13 Easy Christmas Cake Pop Recipes For The Holidays

Listen, I love a good Christmas cookie as much as the next person, but can we talk about how cake pops are where it’s at for holiday parties? They’re adorable, portable, don’t require plates or forks, and honestly? They’re way more fun to make than rolling out sugar cookie dough for the millionth time.

These 13 easy Christmas cake pop recipes transform basic ingredients into festive little bites that look like you spent hours on them (spoiler: you didn’t). Whether you’re bringing treats to the office party, need something for the kids’ school celebration, or just want to impress your in-laws, these Christmas cake pop recipes deliver maximum wow factor with minimum stress. Plus, decorating them is basically therapeutic—like edible arts and crafts with the bonus of eating your masterpiece.

1. Classic Red Velvet Santa Hat Pops

Nothing says Christmas like red velvet, and these little Santa hats are almost too cute to eat. Almost.

Ingredients

• 1 box red velvet cake mix (plus ingredients listed on box)
• 1/2 cup cream cheese frosting
• White candy melts
• Red candy melts
• White sprinkles or coconut flakes
• Lollipop sticks

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Bake red velvet cake according to package directions and let cool completely.
2. Crumble cake into fine crumbs in a large bowl.
3. Mix in cream cheese frosting until mixture holds together when squeezed.
4. Roll into 1-inch balls and insert lollipop sticks.
5. Freeze for 15 minutes.
6. Melt red candy melts and dip each pop, leaving the top bare.
7. Before red coating sets, dip the bare top in white candy melts.
8. Roll the white part in white sprinkles or coconut for the furry trim.

Why You’ll Love It

They’re festive without being complicated, and that cream cheese frosting keeps them incredibly moist. I made these for my niece’s class party and the kids went absolutely wild. Pro tip: The freezing step is crucial—skip it and your pops will fall apart.

2. Peppermint Bark Cake Pops

All the peppermint bark vibes without needing to temper chocolate.

Ingredients

• 1 box chocolate cake mix (plus box ingredients)
• 1/2 cup chocolate frosting
• White chocolate candy melts
• Crushed candy canes
• Red and white striped lollipop sticks

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Bake and cool chocolate cake completely.
2. Crumble into fine pieces.
3. Mix with chocolate frosting until moldable.
4. Form into balls and insert striped sticks.
5. Freeze for 15 minutes.
6. Dip in melted white chocolate.
7. Immediately sprinkle with crushed candy canes before coating hardens.

Why You’ll Love It

The candy cane crunch against the smooth chocolate is addictive. These taste like peppermint bark but in a much easier format. IMO, using striped sticks makes them look extra festive without any additional work.

3. Gingerbread Man Cake Pops

Tiny gingerbread men that won’t judge you for eating five in a row.

Ingredients

• 1 box spice cake mix (plus box ingredients)
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup cream cheese frosting
• Light brown candy melts
• White icing for decorating
• Mini chocolate chips

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Add ginger and cinnamon to cake mix before baking.
2. Bake according to directions and cool.
3. Crumble and mix with cream cheese frosting.
4. Shape into gingerbread man forms (or just balls if you’re not feeling ambitious).
5. Insert sticks and freeze 15 minutes.
6. Dip in melted brown candy melts.
7. Use white icing to draw buttons and faces.
8. Add mini chocolate chips for eyes.

Why You’ll Love It

They smell like Christmas and taste even better. The extra spices really amp up the gingerbread flavor. My friend tried making actual gingerbread man shapes and gave up after two—balls work just fine and taste the same 🙂

4. Hot Chocolate Cake Pops

Like drinking hot cocoa, but in cake pop form with mini marshmallows.

Ingredients

• 1 box chocolate cake mix (plus box ingredients)
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup chocolate frosting
• Chocolate candy melts
• Mini marshmallows
• White chocolate drizzle

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Add cocoa powder to cake mix for extra chocolate intensity.
2. Bake, cool, and crumble.
3. Mix with chocolate frosting.
4. Roll into balls and add sticks.
5. Freeze for 15 minutes.
6. Dip in melted chocolate candy melts.
7. While coating is wet, press 2-3 mini marshmallows on top.
8. Drizzle with melted white chocolate.

Why You’ll Love It

The marshmallows look adorable and add this fun texture contrast. These are basically hot chocolate in solid form, and honestly? That’s kind of genius. Kids absolutely love these.

