Description

These Halloween Cake Pops are made from moist chocolate fudge cake, shaped into balls, dipped in colorful candy coatings, and decorated as ghosts, pumpkins, and monsters. They’re fun to make, perfect for parties, and guaranteed to impress!

Ingredients

Scale

15 oz chocolate fudge cake mix, prepared in a 9×13 dish and cooled
½ cup butter
2 tablespoons shortening
1 cup powdered sugar
½ cup cocoa powder
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2–3 tablespoons milk
8 oz white candy melts
8 oz orange candy melts
10 oz green candy melts
10 oz black candy melts
30 candy eyeballs
20 candy corn pieces
10 heart sprinkles (for vampire mouths or monster decorations)
40 lollipop sticks (6-inch)
Piping bags (or ziplock bags with a snipped corner)

Instructions

Prepare the cake:
Bake the chocolate fudge cake according to the package directions in a 9×13 pan. Let it cool completely.
Make the frosting:
In a bowl, beat butter and shortening until creamy. Add powdered sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, and 2 tablespoons of milk. Beat until smooth, adding more milk if needed for a thick but spreadable consistency.
Form the cake balls:
Crumble the cooled cake into fine crumbs in a large bowl. Add ½ to ¾ cup of frosting and mix with your hands until the texture is moist and holds together. Roll into 1½-inch balls and place on a parchment-lined tray.
Insert sticks and chill:
Melt a small amount of any candy melts. Dip the end of each lollipop stick into the melted candy, then insert it halfway into each cake ball. Chill for at least 1 hour or freeze for 15 minutes until firm.
Melt the candy coatings:
Place each color of candy melts into separate microwave-safe bowls. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Add a teaspoon of shortening if the coating seems too thick.
Dip and decorate:
Working with a few pops at a time, dip each chilled cake pop into the desired color and gently tap off excess coating. Stick the pops upright in a foam block or cake pop stand to set. Decorate immediately before the coating hardens.
Create spooky characters:
- Ghosts: Use white candy melts and attach candy eyeballs before the coating dries. Pipe on small black mouths once set.
- Pumpkins: Dip in orange candy melts, then draw vertical lines using a piping bag filled with melted orange or brown coating. Add a green candy stem or a candy corn top.
- Monsters: Dip in green or black candy melts. Add candy eyes, heart sprinkles as mouths or fangs, and drizzle different colors for texture.
- Vampires: Use black candy melts, add red heart “mouths,” and draw fangs with white melted candy.
Let them set completely:
Allow the candy coating to harden fully at room temperature (about 30 minutes) before serving or packaging.

Notes

Active prep: 40 minutes
Chilling time: 1 hour
Tip: Always ensure the cake pops are well-chilled before dipping—cold pops prevent cracking and keep the candy coating smooth. If your candy coating becomes thick, add a teaspoon of vegetable oil or shortening to loosen it up.