There's just something magical about little festive treats that bring out the joy of the season. This Christmas Tree Cake Balls Recipe is a delightful, bite-sized blast of holiday cheer that’s super simple to make and impossible not to love.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
When the holidays roll around, I’m all about easy, festive treats that guests actually rave over. This Christmas Tree Cake Balls Recipe checks all those boxes—super cute, insanely delicious, and really simple to put together without any baking stress.
- Easy Preparation: No baking required, just mix, shape, and decorate for an instant festive hit.
- Festive Fun: The green sanding sugar and red candy drizzles give these cake balls that classic Christmas tree look.
- Perfect Party Treats: Bite-sized and mess-free, making them ideal for holiday gatherings or gifts.
- Super Versatile: You can easily swap in different flavors or decorating styles to make it your own.
Ingredients & Why They Work
These cake balls come alive thanks to a handful of simple ingredients. Each plays a role in creating that perfect texture, flavor, and festive look you crave during the holidays.
- Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes: These already have that iconic flavor and texture build-in, saving you loads of prep time.
- Cream Cheese: Adds moisture and helps bind the cake crumbles into a sticky, moldable dough.
- White Almond Bark: Perfect for coating because it melts smooth and hardens with a nice shine.
- Red Candy Melts: Adds a pop of color and festive drizzle that’s easy to work with once melted.
- Green Sanding Sugar: Creates that sparkling “tree” effect and adds a touch of texture.
Make It Your Way
I love how this Christmas Tree Cake Balls Recipe invites a bit of creativity. Whether you want it sweeter, more chocolatey, or just different, you can easily put your own spin on it.
- Variation: I once swapped in chocolate candy melts instead of white almond bark for a richer, darker coating—and my friends loved the twist.
- Dietary Adjustment: Gluten-free cakes can be used to accommodate guests with sensitivities without changing the texture.
- Flavor Punch: Add a teaspoon of peppermint extract to the cream cheese mix for a minty holiday vibe.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Cake Balls Recipe
Step 1: Blend Cream Cheese and Cake Like a Pro
Start by beating the room temperature cream cheese until super smooth—this helps keep your cake balls creamy rather than crumbly. Next, crumble those Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes right into your bowl and beat everything together until it forms a cohesive mixture. If you find your hands are sticking when rolling, a light grease of vegetable oil keeps things tidy.
Step 2: Chill and Firm Up
After rolling the mixture into balls, pop them in the freezer for at least two hours—or better yet, overnight. This step is essential because firm truffles coat neatly without falling apart and make dipping into chocolate a breeze.
Step 3: Dip, Decorate, and Delight
Gently melt your white almond bark in short bursts, stirring thoroughly to avoid burning. Using two forks or a skewer to dip and lift the balls helps keep things neat and easy. Before the coating sets, sprinkle green sanding sugar on top for that shimmering evergreen look. Then, melt red candy melts and drizzle them artistically for that pop of Christmas charm. Don’t rush the setting; a quick chill in the fridge speeds it up!
Top Tip
I’ve made these Christmas tree cake balls more times than I can count, and a few little tricks really saved me from sticky hands and messy chocolate. These tips will help you nail that flawless finish.
- Keep the Cake Cold: The colder the truffles when you dip, the cleaner your white chocolate coating will be. Trust me—room temp balls can be a hot mess.
- Microwave in Small Intervals: Overheating candy melts turns them grainy. Melt steadily and stir often for silky smooth chocolate.
- Use Two Forks for Dipping: It’s a game changer for lifting your cake balls without breaking the coating or creating a mess.
- Don't Overdo the Coconut Oil: If you thin red candy melts with coconut oil, add little by little to avoid runny drizzles that don’t hold shape.
How to Serve Christmas Tree Cake Balls Recipe
Garnishes
I like to keep my garnishes classic and simple—green sanding sugar for sparkle and a drizzle of red candy melts for that festive contrast. Sometimes, I add tiny edible silver stars or mini nonpareils to jazz them up even more for holiday parties.
