The Story & Intro
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.
So let me tell you a little story about how these Red Velvet Rudolph Cake Pops came to life. My first Christmas living in the U.S., I was invited to a neighborhood cookie exchange. Except, well… I didn’t bake cookies. I made what I thought were “adorable cake-on-sticks,” but in my rush, they looked more like confused snowmen than festive treats. I felt mortified until the kids saw them and squealed with excitement. That was the moment I realized: holiday treats don’t need to be perfect… they just need to be joyful.
Fast-forward a few years, and I’ve become slightly (okay, wildly 😅) obsessed with creating fun holiday desserts. These Red Velvet Rudolph Cake Pops quickly became my signature December treat. Moist red velvet cake mixed with creamy frosting, dipped in sweet chocolate, and decorated with tiny pretzel antlers they’re charming, indulgent, and guaranteed to light up faces faster than Rudolph’s shiny red nose ✨.
If you’re searching for a dessert that’s festive, fun, and irresistible, these Red Velvet Rudolph Cake Pops are here to deliver magic on a stick. Let’s dive in, my friends this one’s going to make your holiday season sweetly unforgettable.
⏱️ Time
• Prep: 35 minutes
• Chill: 1 hour
• Decorating: 25 minutes
• Total: ~2 hours
🛒 Ingredients
For the Red Velvet Cake
• 1 box red velvet cake mix (or homemade if you prefer!)
• Ingredients required on the box (usually eggs, oil, water)
For the Cake Pop Mixture
• 1 cup cream cheese frosting (store-bought or homemade)
For the Chocolate Coating
• 2 cups milk chocolate melting wafers
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil (optional, for smoother dipping)
For Decorating
• Mini pretzels (for antlers)
• Red M&M’s or red candy pearls (for noses)
• Candy eyes
• Cake pop sticks
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Bake the Cake
Preheat your oven and bake the red velvet cake according to package instructions. Let it cool completely and I do mean completely, my friends. If you crumble warm cake, you’ll end up with a sticky red volcano on your hands. (Not speaking from experience or anything…😉)
2. Crumble the Cake
Once the cake is cool, break it into fine crumbs using your hands or a stand mixer. The texture should feel like soft, airy sand.
3. Add Frosting
Add cream cheese frosting one spoonful at a time, mixing until the crumbs come together like dough. You want it moist but not mushy when you squeeze it, it should stick together.
4. Shape Into Balls
Roll tablespoon-sized portions into smooth spheres. Place them on a parchment-lined tray and chill for 1 hour. This helps the cake pops hold their shape when dipping.
5. Insert Sticks
Dip each cake pop stick about ¼ inch into melted chocolate, then insert it halfway into each ball. The chocolate acts as edible glue. Chill again for 10 minutes.
6. Dip in Chocolate
Melt chocolate wafers with coconut oil until silky. Dip each cake pop in one smooth motion. Don’t swirl swirl leads to heartbreak. Gently tap off excess chocolate.
7. Decorate to Create Rudolph
Before the chocolate sets:
• Press two candy eyes in place
• Add a red nose (the brighter, the better ❤️)
• Break mini pretzels into antler shapes and attach them on top
Let them stand upright until completely set.
8. Serve or Store
Cake pops will keep beautifully in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze undecorated cake balls for future dipping!
Serving Suggestions
• Arrange them in a festive holiday mug for a centerpiece-worthy dessert display
• Wrap individually in treat bags for classroom, party, or neighbor gifts
• Pair them with peppermint hot chocolate for a cozy movie-night treat
• Stick them into a styrofoam block decorated with greenery for a “Rudolph Forest” effect 🌲🦌
These Red Velvet Rudolph Cake Pops are not just treats they’re edible cheer.
Recipe Card
🎄 Red Velvet Rudolph Cake Pops Recipe Card 🎄
⏱️ Time
• Total: ~2 hours
• Active: 1 hour
🛒 Ingredients
• 1 red velvet cake (boxed or homemade)
• 1 cup cream cheese frosting
• 2 cups milk chocolate melting wafers
• Mini pretzels, red candies, candy eyes
• Cake pop sticks
👩🍳 Instructions
- Bake cake, cool, and crumble.
- Stir in frosting until dough-like.
- Roll into balls; chill.
- Insert sticks with a dab of melted chocolate.
- Dip in melted chocolate.
- Decorate as Rudolph with eyes, nose, and pretzels.
- Let set and enjoy!
📝 Notes
• If your chocolate looks thick, add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil.
• If cake balls crack during dipping, chill longer.
• Use white chocolate drizzle for extra flair.
🍽️ Nutrition (per pop, approx.)
• Calories: 160
• Carbs: 19g
• Fat: 8g
• Protein: 2g
Conclusion
Ah, my sweet holiday chefs these Red Velvet Rudolph Cake Pops never fail to bring out the magic of the season. They’re playful, nostalgic, and surprisingly simple to make. Every year, when I pull these darling reindeer from the fridge, I’m transported back to that first American Christmas when imperfect treats led to perfect memories.
I hope these cake pops fill your home with the same joy, laughter, and delicious aroma they bring to mine. From my cozy Franco-American kitchen to yours Joyeux Noël, and happy baking! 🎅✨