Save Fun, whimsical cake pops with a luscious salted caramel center, coated in chocolate and decorated to resemble playful monsters. Perfect for parties or Halloween treats!
I first made these monster cake pops for my cousin's Halloween party. Children loved the bright colors and googly eyes, and the adults couldn't get enough of the creamy caramel inside. They quickly became an annual tradition for us!
Ingredients
- Cake: 1 box (400 g) chocolate cake mix (plus required eggs, oil, water per package instructions)
- Salted Caramel Filling: 200 g soft caramel candies, 60 ml (1/4 cup) heavy cream, 1/2 tsp sea salt
- Cake Pop Mixture: 100 g (about 1/2 cup) cream cheese, softened, 50 g (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
- Coating & Decoration: 400 g candy melts (assorted colors: green, purple, orange, blue), 50 g white chocolate (for details), candy eyes (store-bought or homemade), sprinkles and colored sugars (optional)
- Assembly: 24 lollipop sticks
Instructions
- Bake the Cake:
- Bake the chocolate cake according to package instructions. Let cool completely.
- Prepare Salted Caramel:
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt caramel candies with heavy cream in 30-second intervals. Stir until smooth, then add sea salt. Allow to cool to room temperature.
- Make Cake Pop Dough:
- Crumble cooled cake into a large mixing bowl. Add softened cream cheese and butter. Mix until a smooth, moldable dough forms.
- Shape Cake Pops:
- Scoop about 1 tablespoon of cake mixture, flatten in your palm, place 1/2 teaspoon salted caramel in center, then wrap cake around to form a ball. Repeat for all pops and freeze balls for 15 minutes.
- Insert Sticks:
- Melt candy melts. Dip tip of each stick into melted candy, insert into each ball. Chill for 10 minutes to secure.
- Coat Cake Pops:
- Dip each cake pop into melted candy coating, letting excess drip off. Place upright in a styrofoam block or cake pop stand.
- Decorate:
- Before coating sets, decorate with candy eyes, sprinkles, and use white chocolate to pipe monster mouths and details.
- Set Cake Pops:
- Allow to set completely at room temperature.
Save My kids love helping decorate these monster cake pops. We make silly faces, mix up color combinations, and laugh a lot in the kitchen before parties or family movie nights.
Required Tools
Mixing bowls, electric or hand mixer, baking sheet, microwave-safe bowl, lollipop sticks, styrofoam block or cake pop stand, piping bag for chocolate details.
Allergen Information
Contains wheat (cake mix), dairy (cream cheese, butter, caramel, candy melts), and eggs (cake mix). May contain soy (candy melts) and traces of nuts, depending on brands. Always check ingredient labels for allergen safety.
Nutritional Information
Per serving: 210 calories, 10 g total fat, 29 g carbohydrates, 2 g protein.
Save Make these pops ahead for hassle-free entertaining. They look incredible on a dessert table and bring instant smiles to all ages.
Recipe Guide
- → Can I use homemade caramel instead of candies?
Yes, homemade caramel can be used. Ensure it's thick and cool before adding to the cake pop centers for easy assembly.
- → Do cake pops need to be chilled before coating?
Freezing briefly helps cake pops hold their shape and keeps the caramel center firm while dipping in melted candy.
- → How do I create different monster designs?
Use assorted candy melts for imagination, add candy eyes and pipe white chocolate for mouths and fun details.
- → What is the best way to store these pops?
Place in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate and bring to room temperature before serving.
- → Can kids help decorate the pops?
Absolutely! Decorating with candy eyes, sprinkles, and colored chocolate is a fun kitchen activity for all ages.
- → Are these pops nut-free?
Use nut-free ingredients and decorations as needed. Check packaging for allergen safety, especially with candy melts.