If you’re looking to light up your dessert table with something dazzling, festive, and absolutely scrumptious, this Red Velvet Tree Cake Recipe ticks every box. Imagine all the classic decadence of red velvet cake with its signature cocoa notes and rich, moist crumb, transformed into the most jolly, tree-shaped treats you’ve ever laid eyes on! With a swoosh of tangy green frosting, sparkling sprinkles, and a dusting of “snow,” these mini cakes bring a whole lot of holiday cheer to the table—plus, they’re surprisingly simple and so much fun to make with friends or kids. Whether you’re throwing a Christmas party or just want an excuse for a little extra holiday magic, the Red Velvet Tree Cake Recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Red Velvet Tree Cake Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

One of my favorite things about this Red Velvet Tree Cake Recipe is how you don’t need anything unusual—just a collection of humble, hardworking ingredients, all playing their part to deliver that signature color, unbeatable flavor, and irresistible fluffiness. Each one is chosen for a reason, ensuring your cakes are moist, flavorful, and beautiful every time.

Red velvet cake mix (15.25 oz): The shortcut hero—delivers luscious flavor, rich color, and airy texture with minimal effort.
Large eggs (3): Add structure and richness, helping the cake rise to the occasion and stay soft.
Vegetable oil (1/2 cup): Keeps the crumb moist and tender, even several days after baking.
Buttermilk (1 cup): Key for signature tang and keeps the cake melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
Vanilla extract (1 tsp): Gives that little extra aroma and enhances every bite.
Cream cheese (8 oz, softened): The heart of our frosting—rich, tangy, and so smooth.
Unsalted butter (1/4 cup, softened): For extra creaminess and that classic frosting flavor.
Powdered sugar (2 cups): Sweetens and thickens the frosting so it pipes beautifully.
Vanilla extract (1/2 tsp, for frosting): Rounds out the flavor in the creamy topping.
Green food coloring (gel or liquid): Turns your frosting into the ultimate festive green—it’s what makes the trees pop!
Assorted holiday sprinkles or edible decorations: Because every holiday tree deserves a little sparkle and cheer.
Powdered sugar for dusting (optional): For a magical snowy finish!

How to Make Red Velvet Tree Cake Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Your Pans

Preheat your oven to 350°F and give your tree-shaped cake pan or mini tree molds a good greasing—this ensures every nook and cranny is ready for your batter and makes unmolding so much easier. No special pans? No problem! Simply use a sheet pan and your favorite tree-shaped cookie cutter later on.

Step 2: Mix Up the Batter

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, buttermilk, and vanilla extract. Use a hand or stand mixer on medium speed, beating for 2 minutes—this helps everything come together until the batter is velvety smooth. That buttermilk not only gives great flavor, but also helps achieve a perfectly soft crumb.

Step 3: Fill and Bake

Pour the batter into your prepared tree molds, filling each one about two-thirds full to allow room for the cakes to rise. For mini trees, bake for 18 to 22 minutes. If you’re making a large tree cake, aim for 28 to 32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. No peeking too early or you could lose precious oven heat!

Step 4: Cool Completely

Let your cakes cool in the pan for a few minutes, then gently remove them and allow them to finish cooling on a wire rack. Decorating warm cakes is a no-go: patience here means your frosting won’t melt right off.

Step 5: Make the Frosting

Beat the softened cream cheese and butter until they’re creamy and lump-free. Gradually add in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until your frosting is cloud-like and smooth. Now, add green food coloring, a little at a time, until you reach that perfect pine tree shade—just swirling in the color feels so festive!

Step 6: Decorate Your Trees

Transfer your green frosting to a piping bag with a star or round tip and go to town decorating! Swirl or pipe little branches on the tree cakes. Add sprinkles, edible beads, or any favorite holiday decorations. A dust of powdered sugar looks just like freshly fallen snow. Let your creativity shine—the more joyful, the better!

