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    Home » Desserts

    Pumpkin Cake Pops

    Published: Aug 26, 2013 · Modified: Oct 29, 2023 by burntapple · This post may contain affiliate links · 18 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Close-up of a vase filled with pumpkin cake pops. The cake pops are decorated with orange frosting and sprinkles, and they have a green stem

    Fall is just around the corner, and it's time to start thinking about all the delicious pumpkin treats that come with the season. One popular dessert that has become a staple during the fall months is pumpkin cake pops. These small, bite-sized treats are perfect for sharing with friends and family, or for indulging in a sweet treat all to yourself. In this article, we'll explore what pumpkin cake pops are, how to make them, and some fun decorating ideas to make them truly special.

    Close-up of a vase filled with pumpkin cake pops. The cake pops are decorated with orange frosting and sprinkles, and they have a green stem

    Pumpkin cake pops

    Traci Wennerholm
    These pumpkin cake pops are a fun and easy way to enjoy the flavors of fall. Made with a moist and flavorful pumpkin cake, these pops are dipped in a coating and decorated. Perfect for parties, potlucks, or just a sweet treat, these pumpkin cake pops are sure to please everyone!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    0 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 cake pops
    Calories 225 kcal

    Equipment

    • popsicle sticks

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 white cake mix see notes below
    • ½ cup pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling
    • ¾ cup water
    • 4 egg whites
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon cloves
    • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
    • ½ teaspoon ginger
    • ⅓ cup oil can substitute greek yogurt
    • 1 can vanilla frosting or 1 ¾ cup homemade vanilla frosting
    • 1 bag white chocolate chips or 1-2 bags vanilla melting chips
    • Orange and green natural food coloring
    • Shredded unsweetened coconut
    • Lollipop sticks

    Instructions
     

    • Add the cake mix, pumpkin puree, water, egg whites, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger and oil in a mixing bowl. Stir by hand for approximately two minutes or until all lumps are gone and batter is smooth. Pour into a lightly greased 9x13 inch pan and cook according to package directions.
    • Remove the cake from the oven and allow cake to cool completely. Once cake has cooled, use a fork to crumble the cake into pieces. Mix in the frosting. You may not need to use the entire can of frosting, so slowly stir it in until the frosting and cake stick together. Form the cake into golf ball sized balls and place on a baking sheet. Place the cake balls into the freezer and freeze for 20 minutes to one hour. Before removing cake balls from the freezer, melt the chips in the microwave or using the double boiler method. Add the dye and stir in. (We used Nature's Flavors natural dyes. India Tree also has a line of natural dyes). If using coconut as a topping, stir together the coconut and green dye in a separate bowl until blended well. Take the freezer balls out of the fridge and poke the lollipop sticks halfway through the cake pops. Dip into the chocolate mixture, coating evenly, then dip of tops of the cake pops into the coconut if desired. Place the sticks into a styrofoam block to allow chocolate to set up.
    • For pumpkin stems you can also poke a green jelly bean into the top of the cake pop or press a piece of green licorice or fruit snack.

    Notes

    Gluten Free White Cake Mix Brands: Betty Crocker (could find a yellow, not a white cake mix which is fine to substitute), Kinnikinnik White Cake Mix, Bob's Red Mill GF Vanilla Cake Mix, Pamela's Classic Vanilla Cake Mix, Cherrybrook Kitchen, Namaste Foods Vanilla Cake Mix, Hodgson Mill Yellow Cake Mix (Most of these cake mixes run $3-8)
    All Natural Cake Mixes: Naturally Nora Yellow Cake Mix, MOM Brands, WOW Baking Company
    Organic Cake Mixes: Arrowhead Mills Organic Yellow Cake Mix, Dr. Oetker White Cake Mix

    Nutrition

    Calories: 225kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 3gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.2gSodium: 317mgPotassium: 65mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 1589IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 100mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword fall cake pops, halloween cake pops, how to make pumpkin cake pops, pumpkin cake pop recipe, pumpkin cake pops, pumpkin spice cake pops, thanksgiving cake pops, white chocolate cake pops
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    What Are Pumpkin Cake Pops?

    Pumpkin cake pops are small, round balls of cake that are coated in a layer of creamy frosting and decorated with festive fall colors and designs. The cake itself is made with pumpkin puree, which gives it a deliciously moist and flavorful texture. The frosting can be made with cream cheese, buttercream, or any other frosting of your choice. Once the cake and frosting are combined, the mixture is rolled into small balls, placed on a stick, and dipped in a layer of chocolate or candy coating. From there, the cake pops can be decorated with sprinkles, candies, or other edible decorations to make them look as festive as they taste.

    How to Make Pumpkin Cake Pops

    To make our delicious fall cake pops you will need:

    • white cake mix
    • pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
    • water
    • egg whites
    • cinnamon
    • cloves
    • nutmeg
    • ginger
    • oil (can substitute greek yogurt)
    • vanilla frosting
    • white chocolate chips or 1-2 bags vanilla melting chips
    • Orange and green natural food coloring
    • Shredded unsweetened coconut
    • Lollipop sticks

    Preheat Your Oven and Prepare Your Cake

    To begin, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Mix the cake mix, pumpkin puree, and spices together in a bowl until well combined. Pour the mixture into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

    Time to Make Your Cake Mix Pops

    Once the cake has cooled, crumble it into a large mixing bowl. Add the softened butter and frosting to the bowl and mix until well combined. Gradually add the powdered sugar to the mixture until it forms a dough-like consistency.

