Christmas Tree Cake Dip

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep time: 15 minutes; cook time: 5 minutes; chilling: 30 minutes; total time: 50 minutes. Yield: 12 servings. Course: dessert. Cuisine: American. Difficulty: easy.

Intro

Christmas tree cake dip is a fluffy vanilla cake batter style dessert dip with a tangy cream cheese base, a hint of almond, and red and green sprinkles. This version uses heat-treated flour for the cake-like flavor and chills until thick enough to scoop. Serve it in a bowl on a holiday snack board with strawberries, apple slices, and graham crackers.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• The mixer makes the cream cheese base smooth in just a few minutes.
• Vanilla, almond, and sprinkles give it a festive cake-batter flavor.
• Fruit and crackers make easy dippers without extra baking.
• The dip can be chilled ahead, then stirred and served when guests arrive.

Hannah Brooks

Christmas Tree Cake Dip

Christmas tree cake dip is a fluffy vanilla cake batter style dessert dip with cream cheese, a hint of almond, and festive sprinkles for holiday dunking.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Cooling and chilling 30 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 220

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup whole milk plus more as needed
• 1 teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla flavoring
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract alcohol-free
• 1 cup whipped topping plant-based and gelatin-free
• 2 tablespoons holiday sprinkles plant-based colors and glaze

Equipment

• 1 Rimmed baking sheet
• 1 Instant-read thermometer
• 1 Mixing bowl
• 1 Hand mixer
• 1 rubber spatula

Method

 

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Spread all-purpose flour on a rimmed baking sheet and bake 7 minutes, stirring once. Check several spots with an instant-read thermometer; the flour should reach 165°F. Cool completely.
2. Beat cream cheese and unsalted butter in a bowl for 2 minutes, until smooth and fluffy.
3. Beat in powdered sugar, cooled flour, alcohol-free vanilla flavoring, and alcohol-free almond extract until smooth.
4. Beat in whole milk a tablespoon at a time until thick but scoopable. Fold in whipped topping and holiday sprinkles with a spatula.
5. Cover and chill 30 minutes. Serve cold with strawberries, apple slices, or graham crackers.

Notes

Keep refrigerated and serve within 3 days. Nutrition is an estimate per serving. Use only alcohol-free vanilla and almond flavorings and plant-based, gelatin-free sprinkles and whipped topping.

Recipe Tips

Heat-treated flour must cool completely before it goes into the dairy mixture. Spread it thinly over the pan and stir once while baking. Check several areas with an instant-read thermometer because flour heats unevenly. If the flour has not reached 165°F throughout, return it to the oven briefly and check again. Cool the flour before measuring it into the bowl.

Let the cream cheese and butter soften at room temperature for easier mixing. Beat them until no lumps remain, then add the powdered sugar and flavorings. Add milk a tablespoon at a time; you may need a little less or more depending on how thick your whipped topping is. Fold the topping in gently to keep the dip light.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Do not mix in warm flour, which can soften the butter and make the dip loose. Do not pour in all the milk at once; a thinner dip is harder to thicken again. Avoid adding the sprinkles too early if their colors bleed easily. Fold them in after the base is smooth and close to serving time.

Variations

Use an alcohol-free vanilla flavoring and a small pinch of cinnamon for a warmer flavor. Swap the almond flavoring for extra vanilla if serving people who avoid tree nuts. For a thicker dip, reduce the milk slightly. Keep sprinkles modest so each scoop still tastes creamy rather than crunchy.

What to Serve With It

Arrange the dip beside Christmas cake pops and peppermint bark for a mix of scoopable and bite-size sweets. Browse the Recipe Index for more holiday treats.

Storage

Cover and refrigerate leftovers promptly. Keep the dip chilled and use it within 3 days. Do not leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If liquid separates after storage, stir gently before serving.

Reheating

This is a chilled dessert dip and should not be reheated. Let it stand at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes if it has firmed up too much in the refrigerator.

Make Ahead

Prepare the dip up to one day ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator. Fold in the sprinkles shortly before serving if you want their colors to stay bright. Set out fresh fruit and graham crackers just before guests arrive so they stay crisp.

FAQs

Can I make Christmas tree cake dip without almond flavoring?

Yes. Leave it out and add a little more alcohol-free vanilla flavoring to taste.

What should I serve with cake dip?

Strawberries, apple slices, and graham crackers all scoop easily. Offer two or three dippers so guests have a crisp and a fresh option.

Can this dip be frozen?

Freezing can change the texture of the cream cheese and whipped topping, so it is best made fresh or chilled for a few days.