Name: Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 13.25 ounce box yellow cake mix; 3 large eggs; 1 large egg yolk; 1 cup whole milk; ½ cup melted butter; 7 ounces marshmallow fluff; ¾ cup butter, room temperature; 2 cups powdered sugar; 2 tablespoons whole milk; 1 pound white almond bark; 1 cup red candy melts; Green sanding sugar

There's something so joyful about biting into a festive treat that feels like a hug from the holidays. That’s exactly why I’m excited to share my Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe with you—it’s the perfect blend of nostalgic charm and homemade goodness that’s sure to brighten any winter day.

A close-up view of a white Christmas tree shaped cookie covered with smooth white icing sprinkled with small green sugar crystals, decorated with wavy red icing lines across the surface. The cookie is placed on a stack of white plates with other similarly decorated cookies visible in the background. The background has a soft white marbled texture, and the scene includes a blurred white cup behind the plates. The overall look is clean, festive, and bright, emphasizing the holiday colors of red, green, and white. 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 Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made these Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes year after year, and honestly, they never fail to impress. They’re not just cute—they capture that perfect combo of tender cake and fluffy filling covered in rich, festive coatings that will have your friends and family asking for more.

Classic Festive Flavor: The vanilla cake paired with marshmallow fluff and buttercream filling screams holiday comfort.
Fun & Festive Presentation: Shaped like little Christmas trees, these treats instantly add charm to any holiday spread.
Manageable to Make: Despite looking fancy, the steps are straightforward and beginner-friendly.
Customizable Coating: You can switch up the colors or decorations to match your holiday vibe perfectly.

A close-up view of a small, two-layer yellow cake piece with a thick layer of white frosting between and around the layers; the top edge is coated with a smooth red layer that drips slightly over the sides, and tiny green sprinkles dot the white frosting near the bottom. A woman's hand gently holds the cake piece against a soft, out-of-focus white marbled surface with red and white striped patterns blurred in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This copycat recipe uses a handful of simple ingredients that come together to create layers of flavor and texture. Each has a role in getting you as close as possible to the iconic Little Debbie treat without any of the mystery ingredients.

Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl filled with smooth yellow cake mix powder, three whole uncracked brown eggs, a small white ceramic bowl with whole milk, a small white ceramic bowl with melted golden butter, a small white ceramic bowl with fluffy white marshmallow fluff, a small pile of soft room-temperature butter, a small white ceramic bowl of powdered sugar, a small white ceramic bowl with white almond bark chunks, a small white ceramic bowl with bright red candy melts, and a small mound of vibrant green sanding sugar, all arranged with perfect symmetry and balanced proportions 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

Yellow cake mix: A reliable base that’s moist and flavorful, and makes the recipe super quick to whip up.
Eggs: Give structure and help the cake hold together, keeping those tree shapes intact when cutting.
Whole milk: Adds richness to the cake batter for a tender crumb.
Melted butter: Boosts flavor and moisture, making the cake taste homemade and less processed.
Marshmallow fluff: The star of the filling for that light and nostalgic sweetness.
Butter (for filling): Adds creaminess and smooths out the powdered sugar for the perfect fluffy texture.
Powdered sugar: Gives sweetness and helps the filling hold its shape.
White almond bark: Easy-to-melt coating that hardens with a shiny finish, perfect for dipping and decorating.
Red candy melts: For colorful, festive stripes—adds pops of holiday cheer.
Green sanding sugar: Sprinkled on top for sparkle and texture, mimicking pine needles.

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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

One of the best parts about this Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe is how easy it is to tweak. I love mixing things up depending on who I’m baking for or the vibe of the party. Don’t hesitate to add your own twist!

Variation: Sometimes I swap out the yellow cake mix for a funfetti cake mix to add colorful sprinkles inside, which kids adore.
Dairy-Free Option: Using dairy-free milk and vegan butter lets you enjoy these treats if you have dietary restrictions.
Additional Decorations: Try mini edible pearls or red hots for the “ornaments” instead of just candy melts.
Speed Shortcut: If short on time, canned vanilla frosting works well in place of the homemade filling for a quicker assembly.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe

Step 1: Mix and Bake the Cake Base

Start with preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a 16x12 inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper—you want the paper clipped in place to avoid shifting while spreading your batter. In a large bowl, whisk together your yellow cake mix, eggs, egg yolk, milk, and melted butter until the batter is completely smooth. Spread the batter evenly into the pan using an angled spatula. Bake for 12–15 minutes; a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Let it cool fully before moving on—this helps your filling stay neat and your tree shapes cut crisp.

