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 totally magical about those festive, little green Christmas tree cakes, and I just had to recreate them at home. This Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe brings all the nostalgic flavors together — soft yellow cake, fluffy marshmallow filling, and that sweet almond bark coating decorated with sanding sugar and red stripes. It’s a holiday treat that’s as fun to make as it is to eat!

The image shows three triangular cookies stacked on one another on a white plate, each cookie is covered in white icing with green sugar sprinkles scattered all over. Red icing in wavy lines runs across the surface of each cookie, creating a festive contrast. The cookies have a slightly rough texture visible under the icing. The background is a white marbled texture, and there is a blurry white cup behind the plate. 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

Honestly, there’s just something so satisfying about making these iconic little treats at home. I love how this Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe perfectly nails that classic sweet and creamy taste with a homemade touch — plus, it’s a blast to decorate!

Authentic Flavor: Captures the exact creamy, nostalgic taste of the original Christmas tree cakes.
Fun and Festive: Perfect holiday activity for making with kids or friends, getting creative with decorating.
Customizable: You can tweak the frosting or decorations to match your festive vibe or dietary needs.
Impressive Yet Simple: Looks fancypants without needing fancy skills — a total win in my book.

A close-up view of a small, square-shaped cake piece held by a woman's hand showing two layers of soft yellow sponge with a thick layer of white cream filling in the middle. The cake is fully covered in a smooth white icing with a thin layer of shiny red icing on the top edge. Few tiny green sprinkles are visible on the white icing around the sides. The background features a white marbled texture with blurred hints of red, white, and green colors. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe plays a key role — from the tender yellow cake base to the dreamy marshmallow filling, and finally the crisp, sweet almond bark coating. Picking good quality ingredients really shines through, especially when you’re aiming to replicate something so beloved!

Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl of yellow cake mix powder, three whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white ceramic bowl of whole milk, a small white ceramic bowl with melted butter, a small white ceramic bowl of fluffy marshmallow fluff, a small white ceramic bowl of softened butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with powdered sugar, a small white ceramic bowl with green sanding sugar crystals, a small white ceramic bowl containing smooth white almond bark, a small white ceramic bowl with smooth red candy melts, all arranged in perfect symmetry, ingredients fresh and natural, 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: The base for the moist, tender cake — convenient and reliable for consistent results.
Eggs & Milk: These keep the cake rich and fluffy while balancing moisture perfectly.
Melted butter: Adds that buttery richness you want in a good cake without being greasy.
Marshmallow fluff: Key to that classic creamy, sweet filling everyone adores.
Butter (for filling): Creates a silky smooth texture that whips up nicely with the fluff and sugar.
Powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens the filling while keeping it fluffy.
Whole milk (for filling): Just enough to lighten the filling for a perfect spreadable consistency.
White almond bark: Provides a smooth, sweet coating that hardens with a beautiful shine.
Red candy melts: For the festive decorative stripes — easy to melt and pipe.
Green sanding sugar: Adds sparkle and texture — the perfect holiday finishing touch.

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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 to play around with this recipe when the mood strikes — like swapping the yellow cake for a spiced cake in December, or using cream cheese frosting in place of marshmallow fluff for a tangy twist. Feel free to add festive sprinkles or mini candy canes on top, too.

Variation: One year, I swapped out the white almond bark for dark chocolate coating — it gave the trees a rich flavor contrast that my family couldn’t get enough of!

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

Step 1: Bake the Perfect Moist Yellow Cake

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a 16×12 jelly roll pan with parchment paper. I like to clip the parchment edges with binder clips so it stays put — trust me, it makes spreading the batter so much easier! Whisk together your yellow cake mix, eggs, egg yolk, milk, and melted butter until smooth. Spread evenly, then bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick — it should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack before moving on.

Step 2: Whip Up the Fluffy Marshmallow Filling

While the cake cools, it’s time to make the filling. Beat together the marshmallow fluff, room temperature butter, and powdered sugar until you have a smooth mixture. Then add the milk and whip it all on high until it’s light and fluffy — this filling is what makes these cakes so special, so don’t rush it!

