Name: Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Crushed Cakes Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 16 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ¾ cup butter room temperature; 1 ½ cups granulated sugar; ½ cup vegetable oil; 3 teaspoons vanilla extract; 4 large eggs; 1 ¼ cups whole milk; 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ cup butter room temperature; 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 3 cups powdered sugar; 10 Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes; 2 tablespoons milk; Red gel food coloring (quantity as needed); Green sanding sugar (for garnish)

When the holidays roll around, nothing quite spreads joy like a festive treat that tastes as good as it looks. These Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Crushed Cakes Recipe take traditional cupcakes up a notch by mixing in Little Debbie Christmas Tree cakes right into the frosting, turning simple cupcakes into a magical holiday centerpiece you'll be proud to serve.

The image shows a close-up of a cupcake with one main layer of yellow cake topped with a tall, swirled layer of light pink frosting. The frosting has a smooth and creamy texture with green sugar sprinkles scattered on top. Thin red stripes of icing run vertically down the frosting and onto the white cupcake liner below. The cupcake sits on a white marbled surface with a white cloth decorated with red, green, and gray dots underneath. In the background, there are a few more cupcakes with the same frosting and decoration, slightly blurred. 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 Cupcakes with Crushed Cakes Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Crushed Cakes Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Crushed Cakes Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I have to say, I adore how this recipe brings together the nostalgic charm of Little Debbie’s Christmas Tree cakes with the fresh, homemade feeling of cupcakes. It’s like the best of both worlds, perfect for holiday parties or gifting to loved ones.

Unique Flavor Combination: Incorporating crushed Christmas Tree cakes into the frosting adds a subtle, festive twist that really stands out.
Eye-Catching Presentation: The piping technique along with sanding sugar and red drizzle creates a whimsical tree look that’s sure to wow.
Perfect For Gifting: These cupcakes make a beautiful, homemade treat perfect for sharing during the season.
Easy to Customize: You can tweak the colors or cake base to fit your holiday theme without losing the festive charm.

A close-up view of a cupcake with two main layers: the bottom layer is light yellow, soft, and spongy cake, and the top layer is a thick swirl of pale pink frosting that has a smooth and fluffy texture. The frosting is decorated with thin, bright red drizzle and small green sprinkles. The cupcake liner is white and the cupcake is placed on a silver fork, resting on a white marbled surface with a white cloth that has small red, green, and black dots. In the background, there are more similarly decorated cupcakes, slightly out of focus. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this recipe plays a key role, from the butter that keeps your cupcakes moist to the crushed Little Debbie cakes that lend a delicious texture and festive flavor to the frosting. Here’s what you’ll be working with and why it’s essential.

Flat lay of a small pile of unsalted butter cubes, two brown eggs with smooth shells, a small white bowl filled with granulated sugar, a small white bowl of clear vegetable oil, a few fresh whole vanilla beans, a small white bowl of whole milk, a small white bowl of all-purpose flour, a small white bowl of baking powder, a small white bowl of fine salt, a small white bowl of cream cheese block, a small white bowl of powdered sugar, ten unwrapped Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes arranged neatly, a small white bowl of red gel food coloring, and a small white bowl of green sanding sugar, all 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

Butter: Room temperature butter creates a creamy base for both cupcakes and frosting, giving richness and moisture.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cupcake batter just right without overpowering the other flavors.
Vegetable Oil: Adds extra moisture and tenderness to the cupcake texture.
Vanilla Extract: A must-have for that warm, comforting aroma that enhances all the other ingredients.
Eggs: Provide structure and help the cake rise nicely.
Whole Milk: Balances the butter and oil for a smooth batter and makes the cupcakes tender.
All-Purpose Flour: The base of your cupcake, ensuring they hold their shape while staying soft.
Baking Powder: Gives a little lift, keeping cupcakes light and airy.
Salt: Enhances all the sweetness and brings out rich flavors.
Cream Cheese: Adds tang and creaminess in the frosting that pairs beautifully with the cake mixture.
Powdered Sugar: Delivers smooth sweetness to the frosting without grit.
Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes: The star of this recipe, crushed and folded into the frosting to elevate flavor and texture.
Milk (for frosting): Thins the red colored frosting allowing for that pretty drizzle.
Green Sanding Sugar: Adds sparkle and texture, completing the look of your edible Christmas trees.

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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 love mixing things up depending on the party or who I’m sharing with. While the classic Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Crushed Cakes Recipe is fantastic as-is, you can absolutely put your own spin on it to make it feel even more special.

