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Little Debbie Christmas tree trifle is super adorable and tastes amazing! It’s filled with sweet strawberries, creamy cream cheese, whipped topping flavored fluff, and chunks of the iconic Little Debbie Christmas trees.
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Nostalgic: Biting into one of these Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes sends me right back to my childhood. The spongy cake and creamy filling were all the rage during the holiday season at school.
- Easy to Make: One of the reasons I love making trifles is how easy they are to put together. Here are a few of my favorite trifle recipes: chocolate trifle, English trifle, and strawberry trifle.
- Beautiful Presentation: I love making trifles. They are the ultimate holiday dessert. They are so easy to make but make the most beautiful presentation.
Ingredients for Christmas Tree Cake Trifle
I have been loving finding new ways to use these Christmas tree cakes. I just made this Little Debbie Christmas tree cake dip with these trees and thought a trifle would be so cute. For exact measurements of the ingredients, scroll to the bottom of the post.
- Cream Cheese: Adds a tangy, smooth flavor and texture to the fluff filling.
- Powdered Sugar Provides sweetness for the creamy fluff filling.
- Extracts: Adding the Almond Extract and Vanilla Extract gives the trifle a sweet, yummy flavor that complements the Little Debbie cakes.
- Whipped Topping: Combined with the cream cheese, makes a delicious fluff filling.
- Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes: The star of the show! This cute little treat adds the cutest festive touch and yummy flavor to this dish.
- Fresh Strawberries: The sweet fruit that goes so well with the warm vanilla cake and creamy fluffy filling.
- Coarse green sanding sugar: Optional for garnish.
How to make Little Debbie Christmas Tree Trifle
These little Debbie Christmas cakes are a family favorite. My kids always beg for them when the holidays roll around. You will love how simple and easy this dessert is to put together. Your kids can help!
- Mix: Add the cream cheese, powdered sugar, almond, and vanilla extracts to a large bowl and beat with a hand mixer until smooth, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
- Fold: Fold in the whipped topping until smooth.
- Cut: Chop the tree cakes into bite-sized pieces, about eight pieces per cake.
- First Layer: Layer ½ of the cake pieces in the bottom of a large trifle dish.
- Second Layer: Layer ½ of the sliced strawberries over the tops of the cakes.
- Third Layer: Spread ½ of the cream mixture over the top of the strawberries and then smooth with an offset spatula.
- Continue Layers: Repeat the layers with the remaining cakes and strawberries, then finish by smoothing the remaining cream over the top. If desired, top with additional tree cakes and green sanding sugar. Serve within 24 hours of assembling.
Christmas Tree Trifle Tips and Variations
- Christmas Tree Cakes: If you have a smaller trifle dish, or if you choose to use a serving bowl instead, there is a chance you will use less cakes than 12. You will need enough Christmas tree cakes to fill the bottom of your chosen serving dish and add a layer in the center of the trifle.
- Fluffier Layers: If you would like fluffier cream layers, I recommend using a 16-ounce container instead of an 8-ounce of whipped topping.
- Whipped Cream: To use real whipped cream instead of whipped topping, whip 1 1/2 cups of cold heavy whipping cream and three tablespoons of powdered sugar to medium-stiff peaks. Use as directed in the recipe card.
- Snack Cake Theme: You can also use this recipe with other snack cakes! However, the amounts needed will vary depending on the type of cakes you choose. Just make sure you have enough to fully cover the bottom of the trifle dish and create a second layer of cut-up cakes.
- Berries: Swap out the strawberries for raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries!
Storing Leftover Trifle
This trifle is best served within 24 hours of assembly. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More Christmas Desserts to Try
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Little Debbie Christmas Tree Trifle
Little Debbie Christmas tree trifle is super adorable and tastes amazing! It's filled with sweet strawberries, creamy cream cheese, and whipped topping flavored fluff, with chunks of the iconic Little Debbie Christmas trees.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces whipped topping, thawed
- 12 Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes, 2 ½ boxes
- 1 ½ pounds strawberries washed, hulled, and sliced
- coarse green sanding sugar, if desired
Instructions
- Add the cream cheese, powdered sugar, almond, and vanilla to a large bowl and beat with a handmixer until smooth, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
- Fold in the whipped topping until smooth.
- Chop the tree cakes into bite-sized pieces, about 8 pieces per cake, and layer ½ of them (6 cakes) in the bottom of a large trifle dish.
- Layer ½ of the sliced strawberries over the tops of the cakes, followed by ½ of the cream mixture. Smooth with an offset spatula.
- Repeat the layers with the remaining cakes and strawberries, finishing it by smoothing the remaining cream over the top.
- Top with additional tree cakes and green sprinkles, if desired. Serve within 24 hours of assembling.
Nutrition
Calories: 433kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 4gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 196mgPotassium: 182mgFiber: 1gSugar: 40gVitamin A: 330IUVitamin C: 40mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!
