Chocolate Cranberry Christmas Cake Pops

The Story & Intro

Oh, mon cher ami… where do I even begin with these Chocolate Cranberry Christmas Cake Pops? 🎄🍫
Every December, when the world starts twinkling with fairy lights and everyone’s sipping peppermint cocoa, I get the strongest craving for treats that feel playful, nostalgic, and just a little bit magical. And nothing absolutely nothing captures that childhood joy like biting into a sweet, festive cake pop.

Bonjour my friends! 👋 I’m Lacamorea, a 31-year-old French girl who traded the cobblestone streets of Paris for the cozy kitchens of America 🇫🇷➡️🇺🇸. Ever since I could reach the countertop, I’ve been whisking, stirring, and sneaking tastes of cake batter when no one was looking 🍰😋. Cooking isn’t just my passion it’s my love language, my therapy, and my favorite way to make people smile.

Back in Paris, my maman used to make little chocolate truffles rolled in crushed nuts for Noël. When I moved to the U.S., I wanted to recreate that tradition but with a fun American twist something cute enough for holiday parties, festive enough for kids, and delicious enough to make adults sneak seconds. And that’s how my version of chocolate cranberry Christmas cake pops was born.

Sweet chocolate. Tart cranberries. A buttery, velvety cake center. A crisp outer shell. And sparkles because Christmas magic deserves sparkles. These cake pops taste like a cozy winter hug and look like they were handcrafted by Santa’s sweetest elves. And yes… I may or may not have eaten three while decorating them. Maybe four. But who’s counting? 😄

If you’re ready to bring a little Parisian charm and American holiday cheer into your kitchen, let’s dive into the most irresistible Chocolate Cranberry Christmas Cake Pops you’ve ever made.

⏱️ Time

• Prep: 30 minutes
• Baking: 25–30 minutes
• Chill Time: 1 hour
• Decorating: 20 minutes
• Total: About 2 hours

🛒 Ingredients

For the Cake

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• ¼ cup sour cream
• ⅓ cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt

For the Filling & Rolling

• 3–4 tbsp cream cheese, softened
• 2 tbsp cranberry jam (optional but delicious!)

For the Chocolate Coating

• 12 oz dark or semisweet chocolate wafers (melts beautifully)
• 1 tbsp coconut oil (for shine and smooth dipping)

For Decoration

• Red & white sprinkles
• Edible gold stars
• Mini sugar snowflakes
• Holiday-themed candy pearls
• Cake pop sticks

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Bake the Chocolate Cranberry Cake

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease an 8×8-inch baking pan.
2. In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well.
4. Stir in sour cream and vanilla.
5. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
6. Add dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
7. Fold in chopped dried cranberries.
8. Spread batter evenly and bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. Let the cake cool completely before the fun part crumbling!

2. Crumble & Form the Cake Balls

1. Once cooled, crumble the cake into fine crumbs.
2. Add cream cheese and cranberry jam (start with small amounts).
3. Mix until the texture is moist enough to roll into balls not too sticky.
4. Shape into 1–1.5 inch balls and place on a lined tray.
5. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

3. Insert Sticks

1. Melt 2 tablespoons of the chocolate.
2. Dip each cake pop stick tip into the melted chocolate.
3. Insert halfway into each cake ball this helps them stay secure.
4. Chill again for 15 minutes.

4. Dip in Chocolate

1. Melt remaining chocolate with coconut oil until silky smooth.
2. Dip each pop straight down, then pull up gently.
3. Tap lightly to remove excess chocolate.
4. Add sprinkles immediately before chocolate sets.

5. Chill & Serve

1. Place cake pops upright in a stand or a block of styrofoam.
2. Refrigerate at least 20 minutes to fully harden.
3. Serve proudly they’re worthy of a Christmas dessert table brag!

Serving Suggestions

These Chocolate Cranberry Christmas Cake Pops shine at:

• Holiday dessert bars
• Office parties
• School events
• Christmas cookie exchanges
• Wrapped individually as edible gifts
• Displayed in a festive bouquet-style arrangement

You can also drizzle white chocolate over the dark shell for a snowy look, or roll the tops in crushed peppermint for extra seasonal flair.

Pair these sweet little treats with:

• Hot cocoa with whipped cream
• Spiced mulled wine
• A cozy vanilla latte
• Cranberry tea for a fruity, balanced match

📝 Notes

• Want deeper cranberry flavor? Add 1 tsp orange zest to the batter it sings with the fruit.
• Too dry? Add tiny amounts of cream cheese until the mixture rolls smoothly.
• Too wet? Add a spoonful of powdered sugar or extra cake crumbs.
• For extra shine, add a tiny bit more coconut oil to the chocolate.
• Cake pops can be frozen for up to 2 months just wrap well!

🍽️ Nutrition (per cake pop)

Approximate values depending on size and coating:

• Calories: 140
• Fat: 7g
• Carbs: 18g
• Sugar: 11g
• Protein: 2g

Recipe Card

⭐ Chocolate Cranberry Christmas Cake Pops ⭐

The cutest, sweetest Christmas treat with rich chocolate, tart cranberry, and holiday sparkle!

⏱️ Time: 2 hours
🍽️ Yield: 20–24 cake pops

🛒 Ingredients:
Cake, cream cheese, dried cranberries, chocolate wafers, coconut oil, sprinkles.

👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Bake chocolate cranberry cake.
2. Crumble & mix with cream cheese.
3. Roll into balls and chill.
4. Insert sticks with melted chocolate.
5. Dip in melted chocolate coating.
6. Decorate and chill until set.

🎄 Enjoy with love!

Conclusion

Ahh, mon ami… doesn’t it feel like Christmas already? These Chocolate Cranberry Christmas Cake Pops combine everything I adore about the holidays sweetness, sparkle, nostalgia, and a whole lot of joy packed into a single bite. Whether you’re sharing them at a party or nibbling one quietly in the kitchen (don’t worry, I won’t tell 😉), they’re guaranteed to bring smiles.

Thank you for spending time in my warm little French-American kitchen today. May your season be sweet, cozy, and full of magic. ✨🎄