Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Milkshake
Fun, festive, and totally extra (in the best way possible), this Little Debbie Christmas tree cake milkshake might just be the most impressive dessert-come-drink you’ll make this holiday season!
Since sharing my Little Debbie cheesecake and Little Debbie truffles, I couldn’t stop thinking about how wonderfully nostalgic the Christmas tree cakes are, and so I made it my mission to bring you another idea to try.
It’s made with the iconic snack cakes we all grew up loving, blended with vanilla ice cream for that dreamy, over-the-top holiday treat. The sprinkle-rimmed glass, the swirl of whipped cream, the mini Christmas Tree perched on top… it’s festive perfection that tastes like childhood.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
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It’s Christmas nostalgia in a glass. Every sip tastes like the Little Debbie cakes. Sweet, creamy, and full of holiday magic.
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So easy, it’s almost foolproof. No baking, no fuss. Just blend, pour, and decorate. Perfect for when you want something festive without turning on the oven.
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It doubles as a holiday activity. Kids love helping, and it’s a fun way to get everyone in the kitchen without a full-blown cookie chaos situation.
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Picture-perfect for parties. Between the sprinkle rim and that little cake on top, this one’s made for photos.
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Customizable and creative. Switch up the cakes, ice cream flavor, or toppings to fit any holiday mood.
Ingredients
You’ll find the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!
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Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes – obviously! You’ll blend a couple right into the shake and use an extra one for that over-the-top garnish.
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Vanilla ice cream – creamy, dreamy, and the perfect base for blending those cakes.
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Milk – helps the shake blend smoothly (add more or less depending on how thick you like it).
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Store-bought frosting – for coating the glass rim — it’s festive and delicious.
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Red and green sprinkles – because no Christmas treat is complete without sparkle.
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Cool Whip – piped on top for that classic milkshake swirl. Bonus points if you use a star tip for the full diner-style look.
How To Make The Little Debbie Christmas Tree Milkshake
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Start with the frosted rim magic. Use a butter knife to spread a layer of frosting around the rim of your glass — this is where the sprinkles will stick, so don’t be shy.
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Dip the frosted rim into a plate of sprinkles until it’s fully coated and looking merry and bright.
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In a blender, add the ice cream, milk, and Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes. (Yes, whole snack cakes — we’re going big here.)
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Blend until smooth and creamy. If it’s too thick, splash in a little more milk; if it’s too thin, toss in another scoop of ice cream.
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Pour into your sprinkle-rimmed glass and top with a generous swirl of whipped topping, extra sprinkles, and — because we’re not doing anything halfway — a Christmas Tree Cake right on top.
Recipe Notes
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Adjust the thickness: Add more milk if you want a sippable shake, or more ice cream for a thick, spoonable version.
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Use cold ingredients: The colder your milk and ice cream, the thicker and creamier your shake will be.
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Get creative with the rim: No frosting? Try using vanilla icing or even marshmallow fluff to hold the sprinkles.
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Make it ahead: Blend the shake and keep it in the freezer for 20–30 minutes before serving if you’re prepping for a crowd.
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Double the batch: This recipe makes one large or two small shakes — but it’s the holidays, so you might as well go big. It’s very easily scalable.
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Serve immediately: These are best enjoyed right away while the shake is thick and the frosting rim is still picture-perfect.
Substitutions & Variations
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Flavor upgrade: Use strawberry or peppermint ice cream for an extra festive flavor boost.
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Boozy version: Adults only! Add a splash of Baileys, peppermint schnapps, or vanilla vodka for a holiday party shake.
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Homemade touch: Use whipped cream from scratch instead of Cool Whip if you want to level it up.
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Topping fun: Add a drizzle of caramel or white chocolate sauce before topping with whipped cream for bakery-style vibes.
Serving Ideas
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Christmas movie night treat: Serve these milkshakes while watching your favorite holiday films.
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Holiday party showstopper: Make mini versions in small glasses or mason jars and top each with a mini Christmas Tree Cake for the cutest party dessert ever.
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Kids’ Christmas sleepover: A fun (and slightly messy) treat the kids can help decorate.
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Festive brunch twist: Serve these as dessert after a cozy Christmas breakfast or brunch.
Get the Kids Involved
This recipe is perfect for little helpers of all ages. Kids love that it’s colorful, messy (in the best way), and full of sprinkles. Here’s how everyone can join in:
- Toddlers (2–3 years):
Let them dip the rim of the glass in sprinkles (with your help!) and add a few extra on top.
- Preschoolers (4–6 years):
They can help spread frosting on the glass rims, pour in the milk, and press the blender button (with supervision, of course). They’ll love watching everything swirl together into a milkshake.
- Big kids (7+ years):
Let them measure ingredients, blend the shake, and pipe on the whipped cream like little baristas. They can even help garnish each milkshake with a cake and sprinkles for that final festive touch.
Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Milkshake
Ingredients
- 2 Christmas Tree Cakes plus an extra for topping the shake
- 3 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 1/2 cup milk
- Store bought frosting for the rim
- Red and green sprinkles for the rim
- 1 cup Cool whip in a piping bag with a star tip
Instructions
- Start with the frosted rim magic. Use a butter knife to spread a layer of frosting around the rim of your glass — this is where the sprinkles will stick, so don’t be shy.
- Dip the frosted rim into a plate of sprinkles until it’s fully coated and looking merry and bright.
- In a blender, add the ice cream, milk, and Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes. (Yes, whole snack cakes — we’re going big here.)
- Blend until smooth and creamy. If it’s too thick, splash in a little more milk; if it’s too thin, toss in another scoop of ice cream.
- Pour into your sprinkle-rimmed glass and top with a generous swirl of whipped topping, extra sprinkles, and — because we’re not doing anything halfway — a Christmas Tree Cake right on top.
These Little Debbie milkshakes are just so fun to make, and I hope you’ll love giving them a try this festive season! I’d love to see any pictures you take, so do tag me on Instagram @slimmingviolet. I can’t wait to see them!
