The holiday season just got a whole lot sweeter, and a little bit more nostalgic. This Little Debbie Christmas Tree Dip is the festive treat you didn't know you were missing.
It captures all that magical, creamy, and cakey joy of the beloved snack in a bowl meant for sharing, or, you know, keeping all to yourself.
Why This Dip is a Holiday Must-Make
Let's be real, the classic Christmas Tree Cakes are a seasonal highlight all on their own. Transforming them into a dip, though, feels like unlocking a new level of holiday cheer.
It's incredibly fast to whip up, uses just a handful of simple ingredients, and brings that unmistakable Little Debbie flavor to your party table in a totally new, dippable form.
Ingredients Needed for the Recipe
Here’s everything you’ll need to gather. The beauty is in the simplicity—most of this is probably already in your kitchen.
Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes: The star of the show, they provide the iconic flavor and festive flecks throughout the dip. Vanilla is classic, but chocolate works too.
Cream Cheese: Softened to room temperature, it creates the rich, tangy base that holds everything together beautifully.
Vanilla Extract: A dash of pure vanilla enhances all the other sweet flavors and adds a warm, comforting aroma.
Cool Whip: This thaws to a fluffy lightness, making the dip airy and easy to scoop without being overly heavy.
Milk: Just a bit to help bring the mixture together to a perfectly dippable consistency.
Christmas Sprinkles: Optional, yes, but they add that essential pop of color and a delightful little crunch on top.
The Perfect Dippers for Your Spread
Choosing what to dunk is half the fun. You want items that can hold up to the creamy dip and offer a nice textural contrast.
Think about a mix of sweet and salty, soft and crunchy, for a truly dynamic dessert board.
Salty Pretzels: The classic sweet-and-salty combo is unbeatable. Sticks, rods, or tiny twists all work wonderfully.
Vanilla Wafers or Graham Crackers: These offer a sturdy, neutral base that lets the dip's flavor shine through perfectly.
Fresh Fruit: Crisp apple slices, juicy strawberries, or even pear slices provide a refreshing, lighter option.
Animal Crackers or Shortbread Cookies: They bring a fun, buttery element that pairs so well with the creamy cake flavor.
How to make Little Debbie Christmas Tree Dip?
Make this recipe yours—just save it to your Pinterest board!"
Step 1 - Combine Your Base
Unwrap your Christmas Tree Cakes and place them in a large mixing bowl. Add the softened cream cheese, vanilla extract, and milk right on top.
Using a handheld mixer on medium speed, blend everything until it's mostly smooth and wonderfully creamy. You'll see lovely little bits of cake throughout—that's exactly what you want.
Step 2 - Fold in the Fluff
Now, take your thawed Cool Whip and gently fold it into the cake mixture. Use a spatula and a light hand here.
The goal is to keep that airy, fluffy texture from the whipped topping, creating a dip that's light yet decadent.
Step 3 - Chill and Set
Transfer your dip to a serving bowl, cover it, and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This brief chill time allows the flavors to meld together.
It also firms up the dip just enough to make it perfect for scooping.
Step 4 - Garnish and Serve
Right before you're ready to serve, give the dip a quick stir. Then, shower the top with those cheerful red and green sprinkles.
For the final festive touch, place one whole Christmas Tree Cake right in the center of the dip or on the rim of the bowl.
Clever Variations to Try
This recipe is wonderfully adaptable. Feel free to play around and make it your own with a few simple swaps.
You can even create different versions for various holidays throughout the year.
Chocolate Lovers' Swap: Use the chocolate-flavored Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes instead of the vanilla ones for a deeper, richer flavor.
Year-Round Fun: Try this with other Little Debbie cakes. Zebra Cakes or even Oatmeal Creme Pies would create a fantastic, unique dip.
Texture Choice: For an ultra-smooth dip, pulse the cakes in a food processor first. For more cakey bits, simply chop them roughly with a knife before mixing.
Tips
Let your cream cheese soften on the counter while you gather the other ingredients. This prevents lumps and makes for effortless blending.
Ensure your Cool Whip is fully thawed. Any frozen bits can create icy pockets and make the mixture harder to combine smoothly.
If you're preparing the dip a day ahead, wait to add the sprinkles until just before serving. This keeps them vibrant and stops the colors from bleeding.
For easy serving, set the dip bowl on a larger platter and arrange all your chosen dippers around it in sections. It looks impressive and is so practical.
Storing Your Leftover Dip
If you somehow have leftovers, simply cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or transfer the dip to an airtight container.
It will stay fresh and delicious in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Give it a quick stir before serving again.
I don't recommend freezing this dip, as the texture of the creamy ingredients can separate and become grainy when thawed.
It's so good, though, storage is rarely an issue. This dip has a funny way of disappearing quickly.
Little Debbie Christmas Tree Dip is a festive sweet treat to make this holiday season. This delicious Christmas tree cake dip is fast, easy, and so decadent. Fans of the popular Little Debbie snack cakes will go crazy over this new holiday treat. It combines everything you love about the classic Christmas tree cakes into a rich dessert dip with cream cheese, whipped topping, and holiday cheer.
ingredients
5 Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes (vanilla or chocolate variety)
8oz Cream Cheese (softened)
1tsp Vanilla Extract (pure)
8oz Cool Whip (thawed)
1/3cup Milk (whole or 2%)
Christmas Sprinkles (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
1
Place the cream cheese, vanilla extract, milk, and chopped Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes in a large mixing bowl.
2
Using a handheld mixer, blend the ingredients until mostly smooth. Note: Small lumps from the cake are normal and add texture.
3
Gently fold in the thawed Cool Whip until fully incorporated.
4
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to chill and allow flavors to meld.
5
Before serving, top with Christmas sprinkles and garnish with an intact Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake.
6
Serve cold with your favorite dippers like pretzels, graham crackers, fruit, or cookies.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 8
Amount Per Serving
Calories280kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat14gg22%
Saturated Fat9gg45%
Trans Fat0gg
Cholesterol40mgmg14%
Sodium220mgmg10%
Potassium120mgmg4%
Total Carbohydrate34gg12%
Dietary Fiber0gg0%
Sugars26gg
Protein3gg6%
Calcium 6 mg
Iron 2 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
Chop the cakes finely for a smoother texture, or leave them chunky for more cake bites in every dip.
Use room temperature cream cheese to ensure a lump-free base.
Don’t add sprinkles too early—they’ll bleed color if stored in the dip too long.
Make it chocolate by swapping in chocolate Christmas Tree cakes for a richer flavor.
Keywords:
Little Debbie Christmas Tree Dip, Christmas dessert dip, holiday dip recipe, festive dessert, easy Christmas treat, cream cheese dip