Introduction
Remember those classic Christmas tree-shaped snack cakes? The ones that just taste like the holidays? Well, get ready to elevate them into something truly magical! Today, we’re transforming those beloved little cakes into adorable, bite-sized Christmas Tree Cake Truffles. These little gems are so ridiculously easy to make, you’ll wonder why you haven’t done it before. They’re perfect for a last-minute holiday treat, a sweet addition to your dessert platter, or even a charming DIY gift. Let’s get baking (well, almost baking!) and spread some festive cheer!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast: You can whip these up in no time at all, perfect for when holiday guests are on their way!
- Easy: Seriously, no complicated steps here. If you can crumble cake and roll a ball, you’ve got this!
- Giftable: Package them up in cute little tins or bags, and you’ve got a homemade gift that’s sure to be cherished.
- Crowd-pleasing: Who can resist a creamy, dreamy cake truffle, especially when they look this festive?
Ingredients
- 10 Christmas Tree Snack Cakes: These are the stars of the show! The more festive, the better.
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened: Make sure it’s nice and soft so it blends smoothly.
- 18 ounces white chocolate chips: The perfect creamy coating for our little trees.
- Red cookie icing: For those sweet little berry accents or bows.
- Green sanding sugar: To give our trees that perfect, sparkly, evergreen look.
How to Make It
Alright, let’s get our hands a little festive and make these delightful truffles!
- Crumble Away: First things first, take those 10 Christmas Tree Snack Cakes and crumble them all up in a medium-sized bowl. Don’t be shy, get them nice and broken down!
- Cream Cheese Magic: Now, add the softened cream cheese to the crumbled cake. Use a sturdy spoon or your hands (my favorite way!) to mix it all together until it forms a cohesive, dough-like mixture. You want it to hold together when you squeeze it.
- Roll ‘Em Up: Take small portions of the mixture and roll them into little balls, about the size of a walnut. You should get a good number of these from your cake mixture.
- Melt the White Chocolate: Now for the coating! Place your white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until it’s completely melted and smooth. Alternatively, you can use a double boiler.
- Dip and Coat: Grab a fork or a toothpick and carefully dip each cake ball into the melted white chocolate. Make sure to coat them completely, letting any excess drip back into the bowl.
- Set Them Aside: Place the newly coated truffles onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. This makes cleanup a breeze!
- Get Creative with Decor! This is where the real fun begins! While the white chocolate is still wet, use your red cookie icing to pipe little dots or designs on your truffles, mimicking ornaments or bows. Then, sprinkle generously with the green sanding sugar to give them that beautiful, frosted tree look.
- Let Them Set: Now comes the hardest part – waiting! Let your beautiful Christmas Tree Cake Truffles set completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator until the chocolate is firm.
Substitutions & Additions
Feel free to play around and make these truffles your own! Here are a few ideas:
- Different Chocolate: Don’t have white chocolate? Milk or dark chocolate chips would be delicious too! You might need to adjust the amount of cream cheese slightly for a firmer dough with darker chocolates.
- Sprinkle Fun: Instead of just sanding sugar, try using festive sprinkles, edible glitter, or even some chopped nuts for extra crunch.
- Flavor Boost: A tiny splash of peppermint extract or a bit of finely chopped peppermint candy mixed into the cake mixture can add an extra holiday punch.
- Cream Cheese Alternative: For a slightly different flavor profile, you could experiment with softened butter or even a dollop of thick Greek yogurt, though cream cheese is what gives these their signature richness.
Tips for Success
A few little tricks to make your truffle-making experience even smoother:
- Softened Cream Cheese is Key: If your cream cheese is too cold, it will be lumpy and hard to mix. Let it sit out on the counter for about 30 minutes to an hour before you start.
- Don’t Overmix: Mix the cake crumbs and cream cheese just until combined. Overmixing can make the mixture too sticky.
- Chill for Easier Rolling: If your cake mixture feels too soft to roll into balls, pop it in the fridge for about 15-20 minutes. It’ll firm up and be much easier to handle.
- Drying Rack for Dipping: For an even coating, you can use a cooling rack placed over a baking sheet. Dip your truffles, let excess chocolate drip through, and then transfer them to parchment paper for decorating.
- Prep Ahead: You can absolutely make these truffles a day or two in advance! Just store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
How to Store It
These festive truffles are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature. This way, the chocolate coating stays nice and firm, but the inside remains wonderfully soft and creamy. They’ll keep well for about 3-4 days. If your kitchen tends to be quite warm, a few days in the refrigerator is perfectly fine, just let them come to room temperature for a few minutes before enjoying for the best texture!
FAQs
Q: Can I use a different type of cake mix instead of the Christmas tree snack cakes?
A: Absolutely! While the Christmas tree shape is fun, any soft, unfrosted cake snack cakes or even homemade cake crumbs will work beautifully. Vanilla or yellow cake would be a great base.
Q: My white chocolate seized up when I tried to melt it. What happened?
A: This usually happens if even a tiny bit of water or moisture gets into the melted chocolate. Be sure your bowl and utensils are completely dry. If it happens, you can sometimes rescue it with a little bit of vegetable oil or shortening, but it’s best to start fresh with clean, dry equipment.
Q: How long do these truffles need to set?
A: They usually only need about 15-30 minutes to set at room temperature, or even less if you pop them in the fridge. Just wait until the chocolate is firm to the touch before handling them too much.
Christmas Tree Cake Truffles
Equipment
- Medium-sized bowl
- Spoon or hands
- Microwave-safe bowl or double boiler
- Fork or toothpick
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack optional
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 10 Christmas Tree Snack Cakes The more festive, the better.
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 18 ounces white chocolate chips The perfect creamy coating for our little trees.
- Red cookie icing For those sweet little berry accents or bows.
- Green sanding sugar To give our trees that perfect, sparkly, evergreen look.
Instructions
- First things first, take those 10 Christmas Tree Snack Cakes and crumble them all up in a medium-sized bowl. Don't be shy, get them nice and broken down!
- Now, add the softened cream cheese to the crumbled cake. Use a sturdy spoon or your hands (my favorite way!) to mix it all together until it forms a cohesive, dough-like mixture. You want it to hold together when you squeeze it.
- Take small portions of the mixture and roll them into little balls, about the size of a walnut. You should get a good number of these from your cake mixture.
- Now for the coating! Place your white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until it's completely melted and smooth. Alternatively, you can use a double boiler.
- Grab a fork or a toothpick and carefully dip each cake ball into the melted white chocolate. Make sure to coat them completely, letting any excess drip back into the bowl.
- Place the newly coated truffles onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. This makes cleanup a breeze!
- This is where the real fun begins! While the white chocolate is still wet, use your red cookie icing to pipe little dots or designs on your truffles, mimicking ornaments or bows. Then, sprinkle generously with the green sanding sugar to give them that beautiful, frosted tree look.
- Now comes the hardest part – waiting! Let your beautiful Christmas Tree Cake Truffles set completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator until the chocolate is firm.