Description
Create festive Ornament Ball Cake Pops that look just like holiday ornaments. This fun dessert features moist cake balls coated in colorful white chocolate or candy melts, decorated with sprinkles and edible glitter, and topped with mini pretzel loops to mimic ornament hooks. Perfect for holiday parties and gift-giving!
Ingredients
Scale
Cake and Frosting
- 1 box (14 oz) vanilla or chocolate cake mix with required ingredients as per package
- 1/2 cup cream cheese frosting or vanilla buttercream
Coating and Decorations
- 17.6 oz white chocolate or candy melts, assorted colors
- 2 tbsp vegetable shortening (optional, for smoother coating)
- Assorted sprinkles, edible glitter, and small candies
- 24 mini pretzel loops or candy-coated chocolate pieces (for ornament tops)
- Edible gold or silver luster dust (optional)
Instructions
- Bake Cake: Prepare and bake the cake according to the package instructions. Once baked, allow the cake to cool completely to room temperature.
- Crumble Cake: Break the cooled cake into fine crumbs in a large mixing bowl, ensuring there are no large chunks.
- Combine Frosting: Gradually add the cream cheese frosting or vanilla buttercream to the cake crumbs. Mix thoroughly until the mixture holds together and can be shaped easily into balls.
- Form Cake Balls: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of the mixture and roll each into a smooth ball. Place the formed balls on a parchment-lined tray.
- Chill Cake Balls: Refrigerate the cake balls for at least 30 minutes so they firm up and become easier to work with.
- Melt Coating: Melt the white chocolate or candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Optionally stir in vegetable shortening to achieve a thinner, smoother coating.
- Insert Sticks: Dip one end of each lollipop stick into the melted coating, then insert the stick halfway into each cake ball. Repeat for all balls and refrigerate for 10 minutes to set the sticks firmly in place.
- Coat Cake Pops: Dip each cake pop fully into the melted coating, gently tapping off any excess chocolate to get a smooth finish.
- Decorate: While the coating is still wet, decorate each cake pop with sprinkles, edible glitter, or small candies to resemble festive holiday ornaments. Attach a mini pretzel loop or candy piece at the top to imitate an ornament hook.
- Set Upright: Stand the decorated cake pops upright in a foam block or cake pop stand to allow the coating to harden completely without smudging.
- Add Luster: Optionally, dust the cake pops lightly with edible gold or silver luster dust to give them a shimmering, elegant finish.
Notes
- Ensure the cake is completely cooled before crumbling to prevent the frosting from melting prematurely.
- Vegetable shortening is optional but helps thin the chocolate for a smoother dip and finish.
- If mini pretzel loops are not available, candy-coated chocolates can be used as ornament hooks.
- Store finished cake pops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- You can customize the colors and decorations to match any holiday or party theme.
