Christmas Tree Cake Dirt Cups

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Christmas Tree Cake Dirt Cups are a fun and festive no bake dessert that's perfect for holiday parties and Christmas celebrations.

These easy individual desserts are made with layers of creamy vanilla pudding, fluffy Cool Whip and crushed Golden Oreos, all topped with a Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake.

A sprinkle of red and green sanding sugar adds the perfect finishing touch to these adorable Christmas treats.

Ready in just 15 minutes with only six ingredients, these Christmas dirt cups are an easy holiday dessert that both kids and adults will love!

Why This Recipe is a Winner!

• No Baking Required: These festive dessert cups come together without ever turning on the oven.
• Ready in 15 Minutes: Perfect for busy holiday schedules when you need a quick and easy Christmas dessert.
• Only 6 Ingredients: A handful of simple store-bought ingredients makes this recipe incredibly easy to prepare.
• Perfect Individual Servings: No slicing or scooping required! Everyone gets their own adorable Christmas dessert cup.
• Kid-Friendly: Kids will love helping crush the cookies, layer the pudding and decorate the cups.
• Perfect for Holiday Parties: These cute Christmas dirt cups are guaranteed to stand out on any holiday dessert table.
• Great for Making Ahead: Prepare the pudding and cookie layers in advance, then add the decorations and Christmas Tree Cakes before serving.

Ingredients You'll Need

• Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes: 8 snack cakes to give these dessert cups a fun and festive Christmas topping.
• Golden Oreos: 30 cookies, crushed into crumbs to add a sweet, crunchy layer between the pudding.
• Cool Whip: 12 ounces, thawed, to make the pudding mixture light, fluffy and creamy.
• Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix: One 3.3-ounce box to create the sweet and creamy base for these dessert cups.
• Milk: 2 cups of cold milk to prepare the instant pudding. Whole or 2% milk works best.
• Red and Green Sanding Sugar: Adds a festive pop of colour and a little sparkle to these Christmas treats.

Printable Recipe Card with a Full List of Ingredients and Instructions is Located at the Bottom of the Post.

Be sure to read through the entire post so that you don't miss out on any important tips and tricks!

Step By Step Instructions

 STEP 1: 

I pulsed Golden Oreos in a food processor until they were crumbs.

 STEP 2: 

I whisked together vanilla pudding mix and milk in a mixing bowl until well combined.

I added Cool Whip and continued whisking.

 STEP 3: 

I took half of the pudding mixture and divided it evenly between 8 small cups.

I divided the Oreo crumbs evenly between the cups.

 STEP 4: 

I topped the Oreo crumbs with the remaining pudding and then sprinkled red and green sugar on top.

 STEP 5: 

I topped each pudding cup with a Little Debbie Christmas tree cake.

Every spoonful of these Christmas Tree Cake Dirt Cups is a delicious combination of light and fluffy vanilla pudding, sweet Golden Oreo crumbs and soft, creamy Christmas Tree Cakes.

With their fun layers of flavour and texture, these festive little desserts are guaranteed to disappear fast at any holiday gathering!

If you are looking for a fun and easy no bake treat for the holidays, then you need to try these Christmas Tree Cake Dirt Cups!

• Use Instant Pudding: Make sure you're using instant vanilla pudding mix, not cook-and-serve pudding, so the filling thickens properly without heating.
• Use Cold Milk: Cold milk helps the instant pudding set quickly and gives the filling a smooth, creamy texture.
• Thaw the Cool Whip: Make sure your Cool Whip is completely thawed before mixing it into the pudding to avoid lumps.
• Crush the Oreos Finely: A food processor makes quick work of crushing the Golden Oreos into fine crumbs. You can also place them in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
• Use Clear Dessert Cups: Clear plastic cups or small glass dessert dishes are perfect for showing off the pretty layers of pudding and cookie crumbs.
• Chill Before Serving: Although these dirt cups can be served immediately, refrigerating them for 30 minutes helps the pudding firm up and allows the flavours to come together.
• Add the Cakes Last: Wait until just before serving to add the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes so they stay soft and fresh without getting soggy.
• Decorate Just Before Serving: Add the red and green sanding sugar right before serving to keep the colours bright and prevent them from bleeding into the pudding.
• Adjust the Serving Size: Depending on the size of your dessert cups, you can make 6 larger servings or 8 smaller portions.

