Ingredients
Method
- Unwrap the snack cakes and crumble them into fine crumbs in a bowl.
- Mix in the softened cream cheese until the mixture holds together evenly.
- Roll into 18 small balls and place them on a parchment-lined tray. Chill until firm for 45 minutes.
- Melt the white candy melts in short microwave bursts, stirring often. Stir in neutral oil if needed to thin the coating.
- Dip each chilled center in the coating, let excess drip off, then add sprinkles while wet. Let set before serving.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep: 25 minutes | Chill: 45 minutes | Total: 1 hour 10 minutes | Servings: 18 truffles | Difficulty: Easy | Cuisine: American | Category: Dessert
Intro
These Christmas Tree Cake truffles turn packaged snack cakes into small, festive no-bake bites. A little cream cheese binds the cake crumbs, and a white chocolate shell with red and green sprinkles makes them party-ready.
Chill the rolled centers before dipping so they hold their shape. Work in small batches and let the coating set completely before storing.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No oven is needed, and the centers come together quickly.
- The bite-size treats are easy to make ahead for a cookie tray.
- Sprinkle colors can be changed for other celebrations.
Recipe Card
Recipe Tips
Let the cream cheese soften so it blends evenly. If the cake mixture feels sticky, chill it before rolling. Melt candy coating slowly and stir often; a teaspoon of neutral oil can thin it if needed.
For smooth dipping, keep the centers cold and the coating fluid. If the crumbs seem dry and will not hold together, mix in cream cheese a teaspoon at a time; if they feel sticky, chill the mixture before rolling. Make the balls similar in size so they firm up together. Melt candy coating in short intervals and stir after each one, since residual heat continues melting it. Work with a few chilled centers at a time and return the rest to the refrigerator. Use a fork or dipping tool to lift each truffle, then tap gently on the bowl to remove extra coating. Add sprinkles immediately, before the shell sets. Allow the finished truffles to set on parchment before moving them into a storage container.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping the chill: Warm centers can fall apart in the coating.
- Overheating coating: Use short microwave bursts and stir between them.
- Waiting to sprinkle: Add sprinkles while each coating is still wet.
Variations
Use vanilla almond bark or white candy melts, and decorate with seasonal sprinkles. For a smaller batch, halve the ingredients. Keep the ingredient packaging available for guests with allergies; snack cake and coating ingredients vary by product.
For more holiday sweets, see Christmas Tree Cake Dip, Christmas cake pops, or peppermint bark.
What to Serve With It
Add these truffles to a cookie platter with fruit, brownies, or hot cocoa. Serve chilled or let stand briefly so the coating is not too firm.
Find more ideas in the Recipe Index.
Storage
Store truffles in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Separate layers with parchment. Do not leave cream cheese truffles at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Reheating
These are served chilled and do not need reheating. If the coating feels firm straight from the refrigerator, let the truffles stand for roughly 10 minutes before serving.
Make Ahead
Roll and chill the centers a day ahead, then dip and decorate. Alternatively, finish the truffles and refrigerate them covered until serving.
FAQs
Do I need to bake these truffles?
No. The snack cakes are ready to eat, and the truffles are assembled without baking.
Can I freeze Christmas Tree Cake truffles?
They can be frozen in a sealed container for up to a month, though condensation may affect the coating. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Why are the centers too soft to dip?
Chill them longer. If still soft, mix in a small amount of additional cake crumbs.
Can I use white chocolate chips?
Yes, but chips may melt thicker than candy coating. Thin carefully with a little neutral oil.
How do I keep the coating smooth?
Melt slowly, stir frequently, and avoid getting water into the bowl.
