Today’s Freshly Baked Fridays comes with a special guest post from my best friend, Elina. She’s an incredible baker and has created some of my favorite treats — including the desserts she made for my daughter Charlotte’s winter wonderland first birthday. I’ve asked Elina to share one of her most requested recipes: adorable snowman cake pops inspired by the movie Frozen. They look impressive, but with a little patience they’re easy to make at home.
Elina also made mini charlottes, white chocolate truffle “snowballs” coated in coconut, and white chocolate chunk cookies to match the party theme. But the snowman cake pops were the stars: small, charming, and perfect for a snowy celebration.
These cake pops are a great activity to do with kids on a snow day or a cozy afternoon indoors. Below is Elina’s step-by-step method, cleaned up for clarity and usability. Read through the whole process before you begin so you can gather supplies and follow the timing closely.
Snowmen Cake Pops
Ingredients
- Lollipop sticks (Wilton-style)
- 1 to 1½ bags white candy melts or white chocolate coating
- Food decorating pens (black, orange, green recommended)
- Thin pretzel sticks (for arms)
- White frosting (dough binder)
- 1 boxed vanilla cake mix (prepare per package; vanilla covers nicely with white coating)
- All wet ingredients listed on the cake mix box
Equipment & tips
- Large bowl for crumbling cake
- Parchment-lined baking sheet
- Small deep cup or narrow bowl for melting coating
- Foam block or colander for drying pops upright
Instructions
- Bake the cake according to package directions and let it cool completely.
- Trim away the darker crusts from the top, bottom, and sides. Cut the cake into pieces and crumble it thoroughly in a large bowl, breaking up any large lumps.
- Add frosting to the cake crumbs a spoonful at a time. Start with a heaping spoonful and gently mix until the crumbs are moist enough to form a ball but still slightly crumbly. Add more frosting only as needed—too much will make the mixture too soft.
- Roll the mixture into ping-pong sized balls, making half of them slightly smaller for the snowmen’s heads. Roll each ball tightly so it holds its shape.
- Place the completed balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill in the refrigerator briefly if they feel too soft to handle.
- Melt a small amount of the white candy melts in a deep cup or narrow bowl according to package directions. Use short microwave bursts and stir frequently to avoid burning. A tiny drop of vegetable oil can help smooth the coating.
- Attach two cake balls together by spreading a little melted coating on the top of the larger ball and placing the smaller ball on top. Dip the tip of a lollipop stick into the melted coating, then push it through both balls until it is close to the bottom but does not come out.
- For sitting snowmen, insert the stick through the head so the stick comes out of the top of the head. For standing snowmen, invert the order so the larger ball is on top and the stick comes out of the bottom.
- Place the cake pops in the freezer for about 15 minutes to set the sticks firmly in place.
- Melt the remaining white coating until smooth in a deep, narrow container for easier dipping. Take the pops from the freezer and dip each one at an angle—dip one side, rotate, dip the other side—until fully coated. Hold the pop nearly upside down to let excess coating drip away; avoid twirling the stick, which creates uneven coating and lumps.
- Immediately insert half a pretzel stick into each side of the coated pop to form arms. Set the pops upright in a foam block, colander, or a paper-lined tray to dry.
- Let the coating set at room temperature for about 15 minutes. Do not refrigerate or freeze the dipped pops, as sudden temperature changes can cause the coating to crack.
- Use edible decorating pens to draw faces, buttons, scarves, and other details once the coating has set. Black, orange, and green pens work well for eyes, carrot noses, and scarves.
Finishing touches and serving
These snowman cake pops are perfect for winter parties, holiday gatherings, or a snowy afternoon treat. They store well in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two; if you must refrigerate, allow them to come to room temperature before serving to avoid cracking. Display them in a foam block or on a tray with a bit of fake snow for a festive look.
