Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Go Viral With Bacon, Mustard and Frozen Hacks, and the Frozen Version Wins Out
Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes are going viral again, this time for the ways people are eating them: wrapped in bacon, drizzled with mustard, or eaten straight from the freezer. According to USA TODAY on November 13, in the weeks since Little Debbie unveiled its 2026 holiday snack lineup and announced the return of its seasonal favorites, recreations of the hacks have gained traction across social media platforms, with mixed reactions. Some tasters declared the combinations not bad, while others said they were genuinely surprised to enjoy them and would eat them again.
Drawing on clips online and its own taste test, USA TODAY found the frozen cakes were the overall crowd favorite, with users across comment sections noting they already prefer sweet treats like chocolate bars frozen. One Facebook user blessed whoever suggested freezing the cakes, wishing them a full bank account and always-hot coffee. Bacon-wrapped cakes came a close second, while the mustard version drew a resounding not bad. One creator said in a November 6 video that the mustard nearly covered the filling, leaving mostly the outer shell, adding that he does not like mustard but loves Little Debbie. Another creator said mustard belongs on hot dogs or tamales, not on a Christmas Tree Cake, and that it took away from the sweetness of the dessert.
Little Debbie product manager Hannah Norman told USA TODAY in a statement that each trend tends to make the brand smile, and sometimes giggle, and that it is fun to see people interacting with the brand in new and creative ways. She said the creativity people show every year in how they enjoy the iconic Christmas snacks never ceases to surprise and delight the company, adding that however people like to enjoy their Christmas Tree Cakes, the brand will not judge and just hopes they enjoy them. Indianapolis radio station B105.7 also ran a mustard taste test on November 13.
Christmas Tree Cakes made their debut in 1985 and have been a fan favorite since. The brand's website notes the cakes originally had a triangular shape and a chocolate trunk, while the classic scalloped tree shape was not introduced until 2012. They come in chocolate and vanilla, and have inspired other tree-cake-flavored items including mini doughnuts and coffee creamer this holiday season. The cakes are traditionally sold in five-count family packs from October through December at grocery stores and retailers nationwide, including Walmart, Target, Publix, Kroger and Dollar General, with six-count big packs at select retailers and a 20-count club pack currently at Sam's Club.
Source: USA TODAY
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 资料图：一块Little Debbie圣诞树蛋糕（Sarah Stierch摄，CC0，经Wikimedia Commons），版面图以等比适配加模糊底衬构成，非疯传视频画面。/ File photo: a Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake (photo by Sarah Stierch, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons), set on a blurred background at native aspect ratio; not a frame from the viral videos.
