A Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake takeover is underway.
In the weeks since Little Debbie unveiled its 2026 holiday snack lineup and announced the return of its seasonal favorites, customers have discovered new ways of enhancing the Christmas Tree Cakes' flavor profile.
From bacon-wrapped to mustard-coated or even frozen, recreations of funky, viral hacks featuring the beloved snack cakes are gaining traction across various social media platforms.
As is the case with most other viral food hacks, consumer response to drizzling mustard or wrapping Christmas Tree Cakes in hot, sizzling bacon was mixed, with some declaring the combinations "not bad," while others seemed genuinely surprised to report that they enjoyed the combination and were interested
in eating it again.
Various clips online and USA TODAY's own taste test have seemingly revealed that the overall crowd favorite was the frozen Christmas Tree Cakes, with users across different comment sections noting that they, too, preferred their sweet treats, like chocolate bars or other baked goods, frozen.
"Whoever said to freeze Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes before eating them … may your bank account stay full, your coffee always be hot, and your laundry magically fold itself," one user said in a recent Facebook post.
"May every green light find you, every package arrive early, and may your enemies get explosive diarrhea on a road trip with no rest stops in sight," the user continued. "YOU DESERVE ALL THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE. AMEN."
As for the remaining combinations, Christmas Tree Cakes wrapped in bacon made for a close second, while the cakes topped with a drizzle of mustard received a resounding "not bad." Some reported it was "kinda good," while others were disgusted.
One content creator was shocked he didn't find the combination appalling,
"You don't taste the filling hardly at all. The mustard, it's almost like cake with mustard on top but you got the external shell," the creator said in a Nov. 6 video. "Look again, I do not like mustard but I love my girl Lil Debbie."
Another content creator felt similarly: "Okay, its not terrible but I definitely think that mustard belongs on hot dogs, or tamales. Not Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes. I feel like it takes away from the sweetness and the dessert of this."
USA TODAY has reached out to Little Debbie for comment on all of the viral hacks.
Origins and popularity of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes
Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes made their debut in 1985, and have been a fan favorite since.
"Do you remember their original triangular shape and chocolate trunk? Even though the classic scalloped tree shape wasn’t introduced until 2012, nothing says 'Christmastime' quite like these festive treats!" Little Debbie's website says.
The Christmas Tree Cakes, available in both chocolate and vanilla, have inspired the creation of other tree cake-flavored items, including mini doughnuts and coffee creamer, both of which are available this year for the holiday season.
But that's not all. The popularity of the iconic snack cakes has spawned themed merch, like shirts and earrings. Fans can purchase these items from Little Debbie herself, or from a plethora of online shops.
The brand recently collaborated with Magellan Outdoors to create an exclusive line of Christmas Tree Cake-themed items. Some retailers are even selling Little Debbie-themed ornaments and yard inflatables.
And for the Little Debbie superfans ... the Little Debbie Park in Collegedale, Tennessee, near Chattanooga has an assortment of sculptures paying homage to the Christmas Tree Cake and other Little Debbie snacks on display.
Where can you buy Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes?
Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes are traditionally sold in five-count boxes (family pack) from October through December at grocery stores and retailers nationwide. Walmart, Target, Publix, Kroger and Dollar General are among the usual purveyors.
Six-count boxes (big pack) are also available at select retailers. Sam's Club is currently selling a 20-count box (club pack). Some gas stations and convenience stores sell the trees individually if you just want a couple.
Amaris Encinas covers national trending news for USA TODAY with a focus on entertainment, politics and internet culture. You can reach her at AEncinas1@usatodayco.com.
Bianca Harris is an editor on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Email her at bharris@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mustard, bacon, frozen. Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes go viral
