Festive Christmas Cake Pops

You can easily make cake pops to serve for your Christmas desserts this year. All you need are red, white and green candy melts and sprinkles to dress up cake pops for Christmas. Paint candy cane stripes on the sticks to make these even more festive. 

Supplies 

Sheet cake
Can of frosting
Baking tray
Wax paper
Microwave-safe bowls
Candy melts (red, green and white)
Shortening
Lollipop sticks
Sprinkles or sanding sugar (red, green and white)
Small bowls or plates
Food coloring (red and green)
Paint brush
Styrofoam block

Note: Find the candy melts, lollipop sticks, sprinkles, food coloring, paint brush and Styrofoam block at the craft store. For the sheet cake, use your favorite recipe or store-bought cake mix. For shortening, I use Crisco. This is optional, but adding shortening to candy melts helps achieve a much better dipping consistency. 

Directions

Make your cake balls.

Crumble the sheet cake into a large mixing bowl. Add 1 1/3 cup of the frosting and mix well. It helps to mix with your hands until the mixture is moist and holds together in a ball. Roll the mixture into balls about 1 to 1 ½ inches in diameter. Place on a baking tray(s) lined with wax paper and freeze for 15 minutes. Move the tray(s) to the refrigerator while you are working with the cake balls. (This recipe may be halved.)

Melt your candy melts.

Candy melts harden quickly, so only work with one color at a time. Pour candy melts and, if desired, a couple teaspoons, up to a tablespoon, of shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt the candy melts according to the package directions, stirring until smooth. 

Dip your cake pops.

Work with one cake pop at a time. Dip the tip of a lollipop stick in the melted candy melts, then insert into the cake ball. Dip the cake pop into the melted candy melts quickly to completely submerge. Tap the excess, then hold the cake pop over a plate and generously sprinkle sprinkles over the cake pop to completely coat. Prop the cake pop in a Styrofoam block to dry. 

Paint your sticks.

Pour a few drops of red or green food coloring on a piece of wax paper. Wet your paint brush, dip in the food coloring and carefully paint stripes on the lollipop sticks. Let dry.