Substitutions and Variations

• Chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes: Swap the vanilla Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes for the chocolate version for a richer chocolatey twist on these festive dessert cups.
• Chocolate Pudding: Replace the vanilla pudding with instant chocolate pudding for a delicious chocolate Christmas dirt cup variation.
• White Chocolate Pudding: Use instant white chocolate pudding mix for an extra rich and creamy vanilla-flavoured dessert.
• Regular Oreos: Swap the Golden Oreos for classic chocolate Oreos to create a more traditional dirt cup appearance.
• Different Cookies: Try crushed vanilla wafers, shortbread cookies or graham crackers instead of Golden Oreos for a different flavour and texture.
• Add Cream Cheese: Beat 4 ounces of softened cream cheese into the prepared pudding before folding in the Cool Whip for a thicker, cheesecake-style filling.
• Festive Sprinkles: Replace the red and green sanding sugar with Christmas-themed sprinkles, holiday nonpareils or edible glitter.
• Make a Christmas Trifle: Instead of individual cups, layer the pudding mixture, Golden Oreo crumbs and chopped Christmas Tree Cakes in a large glass trifle bowl for a shareable holiday dessert.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make Christmas Tree Cake Dirt Cups ahead of time?

• Yes! You can prepare the pudding and Golden Oreo layers up to 24 hours in advance and store the cups covered in the refrigerator. Add the sanding sugar and Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes just before serving for the best appearance and texture.

How should I store leftover Christmas Tree Cake Dirt Cups?

• Store leftovers covered with plastic wrap or in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The Oreo crumbs will soften over time, but the dessert will still taste delicious.

Can I freeze Christmas Tree Cake Dirt Cups?

• Freezing is not recommended because the pudding and Cool Whip mixture may separate or become watery when thawed. These dessert cups are best enjoyed fresh or refrigerated.

Do I need to refrigerate these dirt cups before serving?

• No! These Christmas dirt cups can be served immediately after assembling. However, chilling them for 30 minutes will help the pudding mixture firm up slightly.

Can I make these Christmas dirt cups without a food processor?

• Yes! Place the Golden Oreos in a large zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin or the bottom of a heavy glass until they resemble fine crumbs.

Christmas Tree Cake Dirt Cups

Yield: Serves 6-8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Christmas Tree Cake Dirt Cups are a fun and festive no bake holiday dessert made with layers of creamy vanilla pudding, fluffy Cool Whip and crushed Golden Oreos, all topped with Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes and colourful Christmas sprinkles.

These easy individual Christmas desserts are ready in just 15 minutes and perfect for holiday parties and family gatherings!

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Ingredients

• 8 Christmas Tree Cakes
• 30 Golden Oreos
• 12 ounces cool whip
• 1 (3.3 oz.) box of vanilla pudding
• 2 cups milk
• Red & green sanding sugar

Instructions

1. Place the cookies in a food processor and pulse to crumbs.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together pudding mix and milk, until well combined.
3. Add the cool whip, and whisk until well combined.
4. Divide about half of the pudding mix between the cups, filling them just under halfway.
5. Add a layer of oreo crumbs.
6. Fill the cups with the remaining pudding mixture.
7. Sprinkle a pinch of red and green sanding sugar over each cup.
8. Top each cup with a Christmas Tree Cake.
9. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 945Total Fat: 40gSaturated Fat: 10gUnsaturated Fat: 30gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 691mgCarbohydrates: 139gFiber: 0gSugar: 75gProtein: 8g

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