Learn how to make Christmas Tree Cake Dip with Little Debbie cakes in only 15 minutes! A quick, creamy, and festive dessert perfect for holiday parties!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jennifer raved, “Little Debbies are my favorite, and now I have a new way to enjoy them. I made this for my pokeno party and it was gone!”
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Why you’ll love this Christmas Tree Cake Dip
I have a guilty confession: as much as I love real, whole-food recipes, there are a few nostalgic treats that still tug at my heart. Every Christmas, those Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes somehow find their way into my cart. They’re cheerful, sweet, and just plain fun, so this year, instead of pretending I didn’t buy them, I turned them into something new based on the viral recipes—a Christmas Tree Cake Dip!
My early versions were too sweet or too dense (think frosting disguised as dip). But after a few tries, I found the perfect creamy, dreamy balance that tastes like pure Christmas nostalgia, only a little more homemade and a lot more shareable.
If you’re in the mood for more holiday kitchen fun, this dip fits right in with these Snowman Rice Krispie Treats and my Christmas Tree Appetizer—easy, festive, and full of joy without the stress. Because the holidays are meant for laughter and sweet memories, not fussing over fancy desserts.
It’s the perfect addition to build an epic dessert dip board with bowls of my favorite sweet dips: pumpkin fluff dip, cream cheese dip, fruit dip using marshmallow fluff and this chocolate fruit dip!
Simple Ingredients for Little Debbie Christmas Tree Dip
- Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes | You need one box of five seasonal Little Debbie snack cakes, or two if you want it really “cakey”.
- Cream cheese | Make sure it’s room temperature cream cheese for a smoother dip. Cold cream cheese doesn’t blend smoothly.
- Vanilla | Add vanilla extract to deepen the dip flavor of this easy recipe.
- Whipping Cream | I like using my homemade Cool Whip recipe with heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. But thawed Cool Whip from the grocery store also works.
- Milk | Bring creamy flavor and silky texture with whole milk.
- Holiday Sprinkles | Top off the festive treat with your favorite Christmas sprinkles.
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
Recommended Tools
- My favorite hand mixer!
How to Make Christmas Tree Cake Dip
Step 1 | Make homemade Cool Whip (optional)
If you are making homemade Cool Whip, do that now. Place heavy whipping cream into a large mixing bowl and whip until soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and continue whipping until stiff peaks form. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to fold into the sweet treat. Some recipes call for sour cream, not this one!
Fresh Tip: If you use store-bought whipped topping instead, purchase an 8-ounce container and thaw it before using.
Step 2 | Make Little Debbie Christmas Tree Dip
Start by placing the softened cream cheese into the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl using a hand mixer.
Break up the Little Debbie’s snack cakes into smaller pieces, saving about ¾ of one cake to stick on top of the final dip, if desired.
Next, add the crumbled snack cakes, milk, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Combine the ingredients using a stand or hand mixer until you achieve your preferred texture.
Fresh Tip: We enjoy this on the smoother side —more of a creamy dip —but if you prefer a slightly chunkier texture, blend for less time, or reserve some of the snack cakes and stir them in after blending.
Step 3 | Fold in Cool Whip and Chill
Add the prepared homemade Cool Whip and gently fold together until combined.
Time to chill. Transfer mixture to a serving bowl and cover it with plastic wrap, refrigerating until ready to use or for at least an hour, allowing the flavors to marry.
When ready to serve, don’t forget to add the reserved tree cake and festive sprinkles!
Suggested Little Debbie Christmas tree dippers
Serve this easy dip with your favorite dippers, such as graham crackers, animal crackers, vanilla wafers, pretzels, sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, shortbread cookies, Fudge Ritz crackers, or chocolate-covered graham crackers.
Christmas tree dip fruit dippers
Try adding a little healthy, fresh fruit for dipping —like strawberries, fresh grapes, and apple slices —to brighten up your dessert platter.
Enjoy this festive dip for all of your holiday parties this year!
Fresh Tips
- We preferred our dip silky smooth, but others liked theirs chunky.
- If you want a chunky yet smooth texture, keep out a couple of Christmas tree cakes and stir them into the whipped cream.
- This easy dessert recipe can also be made in a food processor, but note that your dip will be smooth!
Need more tasty dip ideas for the holidays? Try my Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip for crispy crackers, and this simple Rotel Sausage Dip is delicious with salty chips!