Step 3: Assemble and Chill Before Shaping

Cut your cake in half horizontally. Spread the marshmallow filling evenly on one half, then gently place the other half on top like a sandwich. Here’s a tip: If cutting the frosted cake into tree shapes feels tricky, pop the layered cake into the freezer for 30 minutes first. It firms up enough to cut cleanly without squishing the filling. Use a tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out as many trees as you can, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill these in the freezer while you prepare the coating.

Step 4: Coat and Decorate Your Christmas Trees

Melt your white almond bark in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until silky smooth. Carefully dip each tree into the coating, letting excess drip off before placing it on parchment paper. While still wet, sprinkle green sanding sugar on top — it sticks beautifully to the almond bark. Next, melt the red candy melts (if too thick, a little coconut oil thins them out perfectly). Snip one corner of a sandwich bag, fill it with the melted red candy, and pipe on wavy red stripes for that classic festive look.

Top Tip

I’ve made this recipe multiple times and learned a few handy tricks to make it smooth sailing. These tips help you get perfect cakes and decoration without stress.

Freezing Before Cutting: Freezing the filled cake for about 30 minutes firms it up - making clean tree shapes easy without dragging the filling around.
Binder Clips for Parchment: Clip down your parchment paper in the pan before pouring batter — trust me, it prevents sliding and uneven edges.
Thin Your Candy Melts: If your red candy melts are clumpy or thick, add just a tiny bit of coconut oil or shortening to get a smooth flow for piping.
Tap Off Excess Coating: When dipping trees, gently tap the sides of the bowl to let excess coating drip off—this avoids clumps and gives a smooth finish.

How to Serve Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe

Christmas Tree Cakes - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love to finish these cakes with the green sanding sugar for sparkle, but sometimes I’ll add tiny red nonpareil sprinkles for an extra berry-like decoration. It keeps things festive without cluttering the clean look of the cake.

Side Dishes

These little cakes pair wonderfully with a hot cup of cocoa or a festive milk punch. They also make a cute addition to holiday cookie platters alongside gingerbread or sugar cookies.

Creative Ways to Present

One year, I arranged a “forest” of these Christmas tree cakes on a platter with powdered sugar dusted around for a snowy effect. Add a few pine sprigs or small ornaments around the plate, and it becomes a stunning holiday centerpiece that's almost too pretty to eat — almost!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store these cakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If your kitchen is warm or humid, I recommend keeping them in the fridge — they’ll keep nicely for 5 days without drying out.

Freezing

I’ve frozen these cakes wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in container for up to a month. When you’re ready, thaw overnight in the fridge and the texture is almost as perfect as fresh!

Reheating

Reheating isn’t really necessary since these are best served cool, but if you want to soften the texture a bit, let them come to room temp before serving — that really helps bring out the cake’s softness and filling creaminess.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make these cakes ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can assemble and decorate your Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes up to 24 hours ahead, keeping them wrapped tightly in the fridge. Just add sanding sugar and red stripes close to serving time for the freshest look.

Can I use a different cake flavor?

Yes! Yellow cake is traditional, but I’ve had great results swapping in spice cake or even a subtle chocolate cake base. Just watch baking time closely since different mixes can vary.

What if I can’t find almond bark?

You can substitute with white chocolate chips or melts, but make sure to temper or melt carefully to avoid clumping. Almond bark melts more smoothly and gives that signature glossy finish.

Can I use canned frosting instead of marshmallow fluff filling?

Yes, canned frosting works in a pinch! I recommend using a fluffy vanilla buttercream type and thinning it slightly with milk to mimic the original filling’s texture.

Final Thoughts

Making this Copycat Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe feels like capturing a little piece of holiday magic in your own kitchen. It’s sweet, nostalgic, and surprisingly fun to craft — whether you’re baking solo or with loved ones. I hope you enjoy making these festive trees as much as I do, and that they become a beloved holiday tradition in your home too.