5. Snowman Cake Pops

The most Instagram-worthy Christmas cake pops you’ll ever make.

Ingredients

• 1 box vanilla cake mix (plus box ingredients)
• 1/2 cup vanilla frosting
• White candy melts
• Orange candy melts (for noses)
• Black edible marker or mini chocolate chips
• Pretzel sticks (for arms)
• Mini chocolate chips for buttons

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Bake vanilla cake and let cool.
2. Crumble and mix with vanilla frosting.
3. Form into slightly oval shapes for snowman bodies.
4. Insert sticks and freeze.
5. Dip in white candy melts.
6. While wet, add pretzel stick “arms” on sides.
7. Let coating harden completely.
8. Use edible marker or melted chocolate to draw faces.
9. Shape tiny orange candy melt noses and attach.
10. Add mini chocolate chip buttons.

Why You’ll Love It

They’re ridiculously cute and surprisingly easy. The pretzel arms are my favorite detail—they add so much personality. FYI, you can buy pre-made candy eyeballs if you’re not confident in your drawing skills.

6. Eggnog Spice Cake Pops

Eggnog haters need not apply—these are for the true believers.

Ingredients

• 1 box yellow cake mix (replace water with eggnog)
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup cream cheese frosting
• Vanilla candy melts
• Gold sprinkles
• Edible glitter (optional but recommended)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare cake mix using eggnog instead of water, adding nutmeg and cinnamon.
2. Bake, cool, and crumble.
3. Mix with cream cheese frosting.
4. Roll into balls and add sticks.
5. Freeze 15 minutes.
6. Dip in melted vanilla candy melts.
7. Sprinkle with gold sprinkles and edible glitter while wet.

Why You’ll Love It

They taste exactly like eggnog in cake form, which is either your dream or nightmare depending on where you stand on eggnog. The gold sprinkles make them look fancy enough for any holiday party. These are my personal favorite on this list.

7. Candy Cane Swirl Cake Pops

Visually stunning and peppermint-perfect.

Ingredients

• 1 box vanilla cake mix (plus box ingredients)
• 1/2 cup vanilla frosting
• White candy melts
• Red candy melts
• Peppermint extract
• Crushed candy canes (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Bake vanilla cake and cool completely.
2. Crumble and mix with frosting plus 1/2 tsp peppermint extract.
3. Form into balls and insert sticks.
4. Freeze 15 minutes.
5. Melt white and red candy melts in separate bowls.
6. Drizzle red melts into white melts and swirl gently with a toothpick—don’t overmix!
7. Dip pops into swirled candy melts for a marbled effect.
8. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes if desired.

Why You’ll Love It

The swirl effect looks incredibly professional but takes zero skill. Each pop comes out unique, which somehow makes them even more special. The peppermint flavor is subtle but definitely present.

8. Christmas Tree Cake Pops

Tiny edible Christmas trees that don’t shed needles all over your floor.

Ingredients

• 1 box chocolate cake mix (plus box ingredients)
• 1/2 cup chocolate frosting
• Green candy melts
• Multi-colored sprinkles
• Yellow star sprinkles or candies

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Bake chocolate cake and cool.
2. Crumble and mix with chocolate frosting.
3. Shape into cone/triangle forms for trees.
4. Insert sticks from the bottom and freeze 15 minutes.
5. Dip in melted green candy melts.
6. While coating is wet, add colorful sprinkles as “ornaments.”
7. Top with a yellow star sprinkle.

Why You’ll Love It

They’re festive, fun to decorate, and kids can totally help with the sprinkle part. Some people try to make them perfectly cone-shaped, but honestly? Imperfect trees have more character.

9. Red and Green Ornament Cake Pops

Classic Christmas colors in the simplest format possible.

Ingredients

• 1 box vanilla cake mix (plus box ingredients)
• 1/2 cup vanilla frosting
• Red candy melts
• Green candy melts
• Gold luster dust or gold sprinkles
• Small gold dragées (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Bake vanilla cake and cool.
2. Crumble and mix with frosting.
3. Roll into perfectly round balls.
4. Insert sticks and freeze 15 minutes.
5. Dip half the pops in red candy melts, half in green.
6. While wet, dust with gold luster dust or sprinkle with gold sprinkles.
7. Add a gold dragée at the top to mimic an ornament hook.

