Jack-o-lantern Cake Pops

First before I go into how we did our batch I want to give credit where it is due. This is not a new idea… we created ours after seeing them at the Bakerella site. She is amazing. We have made these twice so far. And each time we learn something new. The 2nd time is far easier than the 1st. Why?? We didn’t follow the directions exactly and use exactly what she suggested. So I thought I would post what NOT to do , and what TO do.

What you will need:

Cake Mix (we used German chocolate)
Cake Frosting (again German chocolate frosting of pecan / coconut)
Eggs/Water/Oil for your Cake Mix
Merckens Candy Coating in orange
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Gourmet Writer Pen in Black
Lollipop Sticks
Block of Styrofoam

Many of the supplies listed here are in my SHOP. If you need to purchase these items, you can find them here or at your local cake decorating store may carry them.

THINGS NOT TO DO – Do not use Wilton Candy Melts. They are not for coating they are only for making molds and making actual melts you eat in different shapes etc. It is not advised to try and cover your cake pops. They will not go on smooth. (We Know 1st hand). Also DO NOT try and use Wilton Cake/Cookie Writers. They will not write on the chocolate. They are more for dry cookies. Not candy/frosting/icing. We wasted money on that too!

Now.. on to the things you SHOULD do…

You can use any cake mix and cake frosting you wish. We just choose german chocolate.

Start off my mixing up your cake mix according to your box. Pour into a greased 9×13 pan, bake according to the box directions. Once baked, let it cool completely.

After cake is cooled, crumble up the cake into a bowl, then scoop in your entire container of cake frosting. Mix well. I find it easier to use my hands to make this dough. It will make a wet cake dough you can see my photos below. (CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE)

I like to put my cake in the refrigerator to set. Once it sets and gets thicker approx 30 minutes. I use a cookie scooper. And scoop out and roll round balls of cake pop mix. Onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet. That way I also know all of them are about the same size.

Once I roll out all of the cake balls. I put them into the freezer for a quick set. While they are setting. I melt a small amount of candy coating. I just happened to use white since I had a little bit left over. I get everything set up with my lollipop sticks and melted candy coating.

I remove each of the trays and take my lollipop stick and dip one end into the melted candy coating. I then press one stick 3/4 of the way into each cake pop ball. It makes approx 43-48 cake pops. I put them back in the freezer for a little bit to set. This allows for the stick to set well into the cake pop ball.

I melt orange candy coatings in a glass. I want it to be deep with candy coating that when I dip into it, it completely coats my cake pop all at once. I microwaved the candy coating. Be careful you can over heat it. Chad microwaved it 30 seconds, then stirred it , and 30 seconds again. That was all we needed in our microwave.

We then took the cake pops out of the freezer. and one by one, dipped them in and lightly tapped it on the side to help tap off any of the excess coating. Then using the Styrofoam block that we got at the local craft store (we left the plastic that came on it) Poked the Lollipop stick int to help stand up. It will harden VERY quickly. While it is wet we placed one semi-sweet chocolate chip on the top for the top of a pumpkin. You can use anything, I have seen people use large sprinkles in green, or a green tick-tack on the top. Be creative.

Once we dipped all of our cake pops, and they dried hardened, the color of the pops got very orange. Then using the Gourmet Writer pen, made faces on the cake pops.

My 2 children last week decorated terracotta pots, painted them for Halloween. I then put Styrofoam inside of it, and hid the Styrofoam with green spider webbing. And put a few Cake Pops in their painted pots.

That’s pretty much it. Its easy, and Chad and I did 48 pops in less than an hour. My son’s birthday is in 2 days and he requested a Pumpkin Cake w/ Cream Cheese frosting and Pumpkin Cake Pops stuck in it. Whatever my little man wants. 🙂

1 more piece of information– since we used German chocolate and the coconut frosting. Just before we dipped into the candy coating. We smoothed down some of the coconut that may be sticking out. Since it is more textured than using a smoother frosting.  You can use almost any combination you want (cake/frosting).