Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls turn seasonal snack cakes into festive bites with a creamy center, white candy coating, sanding sugar, and red icing. At about $0.48 per serving, they’re an affordable holiday treat, but grab the cakes early since they often sell out.
With eight kids, our holiday kitchen is always busy once Christmas baking begins. I love having everyone pitch in, especially when a recipe gives the kids a chance to help with the decorating and make each treat their own.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
- Easy to Make. Simple steps turn the snack cakes into fun bite-sized treats.
- No Baking Required. The cake balls are chilled and coated instead of baked.
- Festive Decoration. Red icing and sanding sugar give them a classic Christmas look.
- Kid-Friendly. Rolling and decorating are fun jobs for little helpers.
- Great for Parties. Small portions make them easy to serve on dessert tables.
- Great for Gifting. Package them in treat bags or holiday boxes for sharing.
- Make-Ahead Friendly. Prepare them in advance and keep them chilled until ready to serve.
I’ve spent years creating recipes for my family, and I enjoy turning familiar favorites into something new for the holidays. These cake balls are a fun addition when you want a dessert that feels festive and homemade without adding another complicated project to your baking list.
You may also like to make Little Debbie Christmas Tree Dip, Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cheesecake and Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Ice Cream Recipe.
Ingredients
- Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes. Grab the snack cakes early in the season because they often sell out.
- Cream Cheese. Use softened cream cheese so it blends smoothly with the crumbled cakes.
- White Candy Melts. These melt easily and create a smooth coating that sets firmly around the cake balls.
- Pre-made Red Cookie Icing. Use red icing to recreate the signature frosting design. Red candy melts can also be used.
- Red and Green Sanding Sugar. Choose sanding sugar for a festive sparkle and the classic Christmas Tree Cake look.
Find the complete list of ingredients at the bottom of the page.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1. Get the baking sheet ready. Place wax paper or parchment paper on the sheet pan.
Step 2. Next, crumble the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes into pieces and place in a large bowl. Add the cream cheese and combine with an electric mixer. I like to use a hand mixer or stand mixer. Scrape down the side of the bowl.
Step 3. Roll into 1-inch balls. I like to use a small cookie scoop, so they are the same size. Then place on the baking sheet. Freeze for 1 hour.
Step 4. Use a microwave safe bowl and put the white candy melts in it. Microwave for 1 minute. Then stir and continue to heat in 30 second intervals until melted.
Step 5. Then dip each ball into the white candy melts. Tap on the edge of the ball to remove any excess candy. Place back on the baking sheet.
Step 6. Add the red and green sugar sprinkles. Allow to cool at room temperature for 3-4 hours or in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Step 7. Finally, drizzle the red cookie icing on top of the cake balls to resemble the red frosting on the Christmas tree cakes.
Pro Tips
- Mixture too soft to roll? Chill the bowl for 15–20 minutes, then scoop.
- Coating cracked after it set? The frozen centers expand slightly as they warm up. Next time, let the balls sit in the fridge for 5–10 minutes after freezing before you dip. If a few crack, a little extra red icing drizzled over the crack hides it.
- Coating too thick or lumpy? Stir in a little coconut oil or shortening, and rewarm in short bursts.
- Sprinkles won’t stick? Sprinkle within a few seconds of dipping. Work in small batches.
- Make Cake Pops. Insert a lollipop stick into each chilled cake ball before dipping to turn them into Christmas Tree Cake Pops.
- Coating options. Almond bark works in place of candy melts. If using regular white chocolate, add a small amount of coconut oil to thin it for easier dipping.
Love dipped holiday treats? Our Peanut Butter Snowball candy uses the same easy candy-coating dip.
Storage
Refrigerator: Because the filling is made with cream cheese, store the cake balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Serving: Set them out about 10 minutes before serving for the creamiest centers, and return leftovers to the fridge within 2 hours.
Can You Freeze?
Yes, and it’s the best way to beat the sell-out. You have two options:
- Dipped and decorated: Freeze in an airtight container with parchment or wax paper between layers for up to 2 months.
- Undipped: Freeze the rolled balls for up to 3 months, then dip and decorate when you’re ready.
Thaw dipped cake balls overnight in the refrigerator, then let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the size. We got 48 using a small cookie scoop (about 1 tablespoon each). Larger balls will give you closer to 24–35.
Yes. Any similar vanilla snack cake with a cream filling works if the Christmas Tree Cakes are sold out. You’ll just want to add the red drizzle and green sugar to get the same festive look.
Yes, you can use the chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes in this dip. I’ve made it with the chocolate version, and the texture was just as creamy and scoopable as the vanilla version. The main difference was the chocolate flavor, which gave the dip a richer taste while still keeping the same fun Christmas Tree Cake flavor. It’s a great option if your family prefers chocolate or if you can’t find the vanilla cakes.
More Fun Christmas Desserts
Make Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls today for a guaranteed hit. Please leave a comment and star rating after you try it.
Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls
Ingredients
- 2 boxes Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes 5 count each
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese softened
- 1 package White Candy Melts 16 ounces
- 1 pouch Pre-made Red Cookie Icing
- Red and Green Sanding Sugar
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper and set aside.
- Crumble the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes into a large mixing bowl.
- Add in the cream cheese.
- Beat together with a hand held mixer until well combined.
- Take small amounts (about a tablespoon or so) and roll into a ball (I used a cookie scoop for this process). Then place on the baking sheet.
- Continue this process until all the balls are formed and place the baking sheet in the freezer. Freeze for at least 1 hour.
- Place the white candy melts in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute, stir and continue to heat in 30 second intervals (stirring after each interval) until melted and smooth.
- Dip each ball into the white candy melts, tap on the edge of the ball to remove any excess candy and place back on the baking sheet.
- Top with the red and green sanding sprinkles, cool at room temperature for 3-4 hours or in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
- Drizzle the red cookie icing on top of the cake balls once the candy coating is set to resemble the red frosting on the Christmas tree cakes.
- Then the cake balls are ready to serve and enjoy!
No bake and so easy! It’s the best Litlte Debbie recipe to try at Christmas!
Can I make them now and freeze until closer to Christmas?
Hey Tara – Yes, this recipe is easy to freeze. Place inside a freezer container with the layers separated with wax paper. Freeze up to 2 months if coated. You can freeze up to 3 months if they have not been dipped. Let me know how they turn out!
Wouldn’t they have to be kept refrigerated because of the cream cheese?
Hey Jennifer – Yes, if serving within a few hours, you can keep the cake balls at room temperature in an airtight container. However, for extended storage store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Hope you enjoy!
Does this actually make 48 servings?
Lily – It will vary depending on how large you make the balls, but we made 48. Hope this helps!