Halloween cake pops

These spookily cute Halloween cake pops are so fun and so easy to make! Best of all, there's no need to bake with this recipe as it all starts with a store bought chocolate cake. 

It's hard to believe it only takes five ingredients to make these colourful cake pops with a fudgy chocolate filling and smooth candy melt shell, but it's true. You'll just need a chocolate cake, milk chocolate, candy melts, candy eyes and a few sprinkles!

Below, you'll find detailed step-by-step instructions, including a photo for every step, so you'll be sure to get perfect Halloween cake pops, every time!

You'll start by dropping a store-bought chocolate fudge cake into a bowl and breaking it up into small pieces. You'll then squish it together with your hands to form a sort of dough - this is your cake pop filling!

Next, you'll roll the dough into balls and push a cake pop stick into each of them, using a drop of melted chocolate to fix the sticks in place. The cake pops them need to firm up in the fridge before being dipped in candy melts.

Orange, green and purple melts give a strong Halloween feel, while candy eyes and Halloween sprinkles really complete the spooky look!

Here's the full recipe for Halloween cake pops. Enjoy!

Instructions

Make the cake pops 

Get the melted chocolate ready in a little bowl. 

Drop the chocolate cake into a bowl.

Cut up into rough pieces with a cutlery knife.

Use your hands to squeeze together into a smooth, slightly sticky dough.

Divide your cake mixture into 13-14 equally sized balls - you can get them really evenly sized by weighing out the mix and then weighing each ball, if you like. Mine were 30g each, which is a good size to work with. Try to get them as round as you possibly can by cupping your palms and rolling the mixture between them. Place them on a tray as you go.

Dip the very end of a cake pop stick into the melted chocolate, then push it into a cake ball about half way. The chocolate helps to hold the stick in the cake.

Put all of the cake pops onto a tray lined with baking paper and pop into the refrigerator for 1-2 hours to get cold and firm up. If you like, you can leave them overnight and finish making your cake pops in the morning.

Decorate the cake pops

You will need something to stand your cake pops in as you work. I used a cake pop stand, but an upturned colander or piece of polystyrene will also work.

Melt your candy melts according to the packet directions.

Take each cake pop in turn and dip them into the candy melts, gently coating on all sides. This can take a bit of practice to get right. Allow the pops to drip over the bowl - this will help avoid excess melts from dripping down the stick. If your melts seem too thick, you stir in a couple of drops of vegetable oil.

Add some sprinkles to some of the cake pops straight away, before the candy shell sets. Stand your cupcakes up and leave to set completely.

Once set, you can stick on the candy eyes in any patterns you like using a few dots of candy melt.

As the balls of chocolate cake were chilled, the candy melt coating will set quickly and you'll soon be ready to enjoy your delicious Halloween cake pops.

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect Halloween cake pops

Are Halloween cake pops easy to make?

Halloween cake pops are very easy to make as there's no baking involved. The most cooking you'll need to do is melt some chocolate and candy.

You'll smash up some store-bought chocolate cake and roll pieces into balls, then push in the Cake pop sticks, coat in candy melts and decorate! Getting an even coat on the Cake pops can be a little tricky at first, but there are plenty of tips and photos in the recipe and extra advice below to help you get great results. So it's a fun and low-stress recipe, ideal for making with your kids.

Will I need any special equipment to make Halloween cake pops?

Cake pops are really easy to make, so there are only a couple of things you might not have for this recipe. You'll need weighing scales, heatproof bowls, and cutlery for the main part of the recipe. To shape and decorate the cake pops you'll also need Cake pop sticks and a Cake pop stand, which you might not have at home, but they're easy to find in a store or online. If you can’t find a Cake pop stand, you can also use a colander to hold your Cake pops instead.

Where can I buy cake pop sticks?

Cake pops are a popular recipe with kids and adults, and you can make them for any holiday or celebration. So it's usually easy to find Cake pop sticks in most supermarket baking aisles, craft stores or homeware stores all year round.

However, if you can't find them in-store, online retailers like Etsy or Amazon have a wide range of Cake pop sticks and other Cake pop making equipment (like stands and fun decorations). 

It’s worth noting that you can also use paper or wooden lollipop sticks as Cake pop sticks. So if you can’t find Cake pop sticks, try searching for lollipop sticks, they’re often identical to Cake pop sticks.