Step 2: Whip up the Fluffy Filling

While the cake cools, combine marshmallow fluff, room temperature butter, and powdered sugar in a bowl. I use my hand mixer on medium speed until everything blends into a smooth, shiny cream. Then add the milk and crank it to high for 1–2 minutes until the filling is light and fluffy—this extra whipping step really makes a difference for that cloud-like texture.

Step 3: Assemble and Chill the Cake Layers

Carefully cut your cooled cake in half horizontally, then spread the filling evenly on one half. Top with the other half and gently press down. If your filling is a bit soft, I recommend freezing the layered cake for about 30 minutes—it makes cutting out those tiny tree shapes so much easier and cleaner.

Step 4: Cut Out Your Christmas Trees

Use a small Christmas tree cookie cutter to stamp out your shapes from the cake sandwich. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and pop them back into the freezer to chill for another 30 minutes. This extra chilling helps the coating process go smoothly without the trees falling apart.

Step 5: Coat the Trees with Almond Bark

Melt the white almond bark in 30-second increments in the microwave, stirring between sessions until completely smooth. Then gently dip each frozen tree into the melted coating, tapping off excess bark. Lay them back onto parchment paper and quickly sprinkle with green sanding sugar before the coating sets—that vibrant sparkle is key to their festive look.

Step 6: Decorate with Red Candy Melt Stripes

Next, melt your red candy melts just like the almond bark. If they feel too thick, stirring in a small amount of shortening or coconut oil thins them perfectly. Transfer the melted red candy to a sandwich bag, cut a tiny hole, and pipe red wavy stripes on each tree for that classic ornamented look. Let everything set at room temperature before serving.

Top Tip

Trust me, the chilling steps here are a game changer. Freezing after assembling the cake and again after cutting the trees keeps everything firm and makes dipping so much easier. I learned the hard way that skipping this can lead to crumbled edges or a melted mess when coating.

Freeze Twice: Chill the filled cake before cutting and freeze the cut trees before coating to keep shapes tidy.
Use Parchment Paper with Clips: It prevents parchment from shifting when spreading batter, making the cake thickness even.
Thin Your Candy Melts: Just a tiny bit of shortening or coconut oil gets your candy melts to the perfect piping consistency.
Work Quickly with Coating: Sprinkle sanding sugar immediately after dipping so it sticks perfectly before the coating hardens.

How to Serve Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe

Christmas Tree Cakes - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to keep it simple with green sanding sugar for that glittery pine-needle look, but sometimes I add tiny edible silver balls or red nonpareils to mimic ornaments. It’s such a fun, hands-on way to get kids involved in decorating—and they take pride in their creations.

Side Dishes

These cakes pair wonderfully with a cup of hot cocoa or spiced apple cider. If you’re serving a holiday brunch, try them alongside cinnamon rolls or fruit salad for a festive spread that balances sweet and fresh.

Creative Ways to Present

I’ve arranged these little trees standing upright in a shallow box lined with green sugar or coconut dyed with green food coloring to mimic a snowy forest floor—it makes for an adorable centerpiece. You can also stack them on a tiered dessert tray to resemble a mini tree display that guests love photographing.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store your Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. I’ve found that keeping them covered well prevents the coating from absorbing fridge odors or getting sticky.

Freezing

I’ve successfully frozen these by placing them on a baking sheet in the freezer individually first, then moving them to a sealed container or freezer bag. They keep well for up to 2 months—just thaw in the fridge overnight before enjoying.

Reheating

No need for reheating with these little cakes! If chilled, let them sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving to bring out the best texture and flavor without softening the coating too much.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make these cakes from scratch instead of using cake mix?

Absolutely! You can use your favorite homemade vanilla cake recipe instead of a boxed mix. Just be sure it’s baked in a thin, even layer similar to the jelly roll pan size for best results.

What if I can’t find marshmallow fluff?

If marshmallow fluff isn’t available, you can substitute it with homemade marshmallow creme or a blend of melted marshmallows and a little corn syrup to get the right consistency. The filling might be slightly different in texture but still delicious.

How do I keep the coatings from melting?

Keep your coated trees chilled until serving and store them in a cool place away from direct heat or sunlight. Work quickly when dipping to avoid warming the filling inside.

Can I use different shapes besides Christmas trees?

Definitely! This recipe works with any cookie cutter shape you like. Stars, snowflakes, or even simple squares make great festive treats, so feel free to get creative.

Final Thoughts

This Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe has become a holiday ritual in my kitchen, one that I look forward to every year. It's such a joy to see those familiar tree shapes come together so perfectly with homemade love. I hope you find as much fun and satisfaction making them as I do—trust me, once you try this recipe, you’ll want to include it in your holiday traditions too!