Save My daughter came home from school with a craft assignment to make winter decorations, and I found myself standing in the kitchen wondering how to turn holiday fun into something edible. That's when the idea struck: what if we made snowmen you could actually eat? Cake pops felt like the perfect solution—something festive that didn't require baking skills, just a little creativity and some Oreos we already had stashed in the pantry. The first batch turned out lopsided and charming, and watching her tiny hands decorate them with chocolate chips and pretzel sticks made me realize this wasn't just a recipe anymore.
I brought a batch to a winter party last year, and they disappeared before I could even set the plate down properly. Someone asked for the recipe three times that night—each time with a slightly different person tugging my sleeve. That moment when a dessert becomes the thing people remember about your party? That's when you know you've made something special.
Ingredients
- Oreo cookies: You need 36 of them, roughly one standard package. Pro tip: don't use the super-twisted ones or any special flavors for this—the classic stuff is always best because it gives you that pure, nostalgic taste when you bite in.
- Cream cheese: Softened is non-negotiable here; cold cream cheese will fight you tooth and nail when you try to mix it. Let it sit on the counter for 15 minutes before you start.
- White chocolate or candy melts: The 350 grams (12 oz) is your coating. Candy melts melt more smoothly than regular chocolate, but if you only have real white chocolate, add a tablespoon of coconut oil to help it flow.
- Mini chocolate chips or black decorating gel: These are your snowman eyes and buttons—the little details that make faces come alive.
- Orange sprinkles or colored icing: For the carrot nose. A tiny dab is all you need, or a single orange sprinkle placed just right looks charming.
- Pretzel sticks or colored fondant: The arms and scarves that give each snowman personality. Pretzels are easier and taste better; fondant is fancier if you're feeling ambitious.
- Lollipop sticks: The spine that holds your snowman together so it stays put on the stick.
Instructions
- Crush those Oreos:
- Throw all 36 cookies into a food processor and pulse until you have fine crumbs that feel almost like flour. The texture matters more than you'd think—too chunky and your dough won't hold together properly.
- Mix the dough:
- Combine your crushed Oreos with softened cream cheese in a bowl and stir until you have something smooth and uniform. It should feel like playdough, not crumbly and not overly wet.
- Roll the snowballs:
- Make 32 small balls (about the size of a cherry) and 16 slightly larger ones (about the size of a walnut). The smaller ones sit on top, so size really does matter here.
- Stack your snowmen:
- Gently press one small ball onto each large ball so they stick together. Push a lollipop stick straight up through the center of both, then set them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Get them cold:
- Freeze for 20 to 30 minutes until the dough is completely firm. This step keeps them from falling apart when you dip them in melted chocolate.
- Melt the chocolate:
- Place your white chocolate or candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second bursts, stirring between each one, until everything is smooth and pourable. Chocolate seizes quickly, so don't rush this part.
- Dip with confidence:
- Working quickly while the coating is still warm, dip each frozen snowman into the melted chocolate, turning gently to coat all sides evenly. Let the excess drip off, then stand it upright in a styrofoam block or tall cup to set.
- Decorate while tacky:
- While the white chocolate coating is still slightly sticky, press on your chocolate chip eyes and buttons, then add the orange nose. This is when everything sticks best.
- Add the finishing touches:
- Once the coating has set completely, push pretzel sticks into the sides for arms, or wrap tiny fondant scarves around the neck if you're feeling fancy.
Save There's something deeply satisfying about turning something humble like crushed cookies and cream cheese into something that looks almost too cute to eat. But then someone does eat one, their face lights up, and you remember why you made them in the first place.
Why This Recipe Works in Winter
Snowmen made from edible ingredients feel like a natural winter tradition. They're cold enough to require chilling, they look festive sitting on a holiday plate, and they taste better than any actual snowman ever could. Plus, you're giving people something to enjoy instead of something that melts into a puddle on a mitten.
Making Them Your Own
The beauty of this recipe is how forgiving it is. You can tint the fondant scarves any color you want with gel food coloring, experiment with different pretzel shapes for arms, or even add tiny royal icing hats on top. I've made them with red scarves, blue hats, and once even with tiny bow ties made from colored fondant. Each version felt like a different snowman with a different personality.
Storage and Make-Ahead Magic
These cake pops are actually better when you make them ahead because the flavors meld together and the texture becomes more cohesive. Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days, and they'll still taste fresh. If you're bringing them to a party, pack them in a sturdy box with parchment between layers so they don't stick to each other or get damaged in transit.
- You can freeze the finished pops for up to two weeks if you need even more advance prep time.
- If you don't have a food processor, seal the Oreos in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin—it's actually meditative and takes about three minutes.
- Let frozen pops come to room temperature for a few minutes before serving so the flavors aren't muted by the cold.
Save Making food that brings joy to people, especially something as silly and delightful as edible snowmen, reminds you why cooking matters. These little cake pops taste like winter felt when you were younger.
Recipe Guide
- → How do I crush Oreos without a food processor?
Place Oreos in a sealable plastic bag and crush them gently using a rolling pin until finely ground.
- → What is the best way to shape the snowmen?
Roll the mixture into small and medium balls, then stack a small ball on top of a larger one, pressing gently to adhere before inserting sticks.
- → How do I prevent the white chocolate coating from melting the pops?
Freeze the shaped pops until firm before dipping them into the melted white chocolate, which helps the coating set quickly.
- → Can I decorate the snowmen with edible colors?
Yes, using colored icing or gel food coloring on fondant allows for vibrant scarves and facial features.
- → How long can these treats be stored?
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days to maintain freshness.