Where can I buy candy melts?

Candy melts are little discs that melt into a similar consistency to melted chocolate. However, they're easier to use, as you don't have to be as precise with temperature and timing as you would when melting chocolate. 

Some larger supermarkets might have candy melts in their baking sections. However, you're more likely to find them in a cake decorating store or craft store. And as with most things, you can find a good selection of candy melts on Amazon.

Candy melts come in different shapes and colours. So, on a shelf, they might look like a bag of chocolate buttons. 

Where can I buy candy eyes?

As more people discovered a love for baking during the pandemic, you might have noticed that your supermarket baking section has expanded. So you can probably find candy eyes in your nearest large supermarket.

However, if you can't find them in-store, Etsy, Amazon and online cake decoration retailers have various styles and sizes of candy eyes available.

You can use candy eyes on Cake pops, birthday cakes or any other fun baking project, so they're generally available all year round. They're easy to fix in place using a little blob of icing, melted chocolate or even edible glue.

Where can I buy Halloween sprinkles?

Halloween sprinkles are cake sprinkles (or "hundreds and thousands") in Halloween themed colours (Orange, black, purple, green, red). 

If you're in the U.K., U.S or Australia, you'll probably find Halloween sprinkles in a supermarket baking or seasonal aisle. However, the best options tend to be in specialised cake decoration stores or online retailers, as you can buy them all year round and in a wider range of colours and styles. 

Some sellers on Etsy even offer special Halloween sprinkles with extra fun bits like eyeballs or bat-shaped sprinkles.

If you search online for 'Halloween sprinkles' or 'Halloween cake decorations', you'll be able to find some great options wherever you're based.

How can I tell if the chocolate fudge cake is old/gone off?

It would be best to use a store-bought cake for this recipe, which should be within the use-by/ sell-by date. 

Store-bought cakes generally go stale slower than homemade cakes. However, if you open the box close to the sell-by date and find the cake feels dry, smells unusual or even has visible signs of being out of date (strange colour, mould), then you shouldn't use it.

How can I tell if the milk chocolate is old/gone off?

Milk chocolate is generally safe to use for up to one year from purchase if unopened and stored correctly. This is because chocolate has low water content, and cocoa butter stabilises the chocolate - both of these things reduce the chance of bacteria developing.

However, it probably isn't the freshest chocolate if it has surface cracks or a white 'bloom' or haziness. While it's safe to use if it's within its use-by date, you'll get better results with fresh chocolate.

How can I tell if the candy melts, candy eyes or sprinkles are old/gone off?

Candy melts, candy eyes and sprinkles are mainly made from sugar and have low water content, so they generally last a long time. Many have long shelf lives ranging from 18 months to 10 years.

It's best to follow the packet instructions, but if you open a pack and they look strange or smell different, you shouldn't use them.

Are Halloween cake pops suitable for vegetarians?

The Halloween cake pops recipe doesn't contain any meat and can be made vegetarian. 

However, some ingredients like sprinkles, candy melts or candy eyes might contain animal-derived ingredients like shellac. Shellac is made using insects and is often used in candy to give products a shiny coating. The recipe will be vegetarian if you can choose to buy ingredients with no derived animal products. 

So double-check all of your ingredients labels to make sure that they are suitable for vegetarians. And don't forget to check any sauces or extras you might include when serving.

Are Halloween cake pops suitable for vegans?

While the Halloween cake pop recipe contains non-vegan ingredients, it can be made vegan. 

The recipe requires you to use store-bought chocolate fudge cake. However, thanks to the popularity of "Veganuary", supermarkets have expanded vegan offerings dramatically in the last few years. So, there are often vegan cakes available in larger supermarkets or from vegan or health stores.

If you can't find a full-sized vegan cake, you can use vegan cupcakes as long as you get enough to make up the correct weight for the recipe. 

Alternatively, there are dry vegan fudge cake mixes available on Amazon, so if you can't find a vegan fudge cake in your area, you can buy a dry mix and make one according to the packet instructions.

As for the other ingredients, it's worth checking your sprinkles, candy melts, and candy eyes for animal-derived products, as some candy products include shellac. Shellac is an ingredient made from insects to give the candy a shiny surface - appropriate for Halloween but not for vegans!