    Roll the cake mixture into small balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Insert a lollipop stick into each ball and place the sheet in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.

    Melt the Chocolate

    In the meantime, melt the candy melts or chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Dip each cake pop into the melted chocolate, coating it evenly. Place the cake pops back onto the wax paper-lined baking sheet and decorate with sprinkles or other edible decorations before the chocolate hardens.

    pumpkin cake pop
    pumpkin cake pop

    Fun Decorating Ideas Fr Your Cake Pops

    Now that you know how to make pumpkin cake pops, it's time to get creative with the decorations. I decorated ours with toasted coconut flakes. But here are a few fun ideas to make your cake pops stand out:

    • Use fall-colored sprinkles, such as orange, red, and yellow, to give your cake pops a festive look.
    • Use edible markers to draw on faces, designs, or other fun patterns. This is a great option if you're making cake pops for Halloween.
    • Use small candies, like candy corn or mini M&Ms, to create fun designs on your cake pops.
    • Drizzle additional melted chocolate or candy coating on top of the cake pops for a decorative touch.
    • Wrap each cake pop in a clear plastic bag and tie with a festive ribbon for a cute gift idea.

    This recipe idea came from Without Adornment. We loved her simple and healthy recipes!

    Other Pumpkin Recipes We Know You Will Love!!

    I have a HUGE pumpkin problem...I love it! We eat pumpkin everything in the fall! Try a savory pumpkin coconut soup or a website favorite...pumpkin caramel cookies! You can even try our four ingredient pumpkin bread!

    You can find our HUGE pumpkin recipe list here!

    « Baked Macaroni and Cheese Balls
    Crockpot Breakfast Casserole »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious

      August 26, 2013 at 5:54 am

      Fabulous -- I am so ready for pumpkin season! Great SRC pick!

      Reply
    2. Christine

      August 26, 2013 at 7:10 am

      I'm so glad that you liked them! Good job on trying to make them slightly healthier! I also love your tip about not using the entire jar of frosting as I seem to remember that my issue wad they were so gooey that they wouldn't stay on the sticks, causing a lot of frustration. Haha.

      I don't know if you're interested (or can eat nuts), but I also have a recipe for raw strawberry cheesecake cake pops that don't have nearly as much sugar and unhealthy things in them. http://withoutadornment.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/birthdays-and-strawberry-cheesecake-raw-vegan-cake-pops/

      Reply
      • burntapple

        August 26, 2013 at 8:16 am

        I love those Strawberry Cheesecake Pops Christine. Great idea! I had so much fun highlighting you this month. Great recipes!

        Reply
    3. Rebekah @ Making Miracles

      August 26, 2013 at 7:42 am

      The cake pops are adorable!! Great SRC choice!!

      Reply
    4. Karen

      August 26, 2013 at 7:50 am

      Those are SO SWEET! What a great pick for the pumpkin season and Fall! Karen

      Reply
    5. Emily @ Life on Food

      August 26, 2013 at 8:27 am

      Great pick! Cake pops are such fun treats. I stopped letting my husband help pick because he always went for the sweet stuff too.

      Reply
    6. Janie E

      August 26, 2013 at 9:05 am

      Those look SO cute and I bet they are amazing because anything pumpkin is amazing 🙂
      Happy Reveal Day!

      Reply
    7. Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel

      August 26, 2013 at 10:18 am

      I don't care if it's still August-- I am SOOO ready for pumpkin season! I love these!

      Reply
    8. Melissa

      August 26, 2013 at 11:32 am

      Cake pops are so fun, especially when the kids are helping in the kitchen! Great pick this month 🙂

      Reply
    9. Tara

      August 26, 2013 at 12:46 pm

      Great looking recipe for pumpkin season!

      Reply
    10. Lynn H @ Turnips 2 Tangerines

      August 26, 2013 at 1:22 pm

      Great recipe and wonderful for the pumpkin season! Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines

      Reply
    11. SallyBR

      August 26, 2013 at 1:58 pm

      Very cute recipe, if I had kids it would be something on my "to do soon" list... WAIT, I' ve got graduate students in the lab, what am I saying? They are like big kids who loooove anything sweet! 😉

      interesting that you form the balls of cake and bake them free form - I had no idea, I thought one needed a special cake pan for those... Live and learn!

      Reply
    12. Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies

      August 26, 2013 at 7:28 pm

      Cake pops are always a hit...especially with kids! These look fantastic...great SRC pick!

      Reply
    13. kirstin

      August 26, 2013 at 7:30 pm

      Yummy, yummy, yummy!!!! Perfect!

      Reply
    14. The Wimpy Vegetarian

      August 26, 2013 at 9:45 pm

      I am getting so ready for fall! I would love to make these! What a great SRC pick 🙂

      Reply
    15. Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere

      August 27, 2013 at 8:59 pm

      What a fun project! Perfect to get ready for fall!

      Reply
    16. bakingaddict

      August 31, 2013 at 7:36 am

      I love this healthier version. Can't wait for autumn/fall for pumpkin season! Great SRC pick. Happy belated reveal day.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Traci! Cooking hasn't always come easy. I'm the burnt pancake on one side and perfect on the other pancake person that serves it to you with the pretty side up. I've learned to cook and make it look easy to my family and others. I'm now helping you save time & money with easy simple recipes with five ingredients or less!

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