Description
These spooky Eyeball Cake Pops are made with rich chocolate cake, creamy homemade buttercream, and a white candy coating, decorated with colorful irises and bloodshot detailing to resemble eerie eyeballs—perfect for Halloween parties and festive treats.
Ingredients
- 7 ounces all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 ounces unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup freshly brewed hot coffee
- 8 ounces unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
- 1½ teaspoons heavy cream
- 24 ounces white candy melts (reserve 2 ounces to tint blue)
- Blue food coloring
- 2–3 ounces chocolate chips
- 2–4 ounces red candy melts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9-inch round cake pan with parchment and grease the sides.
- Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk, oil, egg, and vanilla. Add to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Slowly whisk in the hot coffee until the batter is smooth and thin.
- Pour batter into the pan and bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
- Make the buttercream: Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then mix in vanilla and heavy cream until fluffy.
- Crumble the cooled cake into a large bowl. Add ¾ cup buttercream and mix until dough-like.
- Roll into 1–2 tablespoon-sized balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill for 1 hour.
- Melt white candy melts according to package instructions. Reserve 2 ounces to tint blue later.
- Dip the tip of each stick into melted candy and insert halfway into cake balls. Dip each pop fully into the coating, tap off excess, and set upright to harden.
- Tint reserved white candy with blue food coloring. Pipe or spoon a blue circle in the center of each cake pop for the iris.
- Melt chocolate chips and pipe a small black dot in the center of the iris to form the pupil.
- Melt red candy melts and pipe thin lines outward from the center to mimic blood vessels.
- Let decorations set at room temperature for about 1 hour before serving or packaging.
Notes
- You can use a boxed cake mix instead of homemade to save time.
- Let cake balls sit out for a few minutes before dipping to prevent cracking.
- Use different candy melt colors for alternative themes.
- Store at room temperature in an airtight container for best texture.
- Decorations can be customized for non-Halloween themes as well.
- Prep Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cake pop
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