So just double-check all of your labels to make sure that your ingredients are suitable for vegans. And don't forget to check the labels of any sauces or extra toppings you might use.

Is this Halloween cake pops recipe gluten-free?

You can make the Halloween cake pops recipe gluten-free if you replace the store-bought cake with a gluten-free cake.

Gluten-free cakes are available in most large stores, but there are other options if you can't find them in your local store. For example, the popular Betty Crocker line includes a gluten-free Devil's Food Chocolate Cake dry mix, which would be ideal for this recipe.

Candy melts, candy eyes and sprinkles are generally gluten-free as the main ingredients are sugar, oil and colouring agents. However, it's always safer to double-check all of your labels to make sure that your ingredients are gluten-free. And don't forget to check the labels of any sauces or extra toppings you might use.

Are Halloween cake pops keto-friendly?

You need to use a chocolate fudge cake, candy melts, chocolate, candy eyes, and sprinkles to make Halloween cake pops. Chocolate fudge cakes include flour, and the other ingredients all include sugar. 

This means that the recipe isn't suitable for a ketogenic diet and can't be easily adapted.

Are these Halloween cake pops healthy?

Halloween cake pops include a lot of sugar and fat. So while they aren't technically healthy, you can still enjoy them as a treat within a healthy diet.

Are Halloween cake pops safe to eat while pregnant?

While it isn't the healthiest snack, Halloween cake pops should be safe to eat when pregnant as they contain no ingredients listed as unsafe for pregnant women. 

As long as you make sure you aren't allergic to any of the ingredients, all the ingredients are in good condition and prepare this meal safely and hygienically, Halloween cake pops should be safe to eat.

However, A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. Please seek help from a medical professional if you need further information or have any concerns.

What could I serve with Halloween cake pops?

Cake pops look great as a table centrepiece as part of a full spread of baked goods or a buffet. Or you can serve them on their own for a show-stopping dessert. 

Cake pops are also ideal for dipping. So you could serve them with a fruit sauce, a melted chocolate fondue, a chocolate fountain or any other sweet dip.

Can I use chocolate instead of candy melts?

You can use chocolate instead of candy melts, but you'll need to take more care when melting the chocolate to ensure it doesn't burn or overcook; this is done by 'tempering' the chocolate. You'll also need to work quickly to dip your cake pops into the chocolate once it reaches the correct temperature so that the chocolate sets with a smooth sheen and doesn't crumble when dry. 

You'll need a thermometer while tempering chocolate. You can temper chocolate in different ways, but this is one of the easiest methods:

• Chop up your chocolate into small pieces. 
• Then, place 1/4 of your chopped chocolate into a bain-marie or heatproof bowl over a pot of boiling water, and melt the chocolate until it is 50 degrees centigrade while gently stirring to ensure it evenly melts. 
• Remove the chocolate from the heat and set aside around 1/3 of the melted chocolate - keep it in a warm place, so it doesn't set. 
• Then gradually add the remaining chopped chocolate to the melted chocolate, stirring, so it melts in. 
• Add the set aside 1/3 melted chocolate to the bowl to raise the temperature. You should keep checking the temperature to ensure the melted chocolate stays at around 28-30 degrees centigrade.
• Once the chocolate is melted, it should look glossy and smooth with no unmelted chunks. 
• At this point, you can dip your cake pops and work quickly to decorate them before the chocolate dries.

As you can see, it's much more complex to use melted chocolate, so it's probably better to save this recipe for when you can find candy melts.

Can I make my own cake instead of using a store-bought one?

Yes, it's entirely up to you if you want to make your own cake! As long as you have the correct cake weight for the recipe, using your own cake or a store-bought cake is fine.

We have an easy (and delicious) fudge cake recipe here. However, you can also substitute this with a recipe for a gluten-free, vegan or any other recipe adapted for your dietary requirements.

I haven't got candy eyes, what else can I use?

Don’t worry if you can't find candy eyes. You can always improvise with some readily available replacements. 

For example, you could make your own icing eyes by placing two blobs of white icing on the cake pops and using black (or any colour) icing for pupils. 

Or you could use white chocolate mini-buttons and black icing (or chocolate) like we did here.

How should I store Halloween cake pops?

If you want to prepare the cake pops in stages ahead of time so that you and your children can easily assemble them, you can make the cake pop balls and store them in the fridge for a couple of days. 