Variations & Substitutions
Chocolate Christmas Tree Dip: Add ¼ – ⅓ cup of mini chocolate chips and 2-3 tablespoons of cocoa powder and use chocolate Christmas tree cakes for extra chocolate goodness.
More Cake Flavor: Use two boxes of Little Debbie Christmas Trees packages for a more nostalgic snack cake flavor.
Peppermint Snack Cake Dip: Make the Christmas dip extra holiday-ready by adding peppermint extract to the recipe, then garnish with crushed candy canes!
Other Snack Cakes: Use your favorite holiday snack cakes from Little Debbie Company—try them and make this treat for other special occasions!
Recommended Tools
- My favorite hand mixer!
Frequently Asked Questions
Sure! This is an easy make-ahead recipe for an upcoming Christmas party. After combining the ingredients, store the covered dip in the fridge for up to a few days before the texture changes significantly.
Yes! This dip recipe is easy to adjust. Add chocolate, peppermint, caramel, candy canes, sprinkles, white chocolate chips, or fun extracts to make something new!
Zebra cakes are the year-round version of seasonal Christmas Tree Cakes. They are both yellow cakes with a cream filling. The only difference is the chocolate drizzle on top of the Zebra cakes and the green sprinkles with red stripes on the seasonal snack cakes. So, they are interchangeable.
For longer storage, freeze the snack cakes in their original plastic wrappers in a large zip-top bag. Then, let them thaw on the countertop or fridge with the wrappers removed.
Storage Tips
Refrigerate – Store leftover snack cake dip in the fridge in an airtight container for up to four to seven days.
Can you freeze Christmas Tree Cake Dip?
While this dip lasts well in the fridge, if needed, you may freeze it in an airtight container up to 2 months; the texture might change upon thawing. Thaw overnight in the fridge and stir well before serving.
What to Serve with Little Debbie Christmas Tree Dip Recipe
Make this dip recipe however you like! Start by blending with small chunks still visible, taste it, and continue mixing if a smoother texture is preferred.
More Easy Dessert Dips
- Easy 3-ingredient Cream Cheese Fruit Dip Recipe
- Best Chocolate Fruit Dip Recipe with Cream Cheese
- Easy Oreo Fluff Dessert Dip Recipe (No Cool Whip)
- Best Pumpkin Fluff Recipe (Pumpkin Pie Dip)
I hope you loved this Little Debbie Christmas tree dip — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!
Like this recipe?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and leave a comment below the recipe!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 box Little Debbie’s Christmas Tree Cakes 5 cakes
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- Christmas sprinkles
- ⅓ cup whole milk
- 1 recipe homemade Cool Whip or 8 ounces thawed Cool Whip
Homemade Cool Whip Recipe
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream 1 pint, very cold
- 2-4 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Make Homemade Cool Whip or thaw store bought
- In a clean bowl of a stand mixer or hand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, pour cold heavy whipping cream. Whip until soft peaks form and then add powdered sugar (to desired sweetness) and vanilla extract, whipping until stiff peaks form, place in fridge until ready to use.If you choose to use Cool Whip instead, purchase an 8 ounce container and thaw it first before using.2 cups heavy whipping cream, 2-4 tablespoons powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Christmas Tree Dip
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or using a hand mixer whip cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add milk and vanilla extract and mix until desired consistency.8 ounces cream cheese, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract, ⅓ cup whole milk
- Break apart the Little Debbie's snack cakes, reserving ¾ of one to place on top as decoration if desired. I liked ours smooth, but others like theirs with some chunky texture.1 box Little Debbie’s Christmas Tree Cakes
- Fold in homemade cool whip or thawed cool whip until combined. Place in bowl, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour for best flavor.1 recipe homemade Cool Whip
- Add reserved ¾ Christmas tree cake to the top if desired and decorate with Christmas sprinkles. Serve with your favorite dippers.Christmas sprinkles
Notes
Nutrition
Jennifer
Little debbies are my favorite and now I have a new way to enjoy them. I made this for my pokeno party and it was gone!
So fun!
Vanessa
A fun idea for a kids Christmas party!
Perfect for a kids Christmas party!
Sharon
What a fun way to pull together the spirit of Christmas treats with the use of the Little Debbie Trees. So fun!
Thanks!!
Gianne
It’s the perfect festive treat during the holiday season. The combination of the creamy dip and the adorable tree-shaped cakes is absolutely delicious. It’s a must-try!
Thank you so much!
Alison Corey
A taste of Christmas in every bite!
YES!!