How to Serve Red Velvet Tree Cake Recipe

Garnishes

For that little extra holiday sparkle, try adding tiny edible pearls or metallic stars to your frosted trees. A very light dusting of powdered sugar at the last minute creates a magical snowy topping—just right for capturing the winter wonderland vibe of your Red Velvet Tree Cake Recipe.

Side Dishes

Since these cakes are on the rich and decadent side, pairing them with something creamy, like a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream, makes for a dreamy contrast. Fresh raspberries or sliced strawberries on the plate offer a lovely burst of tartness beside the sweet, lush cake.

Creative Ways to Present

Try arranging your tree cakes on a large wooden platter for a rustic forest look, or nestle them around the base of a gingerbread house for an edible winter scene. For a party, stick a lollipop stick into each mini tree cake and serve as festive cake pops—guaranteed to make your Red Velvet Tree Cake Recipe the star of the show!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Any extra tree cakes keep best in an airtight container in the fridge, where the cream cheese frosting stays fresh. You can layer parchment between them if stacking to prevent smudging your beautiful decorations. They’ll be delicious for up to four days—though good luck having leftovers that long!

Freezing

If you want to get ahead of the holiday rush, you can freeze the unfrosted cakes. Wrap them individually and tuck into a freezer bag. When it’s time to serve, thaw thoroughly, then decorate as usual. I don’t recommend freezing fully frosted cakes, as the decorations can lose their sparkle.

Reheating

For that just-baked warmth, microwave an unfrosted or lightly frosted cake for about 10-12 seconds. If you want the frosting to stay perfectly set, let the cake come to room temperature naturally. Either way, a little gentle warming brings back all that fresh-baked goodness from your Red Velvet Tree Cake Recipe.

FAQs

Can I use a homemade red velvet cake instead of a mix?

Absolutely! If you have a favorite from-scratch red velvet cake recipe, feel free to use it. Just make sure the yield is similar to a standard boxed mix so you have enough for your tree molds or pan.

What if I don’t have buttermilk?

No worries: you can easily make your own by mixing 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let it sit for about 5 minutes and you’ll get that perfect buttermilk tang for your Red Velvet Tree Cake Recipe.

Can I make these cakes gluten-free?

Yes! Swap in a favorite gluten-free red velvet cake mix and ensure your other ingredients (especially decorations) are gluten-free. The results are just as festive and delicious.

How do I store leftover frosting?

If you have extra cream cheese frosting, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Let it soften slightly at room temperature and give it a quick stir before using on another batch (or for sneaking a spoonful by itself!).

Can I color the frosting a different shade?

Of course! While “tree green” is classic for a Red Velvet Tree Cake Recipe, you can let your imagination soar—try white for snowy trees, or a palette of blues for a whimsical winter forest.

Final Thoughts

If you’re ready to turn up the holiday charm in your kitchen, the Red Velvet Tree Cake Recipe is absolutely the way to go. Every bite blends celebration and comfort, and every finished cake is a mini masterpiece. Dive in, bake a batch, and watch even the grinchiest guest light up with joy!

Red Velvet Tree Cake Recipe

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4.6 from 30 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 12 mini tree cakes or 1 large cake 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Indulge in the festive spirit with this delightful Red Velvet Tree Cake recipe. Perfect for the holidays, these mini tree cakes are not only visually charming but also scrumptiously moist and flavorful. Get ready to impress your guests with this Christmas dessert!

Ingredients

Scale

Cake:

1 box red velvet cake mix (15.25 oz)
3 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)

Decorations:

Green food coloring (gel or liquid)
Assorted holiday sprinkles or edible decorations
Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

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Instructions

Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a tree-shaped cake pan or mini tree molds.
Mix Cake Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine red velvet cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, buttermilk, and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth.
Bake: Pour batter into prepared pan(s) and bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
Make Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter, add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, then tint with green food coloring.
Decorate: Pipe frosting onto cooled cakes, add decorations, and dust with powdered sugar if desired.

Notes

If you don’t have a tree mold, you can use a sheet pan and a tree-shaped cookie cutter. White or cream cheese frosting can be used with red and green sprinkles for decoration.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American