Name: Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 16 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ¾ cup butter, room temperature; 1 ½ cups granulated sugar; ½ cup vegetable oil; 4 large eggs; 3 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 ¼ cups whole milk; 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ cup butter, room temperature; 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 3 cups powdered sugar; 10 Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes; 2 tablespoons milk; Red gel food coloring, to desired color; Green sanding sugar, for decorating

There’s something truly magical about turning simple cupcakes into festive delights that bring a smile to everyone’s face. This Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe hits that sweet spot by combining a classic buttery cake with luscious cream cheese frosting and that nostalgic crunch of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes. Trust me, once you try these, they’ll become a holiday favorite in your kitchen too.

A light yellow cupcake sits in a white paper liner on a white marbled surface covered with a white cloth that has red, green, and silver dots. The cupcake has one thick layer of smooth, pale cream-colored frosting piped in soft, high swirls on top. Thin red syrup lines are drizzled vertically over the frosting, and small green sugar sprinkles are scattered across the top. Other similar cupcakes are softly visible in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe is pure holiday joy in a bite. I've made these for years, and they never fail to impress friends and family with their look and taste. Plus, they’re surprisingly easy to whip up with a few smart shortcuts.

Classic Flavor with a Twist: The cream cheese frosting mixed with crumbled Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes adds a depth of flavor that’s totally unique and irresistibly creamy.
Festive Presentation: These cupcakes aren’t just dessert — they’re a centerpiece with their tall, piping-bag swirls crowned by green sanding sugar and red accents that look just like Christmas trees.
Perfect for Parties: You can make a big batch and they hold up well in the fridge, making them perfect for holiday gatherings or school parties.
Fun and Easy to Customize: Whether you want to jazz them up with extra sprinkles, or adjust the flavor, this recipe gives you a great canvas for creativity.

The image shows a close-up of a yellow vanilla cupcake with soft and fluffy texture at the bottom layer. On top, there is a large swirl of light pink creamy frosting with a smooth and airy texture. The frosting is decorated with thin drizzles of bright red syrup and small green specks sprinkled lightly over it. The cupcake is placed in a white paper liner on a silver serving tray with more similar cupcakes blurred in the background, all sitting on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The ingredients in this recipe work together to create that soft, buttery cupcake base with a rich, tangy frosting, accented by the nostalgic crunch of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes smashed in for texture. I always recommend using room temperature butter and cream cheese to get the smoothest frosting possible.

Flat lay of a small mound of pale yellow room-temperature butter, two heaping white ceramic bowls—one filled with fine white granulated sugar, the other with light beige all-purpose flour, four large brown eggs with clean shells arranged symmetrically, a small white bowl of creamy whole milk, a small white bowl with clear vegetable oil, a small white bowl containing smooth cream cheese, a small white bowl of powdered sugar piled high, a neat stack of ten fresh Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes without packaging, a small white bowl filled with bright green sanding sugar, and a small white bowl holding vivid red gel food coloring, all ingredients fresh and natural, perfectly balanced and symmetrical, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Butter: Provides richness and moisture to the cupcakes and creaminess to the frosting; room temp makes mixing easier.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps to create a tender crumb in the cupcakes.
Vegetable Oil: Keeps cupcakes moist and tender, preventing dryness that sometimes happens with butter alone.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor with warm, sweet notes.
Eggs: Give structure and help trap air for rise and fluffiness.
Whole Milk: Adds moisture and softness to the cupcake batter.
All-Purpose Flour: The foundation for the cupcake crumb; measure carefully for best results.
Baking Powder: Leavens the cupcakes so they rise light and fluffy.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the flavors in both cake and frosting.
Cream Cheese: The secret to wonderfully tangy and luscious frosting; soften it well before mixing.
Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting for easy piping and smooth texture.
Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes: Adds unique flavor and texture to the frosting for that festive holiday twist.
Green Sanding Sugar: Gives the cupcakes a sparkling, decorative finish that looks like real Christmas tree needles.
Milk & Red Gel Food Coloring: Used to tint a portion of the frosting red for decorating accents and drizzles.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of my favorite things about this Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe is how easy it is to customize. I often tweak the decorations based on who I'm baking for, which makes every batch feel fresh and fun.

Variation: Last year, I swapped out the green sanding sugar for crushed peppermint candies and it was a hit — that minty crunch took these cupcakes over the top!
Dietary Modification: For a lighter option, you can reduce the butter slightly and substitute part of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat pastry flour for a subtle nutty flavor.
Difficulty Level: Even if you’re new to frosting with a piping bag, just use a simple large round tip — it’s forgiving and still looks great.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Step 1: Creaming the Butter and Sugar

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining two cupcake pans with paper liners. Now, grab your stand mixer (or hand mixer) and beat the room temperature butter with the granulated sugar until it’s light, creamy, and well combined. This usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes on medium speed. The key here is a fluffy base, so don’t rush this step or your cupcakes might turn out dense.

Step 2: Mixing in the Wet Ingredients

Once your butter and sugar are beautifully creamed, add in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then, pour in the vegetable oil and vanilla extract, mixing everything until it’s completely combined. When you add the milk, the batter might look a bit curdled—that's normal, so don’t worry. Just give it a gentle mix to bring it all together.

Step 3: Adding the Dry Ingredients

Next, add the flour, baking powder, and salt to your wet ingredients. Start mixing on low speed to avoid a flour cloud! Once the dry ingredients are mostly incorporated, increase the speed to medium and beat until the batter is smooth. Keep an eye on the batter’s consistency—it should be thick yet pourable.

