Gf + Df Little Debbie Christmas Trees

Lets talk Cake Mix. My go to- every single time is the Gluten Free Pillsbury cake mixes. They never fail me. The newest version of the yellow cake mix is gluten AND dairy free. Just be sure to check the packaging if you have a dairy allergy or sensitivity. The cake was perfect for this recipe. Sturdy yet also so soft and fluffy. I opted for a cake mix to try to simplify this recipe as there are a number of steps.

I made mine using these tree silicone cake molds. I did a lot of researching and it seems most use a cookie cutter and sheet pan. SO I wanted to offer up some guidance on how to go about that. Since I did not test it out myself- I cant give exact baking time and your final quantity. But I feel confident it should all work out well for you! :)

IF you want to use the cookie cutter method and use the marshmallow cream frosting you’ll need two small quarter sheet pans! Simply Line them with parchment and spray them with nonstick spray. Then divide the batter between the two. I’m not sure the exact baking time but you will know the cake is done when its firm to touch and lightly golden. Let it cool completely and then use a tree cookie cutter to cut your shapes.

If you use a silicone pan like I did- you’ll need to trim the excess off to make the tress even on both sides and slice them once down the center so that the marshmallow cream frosting can be added.

As for the white chocolate- You can use regular or dairy free. Not all brands of dairy free white chocolate are equal and I have not tested them all out. The brand I recommend is the Walmart Brand White Dairy/Allergen Free Chocolate Chips. You cant beat the price either!

Another thing to keep in mind with white chocolate is that its sensitive to heat. I talk more about this in the class. Just be sure to closely follow my directions and to avoid heating it for more than 15 second increments in the microwave. I also found that melting, mixing it up works best using a whisk!

For the red frosting. I took another shortcut! I purchased pre-made red frosting. Either the Gel Writing tubes will work or a pouch! Whatever you can find. If the tip is too large to make a small decorative line you can remedy this by adding it to a small baggy and making your own piping bag and just snipping off the smallest corner.