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Christmas Cake Pops Recipe
October 30, 2026
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These Christmas Cake Pops are a fun addition to any holiday dessert table! Made with moist cake, dipped in smooth white chocolate, and finished with festive sprinkles, they’re easy to make and fun to decorate. Serve them at Christmas parties, add them to your holiday dessert spread, or wrap them up as homemade gifts.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Christmas Cake Pops are a fun, festive treat that’s perfect for holiday parties, dessert tables, or a little Christmas baking with the kids. They’re soft and moist inside, coated in sweet chocolate, and easy to decorate with your favorite Christmas sprinkles, edible glitter, or candy. You can even turn them into cute little reindeer!
I keep it simple by using a boxed chocolate cake mix and my homemade cream cheese frosting recipe. You can also use a can of premade frosting if you’d like. Get your kids involved for a fun activity and decorate with different fun colors of sprinkles, jimmies, or sanding sugar! These cute little cake pops take a stick-mounted treat to the next level!
Ingredients Notes
The eggs, water, and oil listed after the cake mix are what the cake mix requires, according to the package directions. They are NOT in addition to those ingredients. Depending on the cake mix brand you use, these ingredients may vary. Here is everything you’ll need:
- White Cake Mix – Use your favorite brand.
- Eggs, vegetable oil, water – Check your cake mix box for the specific amounts.
- Cream Cheese Frosting – Store-bought or try my homemade frosting– this binds the cake together.
- White Chocolate Melting Wafers – For dipping and coating the cake pops.
- Christmas Sprinkles – Optional but fun for decorating.
- Cake Pop Sticks – You’ll need about 40 lollipop sticks.
How To Make Cake Pops
For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card below. Here’s how to make cake pops step by step!
Step 1: Preheat Oven and Bake the Cake
Preheat oven to 350° F (or whatever your cake mix requires). Mix and bake the cake mix according to the package directions. Depending on the cake mix brand you use, you may need to adjust the measurements for eggs, oil, and water.
Step 2: Make the Frosting (if using homemade)
While the cake bakes, prepare the frosting. My Vanilla Buttercream Frosting works great here, but your favorite homemade or store-bought frosting will work, too.
Step 3: Cool and Trim the Cake
Let the cake cool completely. Remove it from the pan and use a large, sharp knife to trim away the darker, hardened edges. This step is optional, but removing the edges makes the cake easier to crumble and gives the cake pops a smoother texture.
Step 4: Crumble Cake
In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or hand mixer), crumble the cooled cake. Mix in cream cheese frosting. At this point, you can add in some Christmas sprinkles (optional). The mixture should be moist and stick together easily. If the dough is too dry, add in more frosting a tablespoon at a time.
Step 5: Shape the Cake Balls
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a cookie scoop to portion the cake mixture into even balls, then roll each one between your palms until smooth. If the mixture starts sticking to your hands, wash and dry them before continuing.
Step 6: Freeze
Cover with plastic wrap and freeze cake balls for about 30 minutes. Remove from the freezer and roll each ball again with the palm of your hand. This will ensure an evenly round ball. Cover and return to the freezer for 1 hour.
Step 7: Melt the Chocolate
Right before you’re ready to pull out your cake pops, melt chocolate. Microwave white chocolate wafers in a microwave-safe bowl or cup (preferably a tall one that you can easily dip the cake pop in). Start with 30 seconds, stir, then melt in 20-second increments until smooth. Be careful not to overcook the chocolate, or it’ll seize up!
If the chocolate is too thick, add a tiny bit of coconut oil to thin it out; just be careful not to add too much, or the chocolate won’t set! You can also use Crisco shortening.
Pro Tip: Work in small batches! Pour ⅓ of the bag of chocolate into the bowl, then, once it’s used up, melt another ⅓, and so on.
Step 8: Add the Cake Pop Sticks
Remove cake pops from the freezer. Dip the tip of a cake pop stick into the melted chocolate and slide about two-thirds of the way through a cake pop ball. The chocolate will act as glue. Do this with all 40 cake pop sticks, placing each one back on the baking sheet as you go.
Pro Tip: If the cake balls start getting too soft while you’re adding the sticks, return them to the freezer for about 15 minutes before continuing.
Step 9: Dip and Decorate
Holding the stick by the end, dip the balls upside down into the cup of melted chocolate, turning slightly to coat each cake ball. Let excess chocolate drip off, gently tapping the side of the cup to remove the rest.
Moving quickly, decorate with sprinkles and/or jimmies before the chocolate sets.
Step 10: Let the Cake Pops Set
Place the finished cake pops upright in a cake pop stand. You can also use a Styrofoam block, a box with holes, or a rice-filled dish to hold them in place. Let the chocolate coating set completely before serving.
Tips For Success
Making cake pops is so easy, and with a few tips, you’ll have these made and decorated in no time!
- Use a small cookie scoop: Scoop the cake mixture into even portions, then roll each one between your hands. A round tablespoon works, too.
- Don’t add too much frosting: Start with a little and add more as needed. Too much frosting can make the cake balls greasy, soggy, and difficult to shape.
- Melt the chocolate in short intervals: Microwave the candy wafers in 30-second intervals, stirring between each one. If the coating seems too thick, stir in 1 teaspoon of coconut oil to thin it out.
- Choose a deep dipping cup: A tall drinking glass makes it easier to dip each cake pop fully. If you’re using a shallow bowl, spoon the melted coating over the top to cover any spots you miss.
