Christmas Cake Pops: 13 Snowmen, Reindeer and Santa Hats Kids Will Beg to Help Dip

Christmas cake pops are the holiday treat everyone saves and almost nobody thinks they can make, but the truth is they start with a plain box of cake mix. One Christmas tree cake pop video on Instagram has passed 13 million views, and holiday pop reels pull hundreds of thousands of likes every November. You do not need a special pan or a pastry class. Bake any cake, crumble it, mix in frosting, roll it into balls and dip. Below is the simple base method first, then easy designs from snowmen and reindeer to Santa hats and ornaments, plus how to fix pops that crack or slide off the stick. For more designs, Emma’s Cake Studio has a lovely snowman tutorial. Grab the sprinkles and let the kids help..

Christmas Cake Pops Start With One Box of Cake Mix

Here is the secret bakeries do not tell you: Christmas cake pops are mostly crumbs and frosting. One box of cake mix, about half a tub of frosting and a bag of candy melts makes around 40 pops, and the dipping is the part kids fight over. Make the balls a day ahead, keep them cold, and decorate when you have an hour. Which design would you try first: A: snowmen, B: reindeer or C: Santa hats?..

You will need: 1 box (about 15 oz) cake mix plus the eggs, oil and water on the box, 1/2 cup canned vanilla frosting, 24 oz candy melts or white chocolate wafers, 1 tbsp coconut oil or shortening, 40 lollipop sticks, sprinkles, a foam block or a box with holes for standing.

How to make it: 1. Bake the cake in a 9×13 pan and cool it completely. 2. Crumble it into fine crumbs in a big bowl. 3. Mix in the frosting until it holds together like soft dough. 4. Roll into 1 inch balls and chill 1 hour. 5. Melt the candy melts with the coconut oil. 6. Dip each stick tip in candy, push it halfway into a ball and let it set. 7. Dip, tap off the extra, add sprinkles and stand to dry.

The Base Method: Roll, Chill, Dip

Every design below starts with this simple dough. The trick is the ratio: too much frosting and the balls get greasy and slide off the stick. Start with a little and add more only until the crumbs hold a shape. Chill the balls until firm but not frozen solid, so the coating does not crack. Have you ever made cake pops before?

You will need: 1 baked and cooled 9×13 cake (any flavor), 1/3 to 1/2 cup frosting, 24 oz candy melts, 1 tbsp coconut oil, lollipop sticks.

How to make it: 1. Crumble the cake very finely. 2. Add the frosting a spoonful at a time and mix with your hands. 3. Roll into smooth 1 inch balls. 4. Chill 1 hour on a lined tray. 5. Melt the candy melts in 30 second bursts, stirring, and thin with the coconut oil. 6. Dip each stick in candy before inserting it, then dip the whole pop.

Chocolate Sprinkle Pops, the Easiest Design

If you only make one batch of Christmas cake pops, make these. Dip chocolate cake balls in melted chocolate and roll the bottom half in holiday sprinkles while the coating is still wet. Red, white and green nonpareils look festive with zero skill. They are perfect for little helpers. Which sprinkle color is a must at your house?

You will need: Chocolate cake balls, 12 oz milk or dark chocolate candy melts, 2 tsp coconut oil, red, green and white sprinkles, lollipop sticks.

How to make it: 1. Melt the chocolate with the coconut oil. 2. Insert the sticks and let them set 5 minutes. 3. Dip each pop and let the extra drip off. 4. Hold it over a bowl of sprinkles and spoon them on. 5. Stand the pops upright. 6. Let them set 15 minutes at room temperature.

Snowman Christmas Cake Pops

Snowmen are the most popular of all Christmas cake pops, and they are easier than they look. White coating, mini chocolate chips for eyes and buttons, and a tiny orange candy nose. A strip of fruit leather makes a cute scarf. Tip: add the face while the coating is still a little tacky so everything sticks. Do you give your snowman a hat?

