Save Fun and whimsical, these Salted Caramel Monster Cake Pops feature a luscious caramel center surrounded by chocolate cake, then dipped in vibrant candy melts and decorated as playful monsters. Perfect for adding energy to parties or spooky Halloween gatherings!
Making these cake pops reminded me of the year my nieces helped decorate monster faces, giggling at their wild candy eyes and sugar sprinkles. It's a recipe that's become a family tradition for our Halloween bash.
Ingredients
- Chocolate cake mix: 1 box (400 g), plus required eggs, oil, water
- Soft caramel candies: 200 g
- Heavy cream: 60 ml (1/4 cup)
- Sea salt: 1/2 tsp
- Cream cheese: 100 g (about 1/2 cup), softened
- Unsalted butter: 50 g (1/4 cup), softened
- Candy melts: 400 g (assorted colors: green, purple, orange, blue)
- White chocolate: 50 g, for details
- Candy eyes: store-bought or homemade
- Sprinkles and colored sugars: optional
- Lollipop sticks: 24
Instructions
- Bake the cake:
- Prepare chocolate cake mix according to package instructions using necessary eggs, oil, and water. Let the cake cool completely before proceeding.
- Make caramel filling:
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt caramel candies with heavy cream in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Stir in sea salt and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Form cake pop mixture:
- Crumble the cooled cake into a large bowl. Add softened cream cheese and butter, mixing until the mixture becomes a smooth, moldable dough.
- Shape pops:
- Scoop out about 1 tablespoon of cake mixture, flatten in your palm, place 1/2 teaspoon of salted caramel in the center, and wrap the cake around it to form a ball. Repeat for all cake pops and freeze balls for 15 minutes.
- Insert sticks:
- Melt candy melts as instructed. Dip the tip of each lollipop stick into melted candy coating, then insert into each cake ball. Chill for 10 minutes until secure.
- Coat and decorate:
- Dip each cake pop fully into melted candy coating, allowing excess to drip off. Place upright in a styrofoam block or cake pop stand. Decorate with candy eyes, sprinkles, and use melted white chocolate to pipe monster faces before coating sets.
- Set and serve:
- Let cake pops set completely at room temperature before serving.
Save Every Halloween, my family gathers around the kitchen to create wild monster faces and compare who makes the silliest ones. These cake pops are always the first treat to disappear from our party platter.
Required Tools
You'll need mixing bowls, an electric or hand mixer, baking sheet, microwave-safe bowl, lollipop sticks, a styrofoam block or cake pop stand, and a piping bag for chocolate details.
Allergen Information
This recipe contains wheat, dairy, and eggs, and may contain soy or traces of nuts depending on your ingredient choices. Check all labels carefully to ensure allergen safety.
Nutritional Information
Each cake pop has about 210 calories, 10 g total fat, 29 g carbohydrates, and 2 g protein.
Save Serve these cake pops at your next party for a guaranteed hit: the salty-sweet caramel center and silly monster designs always delight guests of all ages!
Recipe FAQs
- → What makes the monster pops stand out?
Bright colors, candy eyes, and piped chocolate details create a whimsical and festive appearance for each pop.
- → How is the salted caramel center prepared?
Caramel candies are melted with cream and sea salt, then cooled and wrapped inside cake mixture to form the delightful filling.
- → Can I customize the decoration?
Absolutely! Use assorted candy melts, sprinkles, and food coloring to create unique monsters for any occasion.
- → What is the recommended storage method?
Keep pops in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days to maintain freshness and quality.
- → Are there any allergen concerns?
Contains wheat, dairy, and eggs, and may have traces of soy or nuts. Always verify ingredient labels for safety.
- → What tools are needed for assembly?
Mixing bowls, mixer, baking sheet, microwave-safe bowl, lollipop sticks, styrofoam block, and piping bag are essential.