Variation: Once, I doubled the amount of crushed cakes in the frosting and added a touch of peppermint extract. It instantly became one of the favorites at our holiday gathering.
Dietary Modifications: You can swap in gluten-free flour if needed, or use dairy-free cream cheese and butter for lactose intolerance—just watch your batter consistency.
Seasonal Changes: Use different colored sanding sugars or food coloring to match other holidays or personal themes.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Crushed Cakes Recipe

Step 1: Creaming the Base Perfectly

Start by creaming your butter and sugar until it’s smooth and fluffy – this generally takes about 2 to 3 minutes with a hand mixer or standing mixer at medium speed. This step is crucial because it incorporates air, leading to light, tender cupcakes. If you don’t get a proper cream, your cupcakes can turn out dense.

Step 2: Building the Batter

Add in the eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract and mix thoroughly. Then pour in the milk – don’t worry if your batter looks a little curdled at this point; it’s totally normal. Next, gently mix in the flour, baking powder, and salt on low speed to avoid overworking the batter.

Step 3: Baking and Cooling

Fill your cupcake liners halfway to two-thirds full with batter. Bake at 350°F for 14 to 16 minutes until the edges turn a soft golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Don’t rush cooling—let your cupcakes fully cool before frosting, or the frosting will melt.

Step 4: Frosting Magic with Crushed Cakes

Cream your butter and cream cheese together until smooth, then add salt, vanilla, and powdered sugar slowly. The secret here is processing your Little Debbie Christmas Tree cakes in a food processor until they’re very fine or almost creamy – this ensures a smooth frosting. Mix this into your cream cheese frosting with a paddle attachment.

Step 5: The Festive Finish

Set aside about half a cup of frosting. Stir milk and red gel food coloring into it for that pretty drizzle. Pipe the remaining frosting onto cupcakes with a large star tip for a tall, snowy swirl. Then drizzle red frosting on top, back and forth gently, followed by a sprinkle of green sanding sugar to create the look of Christmas trees.

Top Tip

From my experience, the frosting is where the magic of this recipe really shines, and getting that just-right texture can make all the difference in both taste and presentation.

Frosting Consistency: Make sure your Little Debbie cakes are crushed finely enough—chunky bits can clog your piping tip or make the frosting look lumpy.
Use a Food Processor: Using a food processor for the cakes saves time and gives a smoother frosting; I tried hand mixing once, and it was noticeably less creamy.
Piping Bag Choice: If your frosting isn’t silky smooth, opt for a round tip instead of star tips to avoid clogging.
Storage Temperature: Because of cream cheese, refrigerate your frosted cupcakes. I learned the hard way that keeping them out too long can cause frosting to soften dangerously.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Crushed Cakes Recipe

Christmas Tree Cupcakes - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love garnishing these cupcakes with just a dusting of fine green sanding sugar because it adds shimmer and a little crunch without overpowering the flavor. Sometimes, I add tiny edible silver balls or star-shaped sprinkles as ornaments for an extra festive feel.

Side Dishes

Pair these cupcakes with a cozy cup of hot cocoa or spiced apple cider for a warm holiday treat. Fresh fruit platters or a simple cheese board balance the sweetness nicely if you’re serving a crowd.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I like arranging the cupcakes on a tiered dessert stand decorated with evergreen sprigs and fairy lights to really make the Christmas tree theme pop. Wrapping them individually in clear cellophane bags with a tied ribbon also turns them into perfect gifts.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge. They stay delicious and fresh for up to 5–7 days thanks to the cream cheese frosting. Just bring them to room temperature before serving for the best experience.

Freezing

I’ve frozen these cupcakes successfully by wrapping them individually in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer-safe container. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw them overnight in the fridge and decorate with fresh sanding sugar if needed.

Reheating

Since these are frosted, I don’t recommend microwaving. Instead, I let frozen or refrigerated cupcakes come to room temperature naturally to keep the frosting stable and avoid melting.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a different cake mix instead of cupcakes?

Absolutely! While the recipe shines with homemade cupcakes, you can substitute with store-bought vanilla or white cake mix cupcakes. Just make sure they are fully cooled before frosting for best results.

What if I don't have a food processor to crush the Little Debbie cakes?

No worries! You can pulse the cakes finely in a sturdy blender or place them in a sealed plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Just keep in mind the frosting may be a bit lumpier without a food processor, so mix gently.

Can I make these cupcakes ahead of time?

Yes! You can bake the cupcakes a day or two ahead and store them in an airtight container. The frosting is best added just before serving, but if you make it early, keep it refrigerated and bring to room temperature before frosting.

How do I prevent the frosting from melting if the cupcakes are left out?

Since the frosting contains cream cheese and butter, keep cupcakes refrigerated as much as possible. If you’re serving at a party, bring them out right before serving and store leftovers promptly in the fridge.

Final Thoughts

These Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Crushed Cakes Recipe aren’t just cupcakes—they’re a festive experience. Baking and decorating them has become a fun holiday tradition in my kitchen, and I promise they’ll bring a little extra sparkle to your celebrations too. So why not grab those Little Debbie cakes, get cozy, and bake these cheerful treats? Your friends and family will thank you with every bite.