- Use a cake pop stand: A stand keeps the cake pops upright while the coating sets. Buy one or make your own by poking holes in a cardboard box or Styrofoam block. A glass or small mason jar filled with rice also works.
What to Serve With Christmas Cake Pops
Christmas cake pops are a fun addition to any holiday dessert table. Pair them with a few festive treats that bring different flavors and textures to the spread.
- Peppermint Bark: Crunchy candy cane pieces and cool peppermint balance the soft, chocolate-coated cake.
- Gingerbread Truffles: Their rich gingerbread flavor adds a little spice to the dessert spread.
- Candy Cane Cookies: Buttery cookies with a hint of mint offer a nice change from the chocolate coating.
- Crockpot Hot Chocolate: A warm, creamy mug makes the cake pops feel right at home on a chilly December evening.
With this Christmas Cake Pops recipe, you can make bite-sized treats that are perfect for holiday parties, dessert trays, or a fun afternoon in the kitchen with the kids. Dip them in chocolate, add your favorite sprinkles, and enjoy a simple homemade dessert everyone can share.
Christmas Cake Pops Recipe
If you're looking to really impress your guests this year, you MUST make these festive Christmas Cake Pops!! Don't be intimidated. They are way easier than you think and the decorations are ENDLESS!
Equipment
- 40 cake pop sticks
- cake pop holder optional
Ingredients
for the cake
- 15.25 ounces White Cake Mix*
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 1 cup cream cheese frosting or frosting of choice, store-bought or homemade
- Christmas sprinkles optional
for the decorations
- 10 ounces white chocolate melting wafers
- Christmas sprinkles and jimmies
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F (or whatever your cake mix requires).
- Mix and bake cake mix according to package directions. Depending on which brand of cake mix you use, you may need to change the measurements for eggs, oil, and water listed.
- While the cake is baking, make the frosting (if using homemade). Allow baked cake to cool completely.
- Remove cooled cake from the pans and using a large sharp knife, remove the dark outer hardened layer of the cake. Discard or save for snacking. This is an optional step but I think it makes for a better ball-rolling experience if the hard outer edges are removed.
- In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or hand mixer), crumble cooled cake. Mix in cream cheese frosting. At this point you can add in some Christmas sprinkles (optional). The mixture should be moist and stick together easily. If the dough is too dry, add in more frosting a tablespoon at a time.
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper and using a cookie scoop, scoop cake balls onto the baking sheet. Roll each ball with your hands. If the dough sticks to your hands, you’ll need to wash them occasionally.
- Cover with plastic wrap and freeze cake balls for about 30 minutes. Remove from freezer and give each ball a second roll with the palm of your hands. This will ensure an evenly round ball. Cover and place back into freezer for 1 hour.
- Right before you're ready to pull out your cake pops, melt chocolate. Microwave white chocolate wafers in a microwave-safe bowl or cup (preferably a tall one that you can easily dip the cake pop in). Start out with 30 seconds, stir, and then melt at 20-second increments until melted. Be careful not to overcook the chocolate or it’ll seize up!**
- If the chocolate is too thick, you can add a tiny amount of coconut oil to thin it out, just be careful not to add too much because the chocolate won’t set! You can also use Crisco shortening.
- Remove cake pops from the freezer. Dip the tip of a cake pop stick into the melted chocolate and slide about two thirds the way through a cake pop ball. The chocolate will act as a glue for the stick. Do this with all 40 cake pop sticks, placing each one back on baking sheet as you go.
- If this step took you a long time to do, you may consider re-freezing your cake pops for 15 minutes or so and re-melting the chocolate. This is a general rule throughout this entire process.
- Now you're ready to dip! Holding the cake pop by the bottom of the stick, place upside down into the cup of melted chocolate, turning a bit to get every piece of the cake ball covered.
- Let as much chocolate drip off as possible, gently tapping on the side of the cup to remove excess.
- Moving quickly, decorate with sprinkles and/or jimmies before the chocolate sets.
- Place into a cake pop holder – cake pop up (a styrofoam block, a dish with rice to hold cake pops in place, or a box with holes, etc.).
- Allow to set completely, serve and enjoy!
Notes
*The eggs, water and oil ingredients listed after the cake mix are what the cake mix requires according to package directions. They are NOT in addition to those ingredients. Depending on which brand of cake mix you use, these ingredients may vary.
**Work in small batches! Pour ⅓ of the bag of chocolate in the bowl and then once it’s used up, melt another ⅓ of the bag, and so on.
Nutrition
Calories: 143kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 1gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 103mgPotassium: 35mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 22IUVitamin C: 0.04mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 0.3mg
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Variations
- Cake Flavors – Try chocolate cake or red velvet for a different taste.
- Frosting – Use vanilla or chocolate frosting instead of cream cheese.
- Decorations – Add crushed candy canes or edible glitter for extra flair.
More Cake Pop Recipes to Make!
- Copycat Starbucks Cake Pops
- Valentine’s Day Cake Pops
- Easter Cake Pops
- Peanut Butter Balls
- St. Patrick’s Day Cake Pops
- Christmas Truffles
Storing Cake Pops
If you have leftover cake pops, store them in an airtight plastic container in the fridge to keep them fresh and prevent them from drying out.
Make Ahead: You can make these 2-3 days in advance. Keep your Christmas cake pops in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
To Freeze: If you want to store and use them later, after they have dried, place in a freezer-safe, airtight container or bag for up to 1-2 months! Thaw in the fridge overnight.
If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tag me @laurens_latest.
