pressed around the base like little presents
Storage
Store the decorated Ice Cream Cone Christmas Trees in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Keep them in a cool, dry place away from heat or humidity to prevent the frosting from becoming soft and the cones from losing their crunch.
What to Serve These With
These trees make a fun centerpiece on a holiday dessert table, but they’re even better paired with a few other easy treats. Try setting them out alongside Christmas Tree Brownies or Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats for a full “forest” of holiday desserts, or serve one tree on top of a bowl of Christmas Ice Cream for a fun individual dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are definitely edible. Kids will have a blast eating the sugar cones covered in icing and candy.
Yes. You can decorate the cones a day ahead and store them in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to serve.
Sugar cones work best because their sturdy shape makes them easier to frost and decorate, but waffle cones can be used if you prefer.
Small, lightweight candies work well as ornaments. You can also use sprinkles, mini chocolate candies, or other small treats you have on hand.
Absolutely. Green gives the cones a traditional Christmas tree look, but you can use other colors for different themes or celebrations.
Place the cones upside down on a plate or tray. If needed, add a small amount of frosting around the edge of the cone to help hold it in place while decorating.
More Christmas Desserts
If you make these Ice Cream Cone Christmas Trees, I’d love to hear how they turned out! Leave a review and give the recipe a 5-star rating below, then let me know what candies you used to decorate your trees.
Ice Cream Cone Christmas Trees
Ingredients
- 8 Sugar Ice Cream Cones the pointy ones
- 16 oz. Tub of White Frosting
- Green Gel Food Coloring
- Assorted Candies for the ornaments
- Shredded Coconut for snow
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Dye the white frosting green with the green food coloring.
- Place the ice cream cones upside down on wax paper.
- Then spread the green frosting onto the outside of the ice cream cones with a butter knife or plastic knife if kids are doing this step.
- Then decorate the ice cream cones with the various candies or your choice to look like ornaments or with the shredded coconut to look like snow.
- Then the ice cream Christmas trees are ready to enjoy!
