Christmas Tree Cake Cones Baking Recipe

A Sweet Little Idea

I first saw these cake cones at a school fair. My grandson’s eyes got so wide. He thought they were pure magic.

Turning a simple cone into a tiny cake tree is so clever. It makes baking feel like play. I still smile thinking of his happy face.

Getting Your Cones Ready

First, preheat your oven. The recipe says 350°F. That’s a nice, warm oven for little cakes.

Fill your sugar cones two-thirds full. Do not fill them to the top. The cake needs space to rise up. It will puff up like a happy cloud.

*Fun fact*: The hole in a fudge stripe cookie is perfect for the tree trunk! It keeps the cookie from sliding off.

Why We Bake Together

This matters more than just making a treat. You are making a memory. The smell of cake baking is a warm hug for your home.

Working with your hands is good for the soul. It connects you to the people you cook for. That is a feeling you can taste.

What is your favorite smell from the kitchen? Is it baking cake or something else?

The Fun Part: Decorating!

Let the cones cool completely. This is the hard part! You must be patient. Then you can turn them into Christmas trees.

Use a star tip for the green frosting. Swirl it around to make branches. Then add your sprinkles. Be as fancy or as simple as you like.

What color sprinkles will you choose? I always love the red and green ones.

A Treat for Sharing

These little trees are perfect for a party. Everyone gets their own personal cake. No plates or forks are needed!

I love seeing a whole plate of them. They look like a tiny, delicious forest. It makes any day feel a bit more special.

If you make these, will you share them with friends or family? Tell me who you would make them for.

Ingredients:

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Sugar Cones	24
Yellow Cake Mix	1 box
Ingredients for Cake Mix	As needed	See box instructions
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting	1 cup
Fudge Stripe Cookies	24
Colored Frosting	As needed	For decorating
Sprinkles/Decorations	As needed

My Christmas Tree Cake Cones

Oh, these little cones bring me so much joy. They look like a little forest of Christmas trees. My grandson calls them his “edible evergreens.” I still laugh at that.

Making them is a wonderful kitchen adventure. It feels like you are building a tiny, tasty world. The smell of baking cake fills the whole house. Doesn’t that smell amazing? It is the scent of pure happiness.

Let’s get our hands busy. Here is how we make our sweet little forest. Follow these steps and you will have a perfect treat.

Step 1: First, get your oven nice and warm. Set it to 350°F. Then, make your yellow cake batter. Just follow the directions on the box. It is so simple. I like to pour my batter into a big bag. Then I snip the corner off. This makes filling the cones so much cleaner. (My hard-learned tip: put the cones in a muffin tin. This stops them from tipping over!)

Step 2: Now, fill each sugar cone about two-thirds full. Do not fill them all the way. The cake needs room to rise. Bake them for about 15 minutes. You will know they are done when the top springs back. Let them cool completely. This part takes patience. I know it is hard to wait.

Step 3: Once they are cool, we need a flat surface. Gently saw the domed cake top off with a knife. This gives our cookie trunk a place to sit. Do not worry if it is not perfect. Frosting hides everything. It is like magic.

Step 4: Time for the cookie trunk! Spread some vanilla frosting on the flat cake top. Then press a Fudge Stripe Cookie on it. Let this set for a little bit. This keeps the trunk sturdy. What is your favorite cookie for decorating? Share below!

Step 5: This is the most fun part. Flip your tree over. Now you can decorate! A thin layer of green frosting first makes a great base. Then use a star tip to pipe on fluffy branches. Add sprinkles for ornaments. I love seeing all the different trees everyone creates.

Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes
Yield: 24 cake cones
Category: Dessert, Holiday

Fun Twists on Our Forest

You can make these trees your own. Try a new flavor or color. It is so much fun to experiment. Here are a few ideas I have tried over the years.

Chocolate Snowfall: Use chocolate cake mix and white frosting. Then dust them with powdered sugar snow.

Peppermint Forest: Add crushed candy canes to the frosting. It gives a lovely minty crunch.

Gingerbread Spice: Use a spice cake mix instead. It will make your kitchen smell like Christmas spices.

Which one would you try first? Comment below!

Serving Your Sweet Trees

These little trees are a delight all on their own. But you can make them extra special. I like to place them on a platter with a dusting of coconut. It looks just like a snowy landscape. You could also add some chocolate rocks or gummy bears around the base.

What should you drink with them? A cold glass of milk is always the best friend to cake. For the grown-ups, a warm cup of coffee is just perfect. The bitter coffee tastes so good with the sweet frosting. Which would you choose tonight?

Keeping Your Christmas Tree Cones Fresh

These cake cones are best eaten the day you make them. The cones can get soft. Store them in a single layer on the counter for a day.

For longer storage, freeze them. Place them on a baking sheet until solid. Then pack them in a freezer bag. I once made a double batch for a school party. Freezing them saved the day.

This matters because it saves you time. You can bake ahead for a busy week. It makes holiday preparation much less stressful.

Have you ever tried storing them this way? Share below!

Fixing Common Cake Cone Troubles

Sometimes the cake rises over the cone edge. Just trim it with a knife. I remember when my first batch looked like little mushrooms. A quick trim fixed them right up.

If your frosting is too runny, chill it. Pop the bowl in the fridge for ten minutes. This helps the frosting stick to the cake. This matters because good frosting makes your trees look beautiful.

The cookie might not stick to the frosting. Let the frosting set a little first. This gives the cookie a strong base to hold onto. This simple step builds your confidence in the kitchen.

Which of these problems have you run into before?

Your Christmas Cone Questions Answered

Q: Can I make these gluten-free? A: Yes! Use a gluten-free cake mix and check your cookie labels.

Q: Can I make them ahead? A: You can bake the cones a day early. Decorate them the next day.

Q: What if I don’t have a piping bag? A: A plastic bag with a corner snipped works perfectly.

Q: Can I make a smaller batch? A: Absolutely. Just cut the recipe in half. It works just fine.

Q: Are the decorations optional? A: Of course! Use any sprinkles or candies you love. *A fun fact: The first ice cream cone was made at a world’s fair.

Which tip will you try first?

Happy Baking from My Kitchen to Yours

I hope you have so much fun making these. They always bring a smile to my table. I love seeing your kitchen creations.

Please share your photos with me. Your pretty trees will make my day. Have you tried this recipe? Tag us on Pinterest!

I am so glad we cooked together today. Happy cooking!

—Elowen Thorn.