You will need: Vanilla cake balls, 16 oz white candy melts, 1 tbsp coconut oil, mini chocolate chips, orange candy melts or orange sprinkles for noses, red fruit leather strips, lollipop sticks.

How to make it: 1. Dip the pops in the white coating. 2. Let them set 2 minutes until just tacky. 3. Press in mini chocolate chips for eyes and a smile. 4. Pipe or press a small orange nose. 5. Wrap a thin strip of fruit leather around the base as a scarf. 6. Stand the pops to set fully.

Reindeer Pops With Pretzel Antlers

Reindeer pops are the Christmas cake pops that make everyone smile. Dip chocolate cake balls in milk chocolate, then press two small pretzel twists on top for antlers, add candy eyes and a red candy nose. Tip: break the pretzels in half first so the antlers are not too heavy. Kids love naming each one. Which reindeer is your favorite?

You will need: Chocolate cake balls, 16 oz chocolate candy melts, 1 tbsp coconut oil, mini pretzel twists, candy eyes, red round candies or red sprinkles for noses, lollipop sticks.

How to make it: 1. Dip the pops in the chocolate coating. 2. While wet, press two pretzel halves into the top for antlers. 3. Add two candy eyes. 4. Add a red candy nose with a dot of melted chocolate. 5. Stand the pops in a foam block. 6. Let them set 20 minutes before moving.

Christmas Tree Cake Pops

Shape the dough into little cones instead of balls and you get Christmas trees. A green coating and a shake of tiny round sprinkles look like ornaments, and a yellow star sprinkle finishes the top. This is the design behind the 13 million view video, and it is great for a classroom party.

You will need: Vanilla or funfetti cake dough, 16 oz green candy melts, 1 tbsp coconut oil, round nonpareil sprinkles, yellow star sprinkles, lollipop sticks.

How to make it: 1. Shape the dough into small cones about 1 1/2 inches tall. 2. Chill 1 hour. 3. Insert the sticks into the flat bottoms with a little melted candy. 4. Dip each tree in green coating. 5. Add the sprinkle ornaments right away. 6. Press a star on top and let them set.

Santa Hat Pops

Santa hats are the most cheerful Christmas cake pops, and they are fast. Dip the pops in red candy melts, then pipe a white frosting band around the bottom and stick a mini marshmallow on top for the pom pom. They look adorable lined up on a white plate. Tip: use a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off for easy piping. Are you team Santa or team snowman?

You will need: Red velvet or vanilla cake balls, 16 oz red candy melts, 1 tbsp coconut oil, 1/2 cup white frosting, mini marshmallows, white sanding sugar, lollipop sticks.

How to make it: 1. Shape each ball slightly pointed at the top. 2. Dip in the red coating and let it set. 3. Pipe a thick band of white frosting around the base. 4. Sprinkle the band with sanding sugar. 5. Press a mini marshmallow on the tip. 6. Chill 10 minutes to firm up.

Pink Peppermint Pops

A little peppermint extract in the coating and a sprinkle of crushed candy canes turn plain pops into a holiday flavor everyone remembers. Tint the coating pale pink or keep it white with red stripes. These Christmas cake pops taste like a peppermint bark bite on a stick. Do you love peppermint or skip it?

You will need: Vanilla or chocolate cake balls, 16 oz white candy melts, 1 tbsp coconut oil, 1/4 tsp peppermint extract, a drop of pink or red food coloring, 4 crushed candy canes, lollipop sticks.

How to make it: 1. Melt the candy melts with the coconut oil. 2. Stir in the peppermint extract and a drop of color. 3. Dip the pops and let the extra drip off. 4. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes. 5. Drizzle with a little leftover white coating if you like. 6. Let them set upright.

Ornament Cake Balls

These look like shiny tree ornaments. Coat the balls in red, gold or silver colored candy, then add a mini candy cap on top with a loop of licorice lace or piped icing. Skip the stick and serve these Christmas cake pops in paper cups. They make a beautiful edible centerpiece on a white platter. Which color would you pick?

