Halloween is the perfect time to get creative in the kitchen—and what’s more fun (and spooky!) than cake pops?
These tiny treats are not only adorable and delicious, but they’re also the perfect size for parties, trick-or-treat bags, or a spooky night in.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through five spooky cake pop ideas with easy instructions, simple ingredients, and fun Halloween flair.
1. Ghost Cake Pops
These ghost cake pops are charmingly spooky and super simple to make. With their smooth white coating and little “boo” faces, they make a perfect Halloween dessert. You don’t need complicated tools—just basic ingredients, candy melts, and an imagination. They’re great for kids to help decorate.
Ingredients:
- 1 box of chocolate or vanilla cake, baked and cooled
- ½ cup of vanilla or cream cheese frosting
- 12 oz white candy melts
- Lollipop sticks
- Black decorating gel or edible marker for face
Instructions:
- Prepare the Cake Mixture: Crumble the cooled cake into a large mixing bowl using your hands or a fork until it becomes fine crumbs with no large chunks.
- Add Frosting: Add frosting one tablespoon at a time. Mix thoroughly with a spoon or your hands until the mixture holds its shape when pressed but isn’t too sticky.
- Form Balls: Roll the mixture into smooth 1.5-inch balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Chill the Balls: Put the tray in the freezer for 20–30 minutes until the cake balls are firm to the touch but not frozen solid.
- Prepare the Candy Melt: Melt the white candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl according to package instructions, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.
- Insert the Sticks: Dip the tip of a lollipop stick into the melted candy, then insert it halfway into a cake ball. Repeat with all cake balls.
- Dip the Cake Pops: One by one, dip each pop into the melted white candy, turning gently to coat fully. Let excess drip off and tap gently to smooth the surface.
- Dry and Decorate: Place each pop upright in a styrofoam block or a tall glass. Let the coating set completely, then use black gel or marker to draw eyes and a mouth to create a ghost face.
2. Mummy Cake Pops
Mummy cake pops are spooky, cute, and fun to decorate. They’re coated in smooth white chocolate and drizzled with more candy melt to resemble wrapped bandages, with tiny candy eyes peeking through. They’re always a Halloween hit and surprisingly easy to make.
Ingredients:
- 1 box of baked cake, any flavor
- ½ cup of frosting
- White candy melts
- Candy eyes
- Lollipop sticks
- Small piping bag or plastic sandwich bag
Instructions:
- Create Cake Balls: Crumble the baked cake into a bowl and mix with frosting until it forms a dough-like consistency. Roll into balls and set on parchment paper.
- Chill the Balls: Freeze the rolled cake balls for 25–30 minutes until firm.
- Prepare Candy Melt: Melt the white candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring until fully smooth.
- Stick Insertion: Dip the tip of a lollipop stick into melted candy, then insert it into a cake ball. Repeat and let it set for a few minutes.
- First Dip: Dip each cake pop into the melted white candy to coat completely. Let excess candy drip off by gently tapping the stick.
- Add Candy Eyes: While the coating is still soft, press two candy eyes near the center of each pop.
- Make Bandages: Once the coating has hardened, pour melted white candy into a piping bag or plastic sandwich bag. Snip a tiny hole in the corner and drizzle back and forth over the cake pop to mimic bandage strips.
- Set to Cool: Let all pops cool and harden fully before serving.
3. Eyeball Cake Pops
These creepy eyeball cake pops are perfect for adding a little fright to your Halloween table. The white coating resembles an eyeball, while a colorful candy center forms the iris, and red gel creates realistic-looking veins. They’re great for Halloween parties and horror movie nights.
Ingredients:
- 1 box of red velvet or vanilla cake
- ½ cup of cream cheese frosting
- White candy melts
- M&Ms or colored candy for the iris
- Mini chocolate chips or black icing for pupil
- Red decorating gel for veins
- Lollipop sticks
Instructions:
- Make the Base: Crumble the cooled cake and mix with cream cheese frosting until the texture is moldable and firm. Form into round balls and chill in the freezer for 25 minutes.
- Stick and Melt Prep: Melt white candy melts. Dip the stick tips into the candy and insert them into the cake balls. Let the sticks set before moving on.
- Coat the Pops: Dip each chilled cake ball into the white melted candy. Turn slowly for even coating and tap gently to remove excess.
- Form the Eyeball: While the coating is still soft, press an M&M (flat side out) in the center of each pop to form the iris.
- Add the Pupil: Place a mini chocolate chip or a dot of black gel in the middle of the M&M to complete the eye.
- Draw Veins: Once the candy coating has hardened, use red decorating gel to draw tiny lines outward from the iris to mimic bloodshot veins.
- Cool and Display: Allow everything to set completely before serving.
4. Jack‑o’‑Lantern Cake Pops
These pumpkin-themed cake pops are cheerful, festive, and taste like fall. They’re coated in orange candy melts, decorated with classic jack‑o’‑lantern faces, and topped with green candy stems to resemble tiny pumpkins. They look adorable on a party tray or Halloween dessert table.
Ingredients:
- 1 box of spice or pumpkin cake, baked
- ½ cup of cream cheese frosting
- Orange candy melts
- Black icing or edible marker
- Green fondant or green candy for the stem
- Lollipop sticks
Instructions:
- Crumble and Mix: Break the cake into fine crumbs and mix in frosting until the dough holds its shape without being sticky.
- Roll Balls: Form into small round cake balls and place on a parchment-lined tray. Chill for 30 minutes in the freezer.
- Prepare Candy Melt: Melt the orange candy melts according to the package instructions.
- Stick and Dip: Dip the tip of each stick in the melted chocolate and insert it into each ball. Dip each ball fully in the orange coating. Tap to remove extra coating.
- Decorate the Face: Let the coating dry. Then use black icing or a food-safe marker to draw jack-o’-lantern eyes, nose, and a smile or grin.
- Add the Stem: Roll small bits of green fondant or use green candy (like mini gumdrops) and press on top for a pumpkin stem.
- Dry and Serve: Allow to dry completely before serving or wrapping.
5. Monster Cake Pops
These colorful and silly monster cake pops are a big hit with kids. You can make them in fun Halloween colors like purple, green, or blue, and decorate them with candy eyes, sprinkles, and even fangs. Each one can have its own personality, making them fun and creative to design.
Ingredients:
- 1 box of cake (any flavor)
- ½ cup of frosting
- Candy melts (in colors like green, purple, or blue)
- Candy eyes (variety of sizes)
- Edible sprinkles or glitter
- Lollipop sticks
- Optional: black gel, white icing for teeth or mouths
Instructions:
- Make the Cake Mix: Crumble the baked cake and mix with frosting until the mixture is soft but firm enough to roll. Form into round balls.
- Chill Thoroughly: Freeze for 25–30 minutes until firm.
- Melt Candy: Use different bowls for each color of candy melt. Melt until smooth.
- Insert Sticks and Dip: Insert dipped sticks into cake balls and then dip into desired colored coating. Let excess coating drip off.
- Decorate Quickly: While still wet, press candy eyes onto the surface. Use one, two, or several to create funny or spooky monster faces.
- Add Extra Detail: Sprinkle with edible glitter or sprinkles. Use black or white icing to draw fangs, eyebrows, or silly grins.
- Let cool: Stand upright and let all decorations set fully before displaying.
Conclusion
Halloween is a time for fun, creativity, and treats—and these spooky cake pops check every box. They’re easy enough for beginners, fun enough for kids, and festive enough for any celebration.
So get your candy melts ready, turn on a spooky playlist, and enjoy making these Halloween cake pops. You’ll not only end up with tasty treats but great memories too.