You can keep your fully made cake pops in the fridge in an airtight container for a couple of weeks. While your candy melt coated cake pops will look perfect for longer, if you use chocolate to cover your cake pops, they might develop a cloudy coating (called 'blooming'), though it won't affect the taste.

Alternatively, you could freeze your fully made cake pops in an airtight container, where they'll keep for at least six weeks.

How long do Halloween cake pops keep?

If you somehow have any Halloween cake pops left over, they should keep for a couple of days in an airtight container. Or, you can store them in the fridge in an airtight container for a couple of weeks.

If you're super organised, you could freeze fully made, candy melt coated cake pops in an airtight container and they'll keep for at least six weeks. However, you should probably freeze them without decorations and decorate them once defrosted to avoid them looking scruffy.

Can I leave Halloween cake pops out on the counter?

As there's no buttercream, you can store your Halloween cake pops in an airtight container on the counter. However, as with all cakes, they will last longer if you keep them in the fridge (two weeks) or freezer (six weeks).

So if you're low on fridge or freezer space, you can keep them short term. However, make sure to spread the cake pops out within the container so that the coatings don't stick together.

Can I make Halloween cake pops ahead?

While they're fun to make with kids, you can also make Halloween cake pops ahead of time. You can store your coated cake pops in an airtight container for two weeks in the fridge or at least six weeks in the freezer. 

Though if you want your cake pops to look perfect on the day, it's probably best to save decorating them until just before serving in case the decorations fall off during storage.

Can I keep Halloween cake pops in the refrigerator?

Storing your Halloween cake pops in the fridge is the best way to keep them fresher for longer. You can space them out in a single layer inside an airtight container to reduce the chance of damaging the decorations. 

Your Halloween cake pops should last for up to two weeks when stored in the fridge.

Can I freeze Halloween cake pops?

You can store your Halloween cake pops in the freezer for around six weeks. However, they might be more prone to cracking and losing some of their decorations, especially if you coated your cake pops with chocolate. So, it's best to store them in a fridge.

What is the best way to defrost Halloween cake pops?

The best way to defrost your Halloween cake pops is to place them in a cake pop stand (or use an upturned colander) and leave them in the fridge overnight. Placing your cake pops in the refrigerator helps them gradually and evenly defrost and reduces the chance of damage.

Can I make Halloween cake pops in a different quantity?

If you want to make more or less of this recipe, that's fine. We have a handy tool on our recipe cards that can help you adjust the quantities and ratios. 

On the recipe card, you'll see the servings near the top left. To change this to the number of Halloween cake pops you want to make, just click on the amount, and a little slider will pop up. You can move the slider up or down to choose the amount of Halloween cake pops you want to make.

All the ingredient quantities will update automatically for you so that everything is in the correct ratios.

Can I make one giant cake pop?

While it isn't is impossible, making a giant cake pop is just making a spherical cake. So, while making a giant cake pop is possible, it will be challenging for it to stand on a stick unless you use a very big stick and reinforce it. 

For the best of both worlds, you could make a large spherical cake with several Halloween cake pops sticking out of the cake. 

Can I make this recipe in a stand mixer such as a KitchenAid or Kenwood Mixer?

This recipe uses a store-bought chocolate fudge cake, so you don't need to use a stand mixer. However, you can make your own chocolate fudge cake if you have special dietary requirements, i.e. gluten-free or vegan.  

So, while you don't need a stand mixer for the recipe, you can use a stand mixer if you choose to make your own cake.

Can I make this recipe with a food processor?

To make Halloween cake pops, you need to cut up a chocolate fudge cake into small pieces and form them into balls. 

You could use a food processor to break up the chocolate fudge cake. Though you should take care not to over blitz the cake, or it could end up forming a sticky paste which would be difficult to use.

How can I make sure my cake pops come out perfectly?

Halloween cake pops are an easy recipe to get right, and if you follow the recipe, they should turn out great! The recipe includes lots of helpful pictures so you can see if you're on the right track as you go along. 

However, don't worry if they don't turn out perfectly! Even if they don't look perfect, they'll still be delicious. And if you're making Halloween cake pops with your children, having fun is the most important thing!

Why do my Halloween cake pops keep falling apart?

