Easy Halloween Cake Pops
Halloween Cake Pops! These kid-approved treats are made with boxed cake mix and then dressed up as a pumpkin, mummy, or confetti. A sweet and spooky treat certain to bring smiles to all of the little ghouls and goblins at your next Halloween bash.
I’ll admit. Making cake pops requires some patience. It’s a hobby all on its own. They are simple to make but decorating each pop can be time-consuming. However, the results are cute and yummy and totally worth it. What’s not to love about bite-size festive balls of candy-coated cake on a stick?
It can take a little practice to get Halloween cake pops just right. However, once you get into a groove, they are really fun to make and you can keep the kids busy decorating them.
These cake pops are made with boxed cake mix and store-bought or homemade frosting and then decorated to look like Jack-o’-lanterns, mummies, and Halloween confetti. Make these tasty Halloween cake pops for your next gathering and watch them disappear!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fun, festive and adorable. These cake pops are seriously the cutest.
- You can get creative. Use my decorating recommendations as a guide to create your own holiday cake pops.
- Only 4-ingredients! Including store-bought cake mix and store-bought frosting.
- Great make-ahead dessert for classroom Halloween parties, birthday parties, gifting and so much more!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cake Mix – The possibilities are endless. You can use yellow, chocolate, red velvet, funfetti, etc. Chose your favorite and mix and match.
- Frosting – store-bought or homemade.
- Colored Candy or Chocolate Melt Wafers – You should be able to find the colors you need at your local craft store.
- Canola Oil (or shortening) – A small amount of oil added to the melted candy gives it a smooth finish when it sets.
- Lollipop Sticks
- Sprinkles, and Green Tic Tacs – Once the cake balls are frosted, these toppings are used to make the cake balls into pumpkins, mummies and confetti.
Recommended Equipment
- 9″ x 13″ Cake Pan
- Mixing Bowl
- Standing Mixer (with paddle attachment)
- Wax Paper
- Cookie Sheet
- Candy Melts Pot – You can melt the candies in the microwave or over a double boiler, but I have the Wilton Candy Melts Pot and I love it! I use it for all of my chocolate melting/dipping needs.
How To Make Halloween Cake Pops
Step 1 Bake boxed cake mix:
Prepare the boxed cake mix batter as directed on the box for a 9″ x 13″ cake pan. Let the baked cake cool completely before moving onto the next step.
Step 2 Crumble cake:
Once the cake has cooled, break it apart into large pieces and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Break the pieces with your hands and crumble them into the bowl.
Step 3 Mix in frosting:
Using your hands or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, mix frosting (adding a 1/2 cup at a time) with cake crumbs until thoroughly combined and a wet batter that clumps easily develops.
Step 4 Shape cake mix into balls:
With cupped hands, roll cake/frosting mixture into 1 1/2 balls and place on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet.
Step 5: Melt candy:
Melt candy melts with oil or shortening in the microwave or over a double boiler.
Step 6: Insert lollipop sticks:
Dip the end of the lollipop stick into the melted chocolate and then press it about a third of the way into the cake ball upright to secure it in place. Repeat with remaining cake balls.
Step 7: Chill cake pops:
Transfer the cookie sheet to the freezer for 30 minutes or until the balls are firm and sturdy enough to be dipped in melted chocolate.
Step 8: Dip and decorate:
Dip in melted candy, swirling to drip off any excess. Decorate as desired or with one of the spooky suggestions below.
Mummy Cake Pops
To make not so scary mummy cake pops, you’ll need to use white candy melt wafers. First dip the cake pops in melted white candy, swirling off any excess and allow to set completely before moving on to the fun part. With a pastry bag, drizzle the candy to make it look like a mummy. Use large green sprinkles for the eyes.
Confetti Halloween Cake Pops
These are definitely the least tedious to decorate. Simply dip the pops in black, orange, or white melted candies, and then add sprinkles.
Halloween Pumpkin Cake Pops
I love how cute and simple these pumpkins are. Dip the cake pops in orange candy melts and use a green Tic Tac for the stem.
Recipe Tips
- Be sure to wait until the cake has cooled completely and is easy to work with before crumbling it.
