Description
Recreate the nostalgic Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes at home with tender yellow cake layers, stabilized whipped cream filling, and a white chocolate coating. A festive treat that’s both fun to make and delicious to enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
- For the Filling:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon E-Z Gel or bloomed gelatin (for stabilization)
- For the Coating:
- 2 cups white chocolate chips or melting wafers
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (for thinning, if needed)
- For Decoration:
- Festive sprinkles
- 1/4 batch vanilla buttercream (optional for piping designs)
Instructions
- Bake the Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 11×15-inch sheet pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add oil, eggs, and vanilla, mixing until combined.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with milk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
- Cut and Layer:
- Use a tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes from the cooled cake. For two-layer trees, either split the sheet cake in half before cutting or cut the shapes first and then halve each one.
- Make the Filling:
- Whip heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form. Add E-Z Gel or bloomed gelatin and whip to stiff peaks.
- Assemble:
- Spread whipped cream onto one layer of each tree shape, ensuring the cream reaches the edges. Top with the second layer. Smooth sides with a spatula for even coverage.
- Freeze:
- Place assembled trees on a lined baking sheet and freeze overnight to ensure stability for dipping.
- Coat with White Chocolate:
- Melt white chocolate and stir in vegetable oil if needed for a smoother consistency. Dip frozen trees into the chocolate, covering completely. Place on parchment paper and add sprinkles immediately before the chocolate sets.
- Decorate:
- Once the chocolate is hardened, pipe designs with vanilla buttercream if desired.
- Store:
- Keep the finished cakes in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer until ready to serve.
- Category: Cakes
Keywords: Christmas Tree Cakes, Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes, Mini Christmas Tree Cakes, Whipped Cream, White Chocolate, Yellow Cake