Reindeer cake pops make a fun and festive treat for Christmas parties and more. This easy Christmas dessert is the best bite sized dessert.
Reindeer cake pops
Get ready for a fun holiday cake recipe with these easy to make cake pops. The kids get so excited when we make this cake pope recipe. It is so tasty and fun to make.
See Nutter Butter Reindeer and Reindeer Pretzel Rods for more fun desserts.
Ingredients:
- Vanilla Cake Mix. Plus ingredients to prepare the cake on the back of the box.
- Vanilla Frosting (I use pre-made)
- Chocolate Candy Melts
- Candy Eyes
- Red Hots Candy
- Small Pretzels
- Lollipop Sticks
How to make reindeer cake pops:
- Prepare the cake. Make the cake and bake according to box instructions in a 9X13 pan. Then let the cake cool at room temperature.
- Remove the cake from the pan. Remove the outside layer from the cake and throw it away. Crumble up the remaining cake into a large bowl.
- Combine cake and frosting. Add the frosting to your crumbled cake and stir everything together until well combined.
- Shape into cake balls. Shape mixture into about 24-36 cake balls (depending on their size) and place on a lined cookie sheet. I used a cookie scoop to ensure that each one is approximately the same size.
- Melt the candy. Put the chocolate candy melts in a small microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds, then stir. Then continue to heat in 30 second intervals stirring between each one until the candy melts are fully melted and creamy.
If the melted candy melt is too thick, thin it out with a small amount of vegetable oil or coconut oil. Add it slowly to the melted chocolate.
Decorate the reindeer.
- Coat the cake pop sticks. Dip each cake pop stick into the melted candy and then place them into the cake balls about halfway into the balls. Then place in the freezer for 10-15 minutes (do not freeze for longer than 15 minutes).
- Cut the pretzels. While the cake pops are in the freezer, cut the pretzels in half to form the antlers.
- Dip cake pops into candy melts. After they have been chilled, dip each one into the melted candy melts (you may need to re-melt it if it has solidified some). Make sure that the candy covers the cake pop completely. Allow the excess melted candy to drip off back into the bowl.
- Allow to dry. Then place the stick of cake pops in a block of Styrofoam. Then decorate the cake pop with the candy eyes, red hot for the nose and the pretzels for the antlers. Then allow the cake pops to dry and solidify.
- Continue making all the treats. Repeat until all the cake pops have been covered and decorated. Once all of them are dry, they are ready to serve and enjoy!
How to store:
Store the leftover cake pops in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Can you freeze cake pops:
You can freeze them but they are best prepared the day you plan to serve them. If you do freeze them, place inside a freezer container instead of a bag. This will help the antlers stay intact.
The best option for freezing is to freeze them on the stick undecorated. Then dip into candy melts and decorate once ready to serve.
How to Make Pretzel Antlers
The antlers are simple to make. Break the pretzel in half to form the antlers.
This is easiest to do using a sharp knife so they break where you want them to.
Can I Make the Cake in Advance?
Yes, the cake can be made in advance. We often made the cake 24 hours in advance and then crumble and mix with the icing.
It saves a step.
Gluten free option:
- Use a gluten free cake mix and gluten free pretzels for antlers.
Print this Christmas cake pops recipe below:
Reindeer Cake Pops
Ingredients
- 1 box Vanilla Cake Mix 15 oz
- *Plus ingredients to prepare the cake on the back of the box
- 1/3 cup Vanilla Frosting I use pre-made
- 16 oz. Chocolate Candy Melts
- 40 Candy Eyes
- 20 Red Hots Candy
- 20 Small Pretzels
- Lollipop Sticks
Instructions
- Make cake and bake according to box instructions in a 9X13 pan. Then let the cake cool at room temperature.
- Remove the cake from the pan. Remove the outside layer from the cake and throw it away. Crumble up the remaining cake into a large bowl.
- Add the frosting to your crumbled cake and stir everything together until well combined.
- Shape mixture into about 24-36 cake balls (depending on their size) and place on a lined cookie sheet. I used a cookie scoop to ensure that each one is approximately the same size.
- Put the chocolate candy melts in a small microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds, then stir. Then continue to heat in 30 second intervals stirring between each one until the candy melts are fully melted and creamy.
- Dip each cake pop stick into the melted candy and then place them into the cake balls about halfway into the balls. Then place in the freezer for 10-15 minutes (do not freeze for longer than 15 minutes).
- While the cake pops are in the freezer, cut the pretzels in half to form the antlers.
- After the cake pops have been chilled, dip each cake pop into the melted candy melts (you may need to re-melt it if it has solidified some). Make sure that the candy covers the cake pop completely. Allow the excess melted candy to drip off back into the bowl.
- Then place the stick of cake pops in a block of styrofoam. Then decorate the cake pop with the candy eyes, red hot for the nose and the pretzels for the antlers. Then allow the cake pops to dry and solidify.
- Continue until all the cake pops have been covered and decorated. Once all the cake pops are dry, they are ready to serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
More easy cake pops:
More Reindeer desserts:
- Reindeer Pretzels
- Nutter Butter Reindeer
- Easy Reindeer Brownies
- Reindeer Cookies
- Delicious Reindeer Cupcakes