Oh, the holidays! They just wouldn’t be the same without a little special something to make them sparkle, right? For years, I’ve been on the hunt for that perfect festive treat that’s both absolutely adorable and ridiculously delicious. Then, I stumbled upon these amazing Tree Cake Truffles, and let me tell you, they were an instant hit! I remember making a batch for the first time for our neighborhood Christmas party, and people were practically fighting over the last ones. They look so cute, like little edible Christmas trees, and that spice cake flavor just screams cozy holiday vibes. Honestly, they’re the easiest little wonders to whip up, and they make any celebration feel extra special.
Why You’ll Love These Tree Cake Truffles
Honestly, why wouldn’t you love these little guys? They’re just pure holiday magic:
- Super Easy to Make: Seriously, if you can crumble cake and stir frosting, you can make these! It’s almost foolproof.
- Adorable Festive Look: They look like tiny, perfect Christmas trees. Imagine a whole platter of these – instant wow factor!
- Crowd Pleaser: That spiced cake and sweet frosting combo? It’s a winner every single time. Everyone always asks for the recipe!
- So Versatile: Perfect for parties, edible gifts, or just a special treat for yourself. They fit right into any holiday celebration.
Gather Your Ingredients for Tree Cake Truffles
Alright, let’s get down to business! To make these darling Tree Cake Truffles, you’ll want to have these goodies ready to go. Trust me, using good quality basics makes all the difference. I always grab a good brand of spice cake mix – it just has that perfect cozy flavor. And for the frosting, a good 16 oz tub of cream cheese frosting is your best friend here; don’t skimp on that creamy goodness!
- 1 box spice cake mix, prepared according to package directions and cooled
- 1 can (16 oz) cream cheese frosting
- 1 bag (12 oz) white chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening (optional, but it really helps make the chocolate super smooth for melting!)
- 1 bottle green candy melts, for coating those little trees
- 1 tube brown decorating icing, for the cutest little tree trunks
- 1 jar red and green sprinkles, because no Christmas tree is complete without some sparkle!
Having everything measured out and ready to go makes the whole process a breeze. It’s like setting up your little baking station – makes everything so much more fun!
Essential Equipment for Making Tree Cake Truffles
Alright, before we dive into the fun part, let’s make sure you’ve got the right tools. Having these on hand will make whipping up your Tree Cake Truffles a breeze. You’ll want a couple of baking sheets – these are essential for lining with parchment paper to keep everything from sticking. Speaking of parchment paper, don’t skip it! Mixing bowls are a must, of course, and an electric mixer will make combining the cake and frosting so much easier. And for melting that chocolate and candy melts, a microwave-safe bowl is your best friend.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Tree Cake Truffles
Alright, ready to turn that cake mix into something magical? It’s time to get our hands a little messy and create these adorable Tree Cake Truffles! Don’t worry, the whole process, from start to finish, including that super important chilling time, should only take you about an hour and 45 minutes, but most of that is hands-off waiting, which is my kind of baking! Let’s break it down:
Preparing the Cake Base for Tree Cake Truffles
First things first, take your cooled spice cake that you baked and let it cool completely. Then, just crumble it all up into a big mixing bowl. Seriously, get in there and break it down!
Next, grab that tub of cream cheese frosting and add it right on top of the cake crumbs. Now, here’s where your electric mixer comes in handy! Mix them together until everything is nice and combined. You want it to look almost like a dough – something that holds together when you squeeze it. If it feels too crumbly, you can always add another little spoonful of frosting. Then, just roll that mixture into little 1-inch balls. Think about the size of a ping pong ball, maybe a little bigger. Pop these little guys onto your parchment-lined baking sheet. This is the start of our festive trees!
Chilling and Coating Your Tree Cake Truffles
Okay, this next step is CRUCIAL for easy coating: we need to get these cake balls nice and firm. So, pop that baking sheet into the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Trust me, this makes dipping them so, so much easier and prevents them from falling apart in the chocolate! For more holiday inspiration, check out some other festive Christmas recipes.
While they’re chilling, let’s get our white chocolate ready. Put your white chocolate chips and that optional tablespoon of vegetable shortening into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring really well after each one. Keep going until it’s all smooth and melty. Once your cake balls are firm, dip each one into the melted white chocolate, make sure they’re totally covered, and place them back on your parchment paper.
Now for the green! Melt your green candy melts the same way you did the white chocolate. Once they’re smooth, carefully dip your white chocolate-coated balls into the green candy melts. You might need to work a little quickly, as candy melts can seize up if they cool too much. If that happens, just pop it back in the microwave for a few seconds. Make sure each one is coated in that pretty green!
