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–+ servings
A festive display of colorful Christmas cake pops on sticks, decorated with various sprinkles and toppings, arranged in a glass around a pinecone placed on a golden tray.
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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!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword christmas cake pops
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Servings 40 balls
Calories 143kcal
Author Katie Cooksey

Equipment

Ingredients

for the cake

for the decorations

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.
    A baked sheet cake, reminiscent of delightful Christmas cake pops, rests in a parchment-lined square baking pan on a wooden surface.
  • While the cake is baking, make the frosting (if using homemade). Allow baked cake to cool completely.
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  • 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.
    A person's hand is pressing down on a rectangular, golden-brown bread positioned on a cutting board, reminiscent of the treats enjoyed during the festive season like Christmas cake pops.
  • 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.
    A glass bowl filled with white sponge cake cubes sits on a marble surface, evoking thoughts of delightful Christmas cake pops. Nearby, two candy canes, a small dish of powdered sugar, and a napkin are visible.
  • 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.
    A hand holding a cookie dough scoop over a glass bowl filled with cookie dough. Candy canes and a small dish labeled "KITCHEN" are in the background, ready for festive creations like Christmas cake pops.
  • 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.
    A baking sheet with evenly spaced dough balls, destined to become delightful Christmas cake pops, covered with plastic wrap and placed on a marble countertop.
  • 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!**
    A person pours liquid white soap into a glass container with a wooden coaster, while pinecones, cinnamon sticks, and Christmas cake pops are in the background.
  • 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.
    A hand pours liquid from a small pitcher into a glass container with a white substance, likely prep for Christmas cake pops. A spatula is placed inside the container, and pine cones are visible in the background.
  • 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.
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  • 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.
    A festive Christmas cake pop on a stick is being dipped into a glass containing white liquid, placed on a gold plate with a pinecone in the background.
  • 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.
    A person decorates a white Christmas cake pop by sprinkling gold powder using a spoon. Nearby bowls contain red sprinkles, green and white candies, and green sugar.
  • 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.).
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  • Allow to set completely, serve and enjoy!
    A display of assorted Christmas cake pops on a marble surface, with some on a beige plate and others on a yellow tray. Pinecones and forks are also part of the festive decor.

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: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 103mg | Potassium: 35mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 22IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 0.3mg
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