Why You’ll Love It

They’re elegant and simple—perfect for a more sophisticated holiday gathering. The gold detail makes them look expensive. I arrange these on a tiered stand for maximum impact.

10. Snickerdoodle Christmas Cake Pops

Cinnamon sugar goodness in portable form.

Ingredients

• 1 box vanilla cake mix (plus box ingredients)
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup cream cheese frosting
• Vanilla or white candy melts
• Cinnamon sugar (1/4 cup sugar + 1 tbsp cinnamon)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Add 2 tsp cinnamon to cake mix before baking.
2. Bake, cool, and crumble.
3. Mix with cream cheese frosting.
4. Roll into balls and insert sticks.
5. Freeze 15 minutes.
6. Dip in white candy melts.
7. Immediately roll in cinnamon sugar before coating hardens.

Why You’ll Love It

They taste like snickerdoodle cookies but with cake texture. The cinnamon sugar coating adds crunch and extra flavor. These are perfect for people who don’t want super chocolatey or minty treats.

11. White Christmas Coconut Cake Pops

For when you’re dreaming of a white Christmas (and coconut).

Ingredients

• 1 box white cake mix (plus box ingredients)
• 1/2 cup coconut cream frosting
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut (mixed into cake)
• White candy melts
• Sweetened shredded coconut (for coating)
• White edible glitter

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Bake white cake according to directions.
2. While still warm, mix in 1/2 cup shredded coconut.
3. Cool completely and crumble.
4. Mix with coconut cream frosting.
5. Form into balls and add sticks.
6. Freeze 15 minutes.
7. Dip in white candy melts.
8. Roll in shredded coconut and dust with edible glitter.

Why You’ll Love It

They’re like little snowballs but actually taste good. The coconut flavor is subtle but definitely there. These look absolutely stunning on a dessert table—pure white and sparkly.

12. Chocolate Peppermint Patty Pops

For the peppermint patty lovers who deserve cake pop form.

Ingredients

• 1 box chocolate cake mix (plus box ingredients)
• 1/2 cup chocolate frosting
• 1 tsp peppermint extract
• Dark chocolate candy melts
• Crushed peppermint patties
• White chocolate drizzle

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Bake chocolate cake and cool.
2. Crumble and mix with chocolate frosting and peppermint extract.
3. Fold in half of the crushed peppermint patties.
4. Form into balls and insert sticks.
5. Freeze 15 minutes.
6. Dip in dark chocolate candy melts.
7. Sprinkle remaining crushed peppermint patties on top.
8. Drizzle with melted white chocolate.

Why You’ll Love It

The peppermint patty pieces add this amazing minty burst throughout. Dark chocolate pairs perfectly with peppermint—it’s a match made in Christmas heaven. These are definitely adult-party appropriate.

13. Reindeer Cake Pops

Rudolph in cake pop form? Yes, please.

Ingredients

• 1 box chocolate cake mix (plus box ingredients)
• 1/2 cup chocolate frosting
• Chocolate candy melts
• Pretzel twists (for antlers)
• Candy eyeballs
• Red candy-coated chocolates (for noses)
• Mini chocolate chips (optional for extra details)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Bake chocolate cake and cool completely.
2. Crumble and mix with chocolate frosting.
3. Roll into balls and insert sticks.
4. Freeze 15 minutes.
5. Dip in melted chocolate candy melts.
6. While coating is still wet, break pretzel twists in half and insert as antlers.
7. Attach candy eyeballs with a dab of melted chocolate.
8. Add red candy for Rudolph’s nose.
9. Let harden completely before serving.

Why You’ll Love It

Kids go absolutely bonkers for these. The pretzel antlers stay in place surprisingly well once the chocolate hardens. I usually make one with a red nose (Rudolph) and the rest with brown noses so there’s no fighting over who gets the special one 🙂

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There you have it—13 easy Christmas cake pop recipes that’ll turn you into the dessert hero of every holiday gathering. The best part? Most of these use boxed cake mix as a base, which means you’re not spending hours from scratch when you’ve got a million other things on your holiday to-do list. From classic peppermint flavors to adorable snowmen and reindeer, these Christmas cake pops prove that homemade holiday treats don’t have to be complicated to be impressive. Make a batch this weekend, stick them in festive treat bags, and watch people’s faces light up. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with some red velvet Santa hats that aren’t going to eat themselves.