Side Dishes
Serve these alongside a hot cup of mulled cider or a spiced white chocolate mocha to keep that cozy Christmas vibe going. They’re also lovely paired with other easy finger desserts like peppermint bark or cranberry cheesecake bites.
Creative Ways to Present
For a festive touch, arrange the cake balls in the shape of a Christmas tree on a big platter, maybe add a star-shaped cookie at the top as the tree topper. I’ve also tied sets of three or four into cellophane bags with red ribbon for quick hostess gifts—always a crowd-pleaser!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftovers? Just tuck these treats into an airtight container and stash them in the fridge. They stay fresh and delicious for up to 5 days—perfect if you want to prep early or have some to nibble on throughout the holiday week.
Freezing
I’ve frozen these cake balls many times, and they hold up well for 2 to 4 months. Just pop them into a freezer-safe container and thaw overnight in the fridge before serving. Heads up, the chocolate coating can get a little cracked after thawing, but the flavors stay spot on.
Reheating
Since they’re meant to be enjoyed cold or at room temperature, I usually just let frozen cake balls thaw in the fridge overnight. Avoid microwaving—heating can melt the coatings and change the texture.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! While Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes are perfect for convenience and flavor, you can substitute other spongy cakes like chocolate or vanilla cake crumbs to make the balls your own.
Chilling the cake balls thoroughly before dipping is key. Freezing them for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, helps the coating adhere smoothly and prevents crumbling. Also, avoid stirring the coating too vigorously once melted.
Yes! These cake balls actually taste better after resting a few hours as flavors meld. You can prepare and store them in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage. Just allow time to thaw in the fridge before serving.
No worries if you don’t have sanding sugar! You can use finely crushed green sprinkles or even add a small amount of finely chopped pistachios for texture and color. It’s all about that festive look and a little crunch.
Final Thoughts
I have to say, this Christmas Tree Cake Balls Recipe has become my go-to holiday treat whenever I want to impress with minimal effort. The smiles it brings and the compliments I get remind me that simple, heartfelt recipes are often the most memorable. You’ll fall in love with how fun, festive, and downright delicious these little bites are—grab your ingredients and let’s get making!
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Christmas Tree Cake Balls Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cake balls
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delicious and festive Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls coated in white almond bark and decorated with green sanding sugar and red candy melt drizzle. Perfect for holiday celebrations and easy to make with just a few ingredients.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 10 Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes (two 5-count boxes)
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 16 ounces white almond bark
- 1 cup red candy melts
- Green sanding sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the cake mixture: In a large bowl, add the cream cheese. Beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the cakes to the cream cheese and beat until well combined.
- Form cake balls: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop out and roll 24 truffles from the cake mixture. If the truffles stick to your hands, lightly grease them with vegetable or canola oil.
- Chill the truffles: Place the truffles in the freezer for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to firm up completely.
- Melt white almond bark: Once truffles are chilled, place the white almond bark in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until smooth and fully melted.
- Dip truffles in white chocolate: Using two forks or a fork and a wooden skewer, dip the truffles into the melted almond bark, scoop out with one fork, shake off excess gently, and place back on the parchment-lined tray with the second fork or skewer.
- Add green sanding sugar: Immediately sprinkle green sanding sugar on the truffles while the white chocolate is still wet.
- Melt red candy melts: In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt the red candy melts in 30-second intervals, stirring after each until smooth. If too thick, melt 1 tablespoon refined coconut oil separately and add gradually, stirring until desired consistency is reached.
- Drizzle red candy melts: Place melted red candy melts into a storage bag and cut a very small corner off. Drizzle the candy melts back and forth over the truffles. Set aside to firm up, refrigerate for 10 minutes for quicker setting.
- Storage: Store the cake balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days.
Notes
- You can substitute with chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes or zebra cakes if preferred.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To freeze, place cake balls in a freezer-friendly container and freeze for 2 to 4 months. Consume directly from freezer or thaw overnight in the fridge. Note the chocolate may crack after freezing and thawing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cake ball
- Calories: 170 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
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