The short answer is yes, they are the same. Christmas tree cakes and zebra cakes are both types of cream-filled cakes with a spiral pattern on the outside. They're both made with layers of yellow cake, chocolate cake, and cream filling, and they're both topped with a decorative swirl of frosting. The main difference is that Christmas tree cakes are traditionally served around the holiday season, while zebra cakes can be enjoyed any time of the year.