Homemade Chocolate Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes
Total Time:1 hour
Ingredients
1 box chocolate cake mix (15.25 ounces)
3 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla extract
2 cups white chocolate melting wafers
1 tablespoon coconut oil
Green sanding sugar for decoration
Red decorating icing for the garlands
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a large rimmed baking sheet. Prepare the chocolate cake mix according to the box instructions using the eggs, vegetable oil, and water. Pour the batter onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it into a thin, even layer. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan before moving to the next step.
Once the cake is fully cooled, use a tree shaped cookie cutter to cut out 24 individual trees. Work carefully to get the shapes as close together as possible to minimize waste. If the cake feels too soft, you can place the pan in the freezer for 20 minutes to firm it up, which makes cutting much easier. Carefully lift the trees out of the pan and set them aside on a piece of parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until it is light and fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and alcohol-free vanilla extract. Continue beating on medium high speed until the frosting is smooth and holds its shape. If the frosting is too stiff, you can add a teaspoon of milk or water to reach the desired consistency.
Flip 12 of the cake trees upside down. Spread a generous layer of the chocolate filling onto the flat side of each tree. Place the remaining 12 cake trees on top, pressing down gently to create a sandwich. Use a small knife or spatula to smooth any frosting that squeezes out of the sides. Place the assembled sandwiches in the freezer for 30 minutes to ensure they stay together during the coating process.
Melt the white chocolate wafers and coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals, stirring in between until smooth. Set a chilled cake sandwich on a fork and dip it into the melted chocolate, or pour the chocolate over the top until fully covered. Tap off the excess. While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle with green sanding sugar. Once the coating has set, use the red icing to pipe festive garlands across the trees.
