Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls: A Delicious Holiday Treat
Introduction: The holiday season is filled with sweet traditions, and one of the most iconic treats that make the rounds during Christmas is the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake. These festive, individually wrapped cakes are beloved for their green icing, white drizzles, and cake filling. What better way to enjoy this nostalgic snack than to transform it into an easy-to-make, shareable, and delicious dessert? Introducing: Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls!
These cake balls take everything you love about the iconic snack and turn it into a bite-sized, irresistible holiday delight. They’re perfect for holiday parties, gifts, or simply enjoying by the fire with a cup of cocoa. Let’s get baking!
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Ingredients:
1 Box of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes (this will be your base cake for the balls)
8 oz Cream Cheese (softened)
12 oz White Chocolate Chips (for coating, or use a combination of white chocolate and green candy melts for extra color)
1 tsp Vanilla Extract (optional, for a bit of extra flavor)
Sprinkles (optional, to decorate and add some festive flair)
1/2 cup Powdered Sugar (optional, for added sweetness)
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Method & Instructions:
Step 1: Prepare the Cake Base
1. Unwrap the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes: Open the box and take out the individually wrapped cakes. You’ll need about 8 cakes for this recipe, depending on how many cake balls you want to make.
2. Crumble the Cakes: In a large bowl, crumble the Little Debbie cakes into tiny pieces. You can do this with your hands, but for a finer texture, you can use a food processor to pulse them into a crumbly mixture.
Step 2: Make the Cake Ball Dough
1. Add Cream Cheese: Add the softened cream cheese to the crumbled cake mixture. The cream cheese will help bind the cake crumbs together and give the balls a creamy, moist texture. Use a spatula or your hands to mix everything together until fully incorporated. The mixture should be sticky and moldable. If it feels too dry, add a bit more cream cheese or a tablespoon of powdered sugar to adjust the texture.
2. Optional Flavoring: If you want to add a bit of extra flavor, this is the time to stir in 1 tsp of vanilla extract or any holiday spice like cinnamon or nutmeg.
Step 3: Form the Cake Balls
1. Shape the Balls: Take small amounts of the cake mixture and roll them into smooth, bite-sized balls, about 1 inch in diameter. You should be able to make 20-25 balls, depending on how big you want them.
2. Place on a Tray: Once all the balls are shaped, place them on a baking sheet or tray lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate them for about 30 minutes to an hour so they firm up and hold their shape during the next step.
Step 4: Coat the Cake Balls
1. Melt the White Chocolate: While the cake balls are chilling, melt your white chocolate chips. You can do this in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until fully melted. If using candy melts, follow the same method for melting. Add a tiny bit of shortening or coconut oil to make the coating smoother and easier to work with.
2. Dip the Cake Balls: Take each chilled cake ball and dip it into the melted white chocolate using a fork or toothpick. Ensure the ball is fully coated. Gently tap off any excess chocolate before placing it back onto the parchment-lined tray.
3. Add Sprinkles: If you’re using sprinkles for extra color and texture, this is the time to add them! You can also drizzle extra white chocolate or green candy melts for a decorative touch, or even some edible glitter for a little sparkle.
Step 5: Let the Cake Balls Set
1. Chill the Cake Balls Again: Place the coated cake balls back in the fridge for about 30 minutes, or until the coating hardens and the cake balls are fully set. This ensures they hold their shape and don’t get messy when serving.
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History of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes:
The Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake was first introduced by McKee Foods in 1985 and has been a holiday favorite ever since. These festive treats are shaped like miniature Christmas trees, with green icing and a white drizzle that mimics the look of snow. The Little Debbie brand has become synonymous with nostalgic, affordable, and comforting snacks. The Christmas Tree Cake is just one of their many popular seasonal offerings, and it holds a special place in the hearts of many who grew up enjoying them during the holidays.
As the years went by, Little Debbie’s holiday-themed cakes expanded, but the Christmas Tree Cake remains an iconic part of the season, often showing up on family dessert tables, in stockings, and as a quick, sugary fix for those holiday sweet cravings.
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The Formation of the Christmas Tree Cake Balls:
The idea of turning Little Debbie’s Christmas Tree Cakes into cake balls was born out of the desire to take a childhood treat and elevate it for holiday entertaining. Cake balls are a trendy dessert that became popular in the early 2000s as a fun and easy way to turn cake into a bite-sized, portable dessert. By using the Christmas Tree Cakes as the base, this version of the cake ball brings together the flavors of nostalgia with the fun presentation of modern baking trends.
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Conclusion:
Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls are an easy, delicious, and festive dessert that can bring holiday cheer to any occasion. With their creamy center and festive coating, they perfectly capture the essence of Christmas while offering a fun twist on the classic Little Debbie treat. Whether you’re serving them at a holiday party, packing them into a gift box, or just snacking on them by the tree, these cake balls are sure to spread some extra joy this season.
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For the Lovers of Cake and Holidays:
If you’re a fan of the classic Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes, these cake balls are a must-try. They combine the best of both worlds: the nostalgic flavor of Little Debbie’s iconic treat, with the creamy, decadent texture of a cake ball. Whether you’re baking them for yourself, sharing them with family and friends, or giving them as gifts, these cake balls are sure to become a holiday tradition for lovers of sweet, simple, and festive desserts!
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Enjoy your Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls! 🎄