Description
Christmas Tree Cake Truffles bursting with festive flavors! Made with cake, cream cheese, and chocolate, these crowd-pleasing treats are quick and easy to make.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box (15.25 oz/432g) vanilla cake mix, plus ingredients called for on the box (typically eggs, water, and oil)
- ⅓ cup (80g) vanilla frosting (store-bought or homemade)
- 16 oz (450g) white chocolate or white candy melts
- 2–3 teaspoons green oil-based food coloring (oil-based works best with chocolate)
- Assorted sprinkles for decorating (nonpareils, jimmies, and star sprinkles work best)
- 24 pretzel sticks, broken in half (for the tree trunks)
- 24 small star sprinkles or yellow candy stars (for tree toppers)
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Cake Base Bake the vanilla cake according to package directions in a 9×13-inch pan. Allow the cake to cool completely, preferably overnight or for at least 2 hours. This cooling period is essential as warm cake will create a gummy texture in your truffles. Once cooled, crumble the entire cake into fine crumbs in a large mixing bowl, breaking up any large pieces with your fingers until the texture is consistent.
- Step 2: Create the Truffle Mixture Add ⅓ cup of vanilla frosting to the cake crumbs and mix thoroughly using a fork initially, then switch to your hands to fully incorporate the frosting. The mixture should be moist enough to hold together when pressed but not so wet that it’s sticky or paste-like. Test by squeezing a small amount in your palm – it should form a ball that holds its shape without being too dry or crumbly.
- Step 3: Shape the Trees Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop about 1½ tablespoons of the cake mixture and roll between your palms to form a ball. Then, gently shape it into a cone or tree shape with a slightly pointed top and wider base. Place on the prepared sheet and repeat with remaining mixture to make approximately 24 trees. Refrigerate the shaped truffles for at least 1 hour or freeze for 20 minutes until firm.
- Step 4: Prepare the Coating In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the white chocolate in 30-second intervals at 50% power, stirring between each interval until completely smooth. Divide the melted chocolate if you want some trees to be white. For green trees, add the green food coloring to the white chocolate a few drops at a time, stirring thoroughly until you achieve your desired shade of Christmas tree green.
- Step 5: Dip and Decorate Working with 3-4 chilled truffles at a time (keeping the rest refrigerated), insert a half pretzel stick into the bottom of each cone to serve as the trunk. Holding the pretzel end, dip each truffle into the colored chocolate, using a spoon to help cover it completely. Gently tap off excess chocolate and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Immediately decorate with sprinkles, arranging them to resemble ornaments on a Christmas tree, and top with a star sprinkle. Allow to set completely before serving or storing.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Mixing, Baking, Shaping, Dipping, Decorating
- Cuisine: Americaine
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 truffle
- Calories: 170 calories per serving
- Sugar: 18 grams
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 9 grams
- Saturated Fat: 6 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 21 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Protein: 2 grams
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
Keywords: Christmas Tree Cake Truffles