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Make adorable Thanksgiving Cake Pops with this easy Thanksgiving cake pop recipe for turkey cake pops and pumpkin cake pops. A fun dessert for your Thanksgiving table!
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Looking for showstopper Thanksgiving desserts for turkey day? Try these super cute Thanksgiving cake pops.
Not only are they perfect for your Thanksgiving dessert table, but cake pops are very easy to make. Once you get the hang of it, the process goes quickly.
Best of all, you can make these bite-size desserts ahead of time, and they are very easy to transport!
Ingredients for Pumpkin and Turkey Cake Pops
You only need a few simple ingredients for this easy cake pops recipe. They should be easy to find in your grocery store, craft store or online. Full amounts are in the printable recipe card below.
- Cake mix — plus ingredients to make the cake. we used yellow cake mix, but pumpkin spice cake mix or any flavor will work. You can also use homemade cake or leftover cake.
- Frosting — Use a container of frosting from the store or homemade frosting. Any flavor works — even cream cheese frosting.
- Candy melts — We used orange candy melts, green candy melts and chocolate candy melts. You can also use almond bark or white chocolate and food coloring.
- Candy corn — for the turkey tails
- Mini chocolate chips — for the pumpkin stems
- Candy eyeballs
- Lollipop sticks — or cake pop sticks
I also recommend wax paper or parchment paper, a baking sheet, toothpick and a cake pop holder, shoebox, styrofoam block or something to hold the decorated pops upright.
How to Make Thanksgiving Cake Pops
First, bake the cake according to package directions, and allow to cool completely. In a large bowl, crumble the baked cake.
Then, mix the crumbled cake with the frosting using clean hands. Form the cake mixture into 1-inch balls.
Place the cake balls on a wax paper-lined baking sheet. Melt a little bit of candy coating or chocolate, and dip the tip of the lollipop stick into the melted candy melts.
Then, insert the coated sticks into each cake ball. Pop the cake balls into the refrigerator for an hour to let them firm up.
How to Make Pumpkin Cake Pops
To make these festive pumpkin cake pops, use a toothpick to form ridges in the cake balls. Press the toothpick gently into the sides of each ball.
Then, melt orange candy coating in a microwave-safe bowl according to package directions. I like to use a deep bowl or a coffee mug for this part.
You can also do this on the stove using a double boiler if you prefer. Dip each cake ball into melted candy coating, letting excess coating drip back into the bowl.
Allow the balls to dry completely. Then, use a piping bag to form vines and leaves using melted green candy coating on top of the pumpkins. Make stems using mini chocolate chips.
How to Make Thanksgiving Turkey Cake Pops
Dip cake balls into melted chocolate, and allow to cool completely. Use a little melted chocolate to glue 3 or 4 pieces of candy corn to the back of the chocolate-covered cake ball.
Then, use a little more chocolate to stick candy eyes on the turkey’s face. Use a toothpick to draw a beak using melted orange coating.
You can also use a piping bag, but the toothpick is easier.
How to Store Decorated Cake Balls
You can store decorated cake pops in the refrigerator or at room temperature in an airtight container. These cute little turkey pops and pumpkins stay fresh for about 5 days.
Helpful Tips
Always melt candy coating and chocolate in the microwave in intervals. I usually do 30 second intervals, stirring in between until melted.
To prevent cake pops from cracking, refrigerate just until firm. If the balls are too cold, the melted coating may crack.
Allow the coating to dry before adding candy. You can add eyeballs when the coating is partially set if you want.
If you don’t have a piping bag, use a ziplock bag with a small corner cut off.
We had so much fun making Halloween cake pops, and these turkey day desserts were just as much fun to make!
More Easy Thanksgiving Desserts
If you love these fun treats, try my Thanksgiving Oreo turkey cookies and my super easy no bake pumpkin pie dip. You can find more delicious Thanksgiving recipes your family will love!
Thanksgiving Cake Pops Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 15.25 oz box cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1¼ cup water
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup frosting
- 2 cups white chocolate chips divided
- 12 oz orange candy melts
- ½ cup green candy melts
- 12 oz brown candy melts
- candy eyeballs
- candy corn
Instructions
- Prepare and bake the cake mix according to box instructions for a 9×13 inch pan. Let cake cool.
- Break the cake up into small pieces in a medium sized mixing bowl. Add in frosting and mix together until a dough forms.
- Form the dough into 1 inch sized ball and place onto a baking sheet lined with wax paper.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of the brown candy melts. Dip one end of the cake pop stick into the white chocolate and then place the stick halfway into the cake dough ball.
- Refrigerate the cake pops for 1 hour to allow them to chill and set up.
For the Pumpkins
- Firmly press a toothpick around the sides of the cake pops to create the grooves of a pumpkin.
- Melt orange candy melts in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until completely melted. Evenly dip cake pops into the orange candy melts and allow the coating to firm up completely.
- Using a piping bag, pipe on some vines with melted green candy melts. Stick a mini chocolate chip on top as a stem.
For the Turkeys
- Melt brown candy melts in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until completely melted.
- Evenly dip cake pops into the black candy melts. Allow candy melts to slightly firm up before adding two candy eyeballs in the center of the cake pop. Let the coating firm up completely.
- Dip part of the candy corn in the melted candy melts, and stick on to the back of the cake pop. Press firmly for 30 seconds until the candy corn is "glued" in place. Repeat 2-3 times to create the turkey feathers.
- Using a toothpick and leftover melted orange candy melts, draw on a triangle on the turkey's face. This acts as the beak.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Made these with the kids — I always try recipes out before the holidays. Great instructions and so cute when finished.
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the cake pops!