If your cake pops are falling apart, it might be because there are uneven lumps in the cake pop mix that keep it from holding together properly. So, make sure you have crumbled the cake crumb evenly. Using a food processor is a good way to do this. Just take care not to blend it too much, as you might end up with more of a cake paste.

An easy way to check if your crumbled cake mix is even is to shake the bowl vigorously. When you do this, any large lumps will work their way to the top, and then you can break them down. 

Equally, you need to make sure there's enough frosting in the mixture for it to hold together. Try to mix the fudge cake's frosting through the crumb until it's evenly distributed. Test the mixture by picking up a small handful of the cake pop mix and then press it into a ball shape in your hand. 

Make sure when you shape the cake balls that you squeeze them tight, so they stick. Then make sure to let them 'set' in the fridge for at least an hour before coating in the candy melt or chocolate.

Why did my Halloween cake pops crack after I coated them?

There are a couple of reasons why your cake pops might crack after you've coated them. First, even if you followed the recipe perfectly, things like temperature could work against you. If your melted chocolate or candy melts are too hot and the cake pop is too cold, the sudden heat difference can cause the coating to crack. If your chocolate or candy melts are melted but not piping hot, you're less likely to have cracked Halloween cake pops, and it'll be safer to work with too.

Another reason they might crack is that the cake mix inside could be expanding. This might happen because the cake balls haven't set for long enough in the fridge, or the mixture was too dry. So make sure you leave the formed balls to set in the fridge for at least an hour and ensure that there is enough frosting from the cake in the mixture to form a moist mix.

Why did my Halloween cake pops slide down the stick?

Your Halloween cake pops might slide down the stick if they haven't been chilled for long enough in the fridge. If your cake balls are chilled and set well, they will hold to the stick, even when dipped into the warm chocolate or candy melt. 

It's also vital that you make sure to dip your cake pop sticks into chocolate or candy melts before pushing them into the cake pop balls. This is so that the candy melts or chocolate can work as a sort of glue to help hold the sticks in place.

Why are my candy melts thick and hard to use?

Your candy melts can be thick and hard to use if they cool too quickly. So it's best to keep the bowl in a warm place to avoid the melted candy melts setting too quickly while you work.

How can I add/change the flavours in these Halloween cake pops?

If you want to change the flavours in the Halloween cake pops, there are a few options. 

You could use a different cake for the filling. As long as you make sure to include frosting to hold the mixture together, you could use a classic vanilla sponge or any other flavoured cake. 

You can also add flavouring to the candy melts or use chocolate (milk, white, dark) for the coating. However, if you use chocolate, make sure that you temper it correctly, so it doesn't crumble or look dull when cooled.

What are some more ideas for decorating my Halloween cake pops?

You could make your cake pops look like pumpkins by shaping the cake mixture into a pumpkin shape, using a cocktail stick to add pumpkin-like grooves into the sides of the balls. Then after setting the balls in the fridge, coat them in an orange candy melt and use black icing to make a Jack-O-Lantern style face.

Or, for a more gruesome Halloween treat, you could turn your cake pops into cake eyeballs. First, make sure to coat your cake pop in a white candy melt or chocolate. Then you can use edible pens or icing to decorate your cake pops so they look like bloodshot eyeballs.

Who invented cake pops?

Cake pops were invented in 2008 by the baking blogger Angie Dudley aka 'Bakerella'. She first posted her recipe for cake pops as 'Cakesicles'. However, it wasn't until she posted a recipe for cupcake-shaped cake pops that the recipe went viral and became the staple it is today in many coffee shops and bakeries. 

Why do we eat sweet things on Halloween?

Halloween is believed to have been initially a Gaelic celebration to honour the dead called Samhain. The original Gaelic festival involved making food to honour the dead. Some scholars believe Samhain became All Saints (or All Souls) Day, which eventually became Halloween. The new Christian version of the celebration kept some elements, including making food to honour the dead. One All Saints recipe was 'Soul Cakes' made with sweet ingredients and saffron, which were left for souls or shared between Christened people. Over the years, the celebration grew to reflect contemporary tastes, including sweet treats like candy and cakes. Halloween, as we know it today, is heavily influenced by the many Irish-Americans who emigrated in the 20th century and popularised the festival there.  

Let me know how you get on. I'd love to see your creations!

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