The Story & Intro
If there’s one treat that never fails to transport me straight back to childhood winter magic, it’s hot chocolate cake pops. I still remember standing on a tiny stool in my maman’s Paris kitchen, watching snow fall outside while we dipped everything and I mean everything into melted chocolate. One December afternoon, after we shared mugs of steaming chocolat chaud, I had the brilliant idea (well, brilliant to an 8-year-old!) to swirl leftover cake crumbs into the chocolate. And just like that… a baby cake pop was born. Was it messy? Absolutely. Was it delicious? Mon dieu, yes.
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. And these hot chocolate cake pops? Ohhh, they deliver smiles faster than you can say “encore!”
Now that I live in the US, I’ve embraced the American tradition of turning classic flavors into fun, handheld treats. These little winter-themed beauties taste like the cozy comfort of hot cocoa, wrapped inside a rich chocolate cake and dipped in velvety chocolate coating. They’re festive, charming, kid-approved, and dangerously addictive. I’m warning you: once they hit the dessert table, they’re gone.
Whether you’re prepping for a holiday party, gifting homemade sweets, or just craving something warm, chocolaty, and whimsical, hot chocolate cake pops are the perfect way to bring joy to your kitchen this season.
⏱️ Time
- Prep: 25 minutes
- Chill: 1 hour
- Decorate: 20 minutes
- Total: ~1 hour 45 minutes
🛒 Ingredients
For the Cake Pop Mixture
- 1 baked chocolate cake (boxed mix or homemade anything goes!)
- 1 cup chocolate frosting
- 1 packet hot cocoa mix (regular or dark chocolate)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Chocolate Coating
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or candy melts
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil (optional, for smoother coating)
For the Decorations
- Mini marshmallows
- Crushed candy canes
- White chocolate drizzle
- Hot cocoa sprinkles (optional)
For Assembling
- Cake pop sticks
- Styrofoam block or drying stand
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Crumble the Cake
Place your cooled chocolate cake into a large bowl and crumble it with clean hands until it resembles fine crumbs. This is where your inner child gets to play go ahead, get messy.
2. Mix in Frosting & Cocoa
Add the chocolate frosting, hot cocoa mix, and vanilla. Use your hands or a spatula to combine until the mixture becomes thick, moist, and moldable. It should feel like soft cookie dough.
3. Roll into Balls
Scoop 1-tablespoon portions and roll into smooth, even balls. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You should get about 24 pops.
4. Chill
Refrigerate the rolled balls for 30 minutes, or freeze for 10–15 minutes if you’re impatient like me.
5. Attach the Sticks
Melt a few tablespoons of chocolate. Dip one end of each cake pop stick into the melted chocolate and gently insert it into each chilled cake ball. This little trick keeps them secure during dipping.
6. Dip in Chocolate
Melt the remaining chocolate with coconut oil until smooth. Dip each cake pop, twirling gently to coat. Tap off excess chocolate on the side of the bowl.
7. Decorate
Before the coating sets, top with mini marshmallows, crushed candy canes, hot cocoa sprinkles, or a drizzle of white chocolate. Make each pop as festive as your holiday mood.
8. Let Them Set
Stick each pop upright into a Styrofoam block and allow them to firm completely about 15–20 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
These hot chocolate cake pops are adorable on their own, but here are some ways to make them shine:
- Serve them alongside mugs of real hot cocoa for a double-chocolate experience.
- Wrap individually in cellophane bags for homemade holiday gifts.
- Arrange them like a bouquet for parties watch people’s eyes light up!
- Add them to a dessert board with cookies, brownies, and marshmallows.
- For adults, pair with a hot cup of espresso or a splash of Bailey’s (shhh, I won’t tell).
📝 Notes
- If the mixture is too soft to roll, add 1–2 tablespoons of extra cake crumbs.
- If it’s too dry, add another spoonful of frosting.
- Candy melts make coating easier, but real chocolate has the richest flavor.
- Always chill cake balls before dipping warm cake pops + hot chocolate = a disaster you don’t want.
- Store in an airtight container at room temp for 3–4 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
🍽️ Nutrition
(Approx. per cake pop)
- Calories: 165
- Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Protein: 2g
- Sugars: 17g
Recipe Card
📛 Recipe: Hot Chocolate Cake Pops
⏱️ Total Time: ~1 hour 45 minutes
🍴 Yield: 24 cake pops
🛒 Ingredients
- 1 chocolate cake, baked
- 1 cup chocolate frosting
- 1 hot cocoa packet
- ½ tsp vanilla
- 2 cups chocolate chips or melts
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- Marshmallows, candy canes, decorations
- Cake pop sticks
👩🍳 Instructions
- Crumble baked chocolate cake into a bowl.
- Mix with frosting, cocoa mix, and vanilla.
- Roll into balls; chill 30 min.
- Dip sticks in melted chocolate and insert.
- Dip pops in melted chocolate coating.
- Decorate and let set.
Enjoy your cozy, chocolaty treats! 🍫❄️
Conclusion
There’s something magical about transforming simple ingredients into a bite-sized treat that feels like winter warmth in dessert form. These hot chocolate cake pops are playful, nostalgic, and wonderfully rich the kind of sweet that brings people together.
From my Parisian roots to my American kitchen, recipes like this remind me why I love cooking so much: it’s joy, comfort, creativity, and connection wrapped into one delicious little sphere. I hope these pops bring your home as much cheer as they bring mine.
Merci for baking with me, mon ami. Until next time stay cozy, stay creative, and don’t forget to lick the spoon. 😉