Decorating Your Festive Tree Cake Truffles
This is where the magic really happens and they start looking like proper little trees! Before the green candy coating fully sets, grab your tube of brown decorating icing. Gently draw a little circle or a short line at the very bottom of each truffle – that’s going to be the tree trunk.
And now for the bling! Immediately after you add the brown icing, sprinkle on those festive red and green sprinkles. They’ll stick right to the wet icing and the candy melts. You can go all out or just add a few – whatever makes your tree look happy! Once they’re decorated, just let them sit out at room temperature to fully set up. Resist the urge to poke them too soon!
This whole process takes around 15 minutes of active cooking and then about an hour of chilling and setting. Totally worth it, I promise!
Tips for Perfect Tree Cake Truffles Every Time
Okay, so you want those tree cake truffles to look absolutely Pinterest-perfect? I’ve definitely learned a few tricks along the way! One thing that always trips people up is melting chocolate. My go-to is to use a microwave-safe bowl and melt it in short bursts – like 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between. This way, you avoid burning it, which is the absolute worst! If your chocolate seems a little too thick after melting, that tiny bit of vegetable shortening really works wonders to make it silkier and easier to coat the cake balls evenly. Also, remember that chilling the cake balls isn’t just a suggestion; it’s the secret sauce to getting a nice, smooth coating without the cake mixing into your chocolate. For more awesome homemade goodness, definitely check out these other recipes!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Tree Cake Truffles
Let’s chat about jazzing up these ingredients a bit! So, for the spice cake mix, you can totally switch it up. A yellow or even a devil’s food cake mix would work, but spice just gives it that extra cozy holiday hug, you know? The cream cheese frosting is key for that slight tang, but if you can’t find it, a good buttercream frosting will do in a pinch. And that little bit of shortening for melting the chocolate? It’s optional, but trust me, it makes the chocolate so much smoother and easier to work with for those perfect coatings!
Storage and Reheating Instructions
The best way to keep your adorable Tree Cake Truffles tasting fresh is to store them in an airtight container. I usually pop mine in the fridge, especially if it’s warm out, and they’ll stay yummy for about a week. They don’t really need reheating, just let them sit out for a few minutes before you want to enjoy them so they aren’t rock solid!
Frequently Asked Questions About Tree Cake Truffles
Got questions about these cute little trees? I’ve got answers!
Can I use a different cake mix for these Tree Cake Truffles?
You bet! While the spice cake mix gives these Tree Cake Truffles their signature cozy holiday flavor, feel free to experiment. Yellow cake mix or even devil’s food cake mix would be delicious too. Just make sure to prepare it according to the package directions and let it cool completely before crumbling.
What’s the secret to a smooth chocolate coating?
Oh, this is a good one! Melting chocolate can be tricky. My best tip is to use a microwave-safe bowl and melt it in short bursts, like 30 seconds at a time, stirring really well in between. This prevents it from burning. Adding that tiny bit of vegetable shortening (just a tablespoon!) also makes a HUGE difference in making the chocolate super smooth and easy to dip. And, of course, make sure those cake balls are well-chilled before you dip them!
Can I make these Tree Cake Truffles ahead of time?
Yes, absolutely! They are perfect for making ahead. You can actually make the cake ball mixture and roll them into balls a day or two in advance and keep them in an airtight container in the fridge. I find it’s easiest to coat them the day before you plan to serve them, so the coating has plenty of time to set. For more fun holiday ideas, check out these party appetizers!
My candy melts are getting thick. What should I do?
This happens! Candy melts can seize up as they cool. Don’t panic! Just pop the bowl back into the microwave for about 10-20 seconds on a lower power setting and stir gently. It should smooth out again. You might need to do this a couple of times as you’re dipping.
Share Your Tree Cake Truffles Creations!
I just LOVE seeing what you all make! If you whip up a batch of these delightful Tree Cake Truffles, please drop a comment below and tell me how they turned out. Did your family love them? Have any fun decorating ideas? I’d also be thrilled if you shared photos on social media and tagged me! Seeing your creations makes my day!
Tree Cake Truffles
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Crumble the cooled spice cake into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the cream cheese frosting to the cake crumbs. Mix with an electric mixer until well combined and the mixture holds together.
- Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Freeze the cake balls for at least 30 minutes to firm them up.
- Melt the white chocolate chips with vegetable shortening (if using) in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth.
- Dip each frozen cake ball into the melted white chocolate, ensuring it is fully coated. Return to the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Melt the green candy melts according to package directions. Dip the white chocolate-coated cake balls into the green candy melts to coat them. You may need to re-melt the candy melts if they start to harden.
- While the green coating is still wet, use the brown decorating icing to draw a small circle at the bottom of each truffle for the tree trunk. Immediately sprinkle with red and green sprinkles.
- Allow the truffles to set completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator.