Description
These Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Cookies are festive, soft, and bursting with holiday cheer. Inspired by the classic snack cakes, these cookies combine a tender vanilla cookie base with a luscious vanilla buttercream filling dyed a festive red, then decorated with green sugar sprinkles to mimic a Christmas tree. Perfect for holiday parties or as a delightful seasonal treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Decoration
- Red food gel (for coloring dough or design)
- Green sugar sprinkles
Vanilla Buttercream Filling
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3–5 tbsp heavy whipping cream
- 1–2 drops red food gel
Instructions
- Prepare the Cookie Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder. In a separate large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until combined. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a smooth dough forms. Optionally, tint a small portion of the dough with red food gel to add decorative accents.
- Shape and Bake Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters shaped like Christmas trees to cut out cookies. Place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Sprinkle with green sugar sprinkles. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges begin to turn golden. Allow cookies to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Make Vanilla Buttercream Filling: In a large bowl, beat the unsalted butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the confectioner’s sugar, salt, and vanilla extract while continuing to beat. Add heavy whipping cream one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached—smooth and spreadable. Mix in 1 to 2 drops of red food gel until the buttercream is a festive red hue.
- Assemble the Cookies: Once the cookies are completely cool, spread a generous amount of the red vanilla buttercream onto the flat side of one cookie. Top with another cookie to create a sandwich. Repeat with all cookies.
- Decorate: Optionally, drizzle additional buttercream on top or add extra green sugar sprinkles to enhance the festive look. Chill the assembled cookie cakes for about 30 minutes to set the filling before serving.
Notes
- Make sure the butter and egg are at room temperature for proper mixing.
- You can store assembled cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before adding buttercream to prevent melting.
- The red food gel can be omitted or replaced with other colors to suit your decoration preference.
- If you prefer a softer cookie, reduce baking time slightly.
Keywords: Christmas cookies, sandwich cookies, buttercream filling, holiday desserts, festive treats, vanilla cookies