- I add just enough frosting so the cake mix rolls into sturdy balls and hold it’s shape. The amount of frosting you need to mix in will depend on the boxed cake mix. You may need to use all of the frosting or much less. It depends on how moist the cake is.
- Don’t forget about adding a tablespoon of canola oil or shortening to the melted candy. It gives the coating a shiny, smooth and polished look once it sets.
- If you can not find the color candy melt wafer you need, you can simply dye white melts with an oil-based gel food coloring or powdered food coloring.
- I have also made these the night before a party and refrigerated overnight to dip the next day. So quick and easy!
Gluten-Free Halloween Cake Pops
To make gluten-free Halloween cake pops, you simply need to use a quality gluten-free cake mix and follow the directions for a 9″ x 13″ cake. Expect to use all of the frosting with gluten-free cake mixes as they tend to have less moisture. Also, be sure to double-check that the candy melts and frosting are gluten-free and you should be good to go.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Store cake pops in a paper towel-lined container with a lid in the fridge for 5 to 7 days.
Freezing: To freeze cake pops, wrap each ball individually in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe airtight bag. Transfer to the freezer for 5 to 7 weeks. Defrost in the fridge before serving.
Recipe FAQ
One boxed cake mix will make about 4 dozen 1 1/2″ cake pops.
No. Melted chocolate will not set around the cake balls correctly. Always use candy melts or chocolate coating to coat cake pops.
If your cake pops are falling apart, the frosting-cake crumb mixture is too dry and needs more frosting. Return the cake balls to the bowl and remix adding more frosting a little at a time until a sticky, dough forms.
To prevent the cake ball from falling off the lollipop stick, dip the end of each stick in melted candy coating before inserting the stick in the cake ball. When the melts cool and harden, it acts like glue and helps keep the cake pop in place.
More Fun Halloween Recipes
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Halloween Cake Pops
Ingredients
- 1 box cake mix prepared according to package directions
- 2 cups prepared frosting store-bought or homemade
- 1 lb candy melts
- 1 tbsp canola oil can also use shortening
- 48 lollipop sticks
- wax paper
- Optional: sprinkles and green Tic Tac candies for decorating
Instructions
- Prepare cake mix according to package directions in a 9×13 pan
- Allow cake to cool completely then crumble into a large bowl
- Mix in frosting 1/2 cup at a time, until the mixture is very moist and clumps together easily (you might not need all 2 cups, it depends on the moisture of the prepared cake and how sweet you want your balls). Use your hands to mix really well or blend in a stand mixer using a paddle attachment.
- Roll mixture into 1 1/2 inch balls and place onto a wax paper-lined cookie sheet.
- Melt chocolate in the microwave or in a double boiler and add the tablespoon of oil or shortening.
- Dip the end of the lollipop stick in the melted chocolate and insert about 1/3 of the way down into the cake ball. Repeat with all remaining cake balls. Freeze for 30 minutes or until balls are firm enough to dip.
- Dip in melted chocolate, then swirl to drip off any excess coating.
- Decorate as desired.
Notes
- Be sure to wait until the cake has cooled completely and is easy to work with before crumbling it.
- I add just enough frosting so the cake mix rolls into sturdy balls and holds its shape. The amount of frosting you need to mix in will depend on the boxed cake mix. You may need to use all of the frosting or much less. It depends on how moist the cake is.
- Don’t forget about adding a tablespoon of canola oil or shortening to the melted candy. It gives the coating a shiny, smooth, and polished look once it sets.
- If you can not find the color candy melt wafer you need, you can simply dye white melts with an oil-based gel food coloring or powdered food coloring.
- For gluten-free cake pops: use a quality gluten-free cake mix and follow the directions for a 9″ x 13″ cake. Expect to use all of the frosting with gluten-free cake mixes as they tend to have less moisture.
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You did a fabulous job! I love them!
These are the cutest little treats! (I’m sorry I didn’t comment on them until “after the fact” — October just kind of blew by!) Hope you had a Happy Halloween!
I love these and so did my kids when I showed them!!
Gosh, these have to be the cutest cake pops I’ve ever seen!!!
Thank you so much for your sweet compliments!! I couldn’t have done it without Bakerella! ๐