Step 4: Baking the Cupcakes

Fill each cupcake liner about two-thirds full with the batter. Bake in the preheated oven for 14 to 16 minutes, or until you notice the edges turning a light golden brown. Be careful not to overbake; a toothpick inserted should come out with a few moist crumbs, but not wet batter. Once done, transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely before moving on to frosting.

Step 5: Making the Cream Cheese Frosting

While the cupcakes cool, make your frosting by beating the butter, cream cheese, and salt together until perfectly smooth and creamy. Then add vanilla extract and powdered sugar gradually, mixing on low speed to avoid a sugar dust storm. If your frosting seems too soft, pop it in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm up before piping.

Step 6: Incorporating the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes

This is the fun part! Crumble the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes in a food processor until they’re finely crushed—don’t hesitate to pulse it until it basically becomes a creamy paste. If you don’t have a processor, a hand mixer works, but expect some lumps. Stir this cake-crumb mixture into the frosting using a paddle attachment if you have one; it adds flavor and a bit of texture to your frosting.

Step 7: Decorating the Cupcakes

Reserve about half a cup of frosting, add milk and red gel food coloring to this small portion, and mix well for piping red drizzle later on. Fill a piping bag fitted with a large star or round tip with the remaining frosting, and pipe tall swirls on each cupcake to resemble Christmas trees. Use a small cut in your red frosting piping bag’s tip to drizzle over the cupcakes like decorations. Finish off by sprinkling green sanding sugar all over for that snowy, sparkly effect.

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve learned that using room temperature ingredients is non-negotiable for this recipe. It makes every step smoother, especially when creating that silky cream cheese frosting. Also, don’t skimp on pulsing the Christmas Tree Cakes thoroughly — it transforms the frosting into something uniquely luscious and soft. Lastly, be gentle when piping the frosting—if your frosting is a bit too thick, a quick warm water rinse on the piping tip can help it flow better without losing height in your swirls.

Room Temperature Matters: Soft butter and cream cheese mix easier for a smooth, lump-free frosting every time.
Crumble Thoroughly: Pulverize the Little Debbie cakes into nearly creamy consistency for the best frosting texture.
Gentle Piping: Use a steady hand and a large tip to create tall, sturdy frosting swirls that don't fall apart.
Watch Baking Time: Overbaking the cupcakes dries them out; always test with a toothpick near the end.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Christmas Tree Cupcakes - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I’m a huge fan of keeping it simple yet festive, so I always go for the green sanding sugar to mimic pine needles and a drizzle of red frosting to pop against the green. Sometimes I add a tiny edible star candy on top or edible glitter for shimmer. These little touches make the cupcakes look like they were made by Santa’s own elves!

Side Dishes

These cupcakes are perfect alongside some classic holiday beverages like hot cocoa or spiced cider. If you’re hosting a party, pairing them with a cheese and charcuterie board helps balance the sweet flavors. I’ve also found that roasted chestnuts or spiced nuts make a lovely crunchy side that complements the soft cupcakes wonderfully.

Creative Ways to Present

One Christmas, I arranged these cupcakes on a large tiered tray shaped like a Christmas tree—placing a star-shaped cookie on top—and people absolutely adored it! Another time, I wrapped each cupcake in small clear cellophane bags tied with red ribbons for gifting neighbors. Both ideas elevated the festive feel and made serving super easy.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Because of the cream cheese in the frosting, I keep these cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge. They stay fresh and tasty for up to 5 to 7 days — often not long enough to lose any! When you're ready to serve, just let them sit out at room temperature for about 20 minutes to take the chill off and soften that frosting just right.

Freezing

If you want to make a big batch ahead, you can freeze the unfrosted cupcakes in a single layer wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then a freezer bag. They freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. When you’re ready, thaw fully at room temperature before frosting and decorating.

Reheating

Since these are best served fresh, I usually don’t recommend reheating once frosted. But if you do, allow the cupcakes to sit at room temperature after removing from the fridge. If frozen, thaw completely before frosting. For unfrosted cupcakes, a few seconds at low power in the microwave can revive softness without drying them out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make these cupcakes ahead of time?

Yes! You can bake the cupcakes a day or two ahead and store them in an airtight container. It’s best to frost them on the day you plan to serve for the freshest taste and best texture.

What’s the secret to smooth cream cheese frosting?

Using room temperature cream cheese and butter is key. Beat them slowly at first and make sure your powdered sugar is fully incorporated to avoid lumps. If the frosting feels too soft, chill it briefly before piping.

Can I use other Little Debbie cakes instead of Christmas Tree Cakes?

Absolutely! Other Little Debbie cakes like Swiss Roll or Fudge Round can be crumbled into the frosting for a different but delicious twist. Just keep in mind the flavors will change slightly.

Why does the batter sometimes look curdled after adding milk?

This is completely normal! The curdling happens because of the temperature and the interaction between the liquids and fats. Just keep mixing gently and the batter will come together fine once the flour is added.

Final Thoughts

I honestly look forward to baking these Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe every holiday season — not just because they taste incredible, but because they bring so much joy to the table. They combine the nostalgia of favorite Little Debbie treats with the homemade warmth of classic cupcakes, wrapped up in festive, twinkling green frosting. You’ll love making them almost as much as eating them, and once you do, I’m sure they’ll become your go-to holiday dessert for years to come!