Festive Christmas Tree Snack Cake Dip
This incredibly soft, scoopable, almost pudding-like cake dip is a happy accident turned holiday favorite. It’s quick, easy, and perfect for Christmas parties, with a warm, tender center and festive green color.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 box (15.25 oz) vanilla or white cake mix
- 1 cup milk (whole milk preferred)
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8–10 drops green gel food coloring
- 1/2 cup holiday sprinkles (divided)
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)
- Mini gingerbread cookies or pretzel sticks (for dipping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch pie plate or 10-inch cast iron skillet with butter or non-stick spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter, milk, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined (about 30 seconds).
- Pour the entire box of cake mix into the wet ingredients. Stir gently until just combined; a few small lumps are fine. Do not overmix.
- Add green gel food coloring (8 drops to start, then more if desired) and stir until evenly distributed.
- Gently fold in 1/3 cup of the holiday sprinkles. Reserve the rest for topping.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pie plate and spread evenly with a spatula. The batter will be thick.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes. The edges should be set and golden, but the center should still be slightly jiggly when shaken. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out with moist crumbs.
- Remove from oven and let cool on a rack or trivet for about 10 minutes. The dip will continue to set.
- Sprinkle remaining sprinkles on top. Dust with powdered sugar if desired. Serve warm with mini gingerbread cookies, pretzel sticks, graham crackers, or apple slices.
Notes
Do not overbake; the center should be slightly jiggly for the best soft, pudding-like texture. Use gel food coloring instead of liquid to avoid thinning the batter. For best results, serve within 20 minutes of baking. To make ahead, prep batter in the pie plate, cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 hours; add 5 minutes to bake time. For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free yellow cake mix. For a vegan version, substitute milk with oat milk, use vegan butter, and replace eggs with 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of dip (without
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 24
- Sodium: 320
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
Keywords: Christmas tree dip, cake dip, holiday dessert, easy dessert, snack cake dip, festive dip, Christmas party dessert