You will need: Cake balls, 24 oz candy melts in red and white, gold and silver edible luster dust, mini peanut butter cups or round candies for caps, thin licorice laces, paper candy cups.

How to make it: 1. Dip the balls in red or white coating and set them on parchment. 2. Let them set 15 minutes. 3. Brush some with gold or silver luster dust. 4. Attach a small candy cap on top with melted candy. 5. Add a tiny licorice loop. 6. Place each ball in a paper cup.

Gingerbread Christmas Cake Pops

Use spice cake mix plus a little ginger and molasses and your Christmas cake pops taste like gingerbread cookies. Dip them in white coating, drizzle with brown icing and finish with crushed gingersnaps. They look elegant and smell amazing. Tip: chill the drizzled pops 5 minutes so the lines stay sharp.

You will need: 1 box spice cake mix plus box ingredients, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tbsp molasses, 1/2 cup cream cheese frosting, 16 oz white candy melts, 2 oz chocolate candy melts, 1/2 cup crushed gingersnaps, lollipop sticks.

How to make it: 1. Stir the ginger and molasses into the cake batter and bake. 2. Cool, crumble and mix with the frosting. 3. Roll into balls, chill and insert sticks. 4. Dip in white coating. 5. Drizzle with melted chocolate candy. 6. Sprinkle with gingersnap crumbs and let them set.

Hot Cocoa Christmas Cake Pops With Mini Marshmallows

These taste like a mug of hot chocolate. Use chocolate cake with a spoonful of hot cocoa mix in the dough, dip in milk chocolate and top with mini marshmallows and a dusting of cocoa. Stand them in a mug full of marshmallows for the cutest gift. Would you rather have the pop or the real mug of cocoa?

You will need: Chocolate cake balls with 2 tbsp hot cocoa mix stirred into the dough, 16 oz chocolate candy melts, 1 tbsp coconut oil, mini marshmallows, cocoa powder, lollipop sticks.

How to make it: 1. Mix the cocoa mix into the cake dough and roll the balls. 2. Chill and insert the sticks. 3. Dip in the chocolate coating. 4. Press a few mini marshmallows on top while wet. 5. Dust lightly with cocoa powder. 6. Stand them in a mug or foam block to set.

No-Stick Cake Balls for Cookie Tins

Short on sticks or time? Skip them. Cake balls dipped in chocolate and set in mini paper cups pack beautifully in cookie tins next to fudge and cookies. Red velvet with a cream cheese frosting dough is the classic holiday flavor. Tip: dip with a fork and tap off the extra so the bottoms do not get thick feet.

You will need: 1 baked red velvet cake, 1/2 cup cream cheese frosting, 16 oz white or chocolate candy melts, 1 tbsp coconut oil, red sprinkles, mini paper cups.

How to make it: 1. Crumble the cake and mix with the frosting. 2. Roll into 1 inch balls and chill 1 hour. 3. Drop one ball at a time into the melted coating. 4. Lift it with a fork and tap off the extra. 5. Slide it onto parchment and add sprinkles. 6. Set in paper cups once firm.

How to Fix, Store and Gift Christmas Cake Pops

Pops cracking? The balls were too cold, so let them sit 5 minutes before dipping. Sliding off the stick? Too much frosting, or the ball was too big. Thick, lumpy coating? Thin it with a little coconut oil. Store finished pops in an airtight container in the fridge up to a week. Want more holiday baking? See our make-ahead Christmas desserts. Which design will you make first?

You will need: Small clear treat bags, curling ribbon, a foam block or a sturdy box with holes poked in the lid, an airtight container, paper candy cups.

How to make it: 1. Let set pops dry completely at room temperature. 2. Slide a clear treat bag over each one. 3. Tie with ribbon at the stick. 4. Stand them in a foam block or the lid of a box with holes. 5. Keep them cool and out of the sun. 6. Refrigerate leftovers up to 1 week.