Everyone loves bite-sized desserts at parties. Make your countdown to midnight even sweeter when you serve these Ball Drop Cake Pops. Packed with pumpkin flavor and real cream cheese frosting, it’s an easy-to-make dessert that’s festively decorated for the occasion.
New Year’s Eve has always been one of my favorite “snack holidays”. You know what I mean…everyone’s grazing, hanging out, waiting for the big moment at midnight. At our house, the kids run around with glow sticks, my wife’s putting together a snack board that definitely didn’t exist when we first got married, and I’m usually in charge of making something fun. That’s how these Ball Drop Cake Pops came to be. They’re easy, festive, and the kind of treat everyone grabs without hesitation.
What I love most about them is how they fit right into the New Year’s energy, a little sparkle, a little sweetness, and absolutely no fuss. You only need three ingredients, and they look way more impressive than the effort it takes to make them. Whether you’re hosting a big countdown party or just celebrating with family at home (like we usually do), these cake pops bring a bit of that “ball drop” excitement to the dessert table. Perfect for kids, adults, and anyone who appreciates a fun treat to end the year on a sweet note.
Other Party-Ready Dishes Perfect for New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve Party Cake Roll
This is a stunning centerpiece for your dessert table. It starts with a Red Velvet Cake Roll that is covered in creamy black buttercream, shimmering sprinkles, and a touch of gold to give it that showstopping, New Year’s Eve vibe.
New Year Cake Push Pops
These fun, festive treats layer moist chocolate cake, decadent crème filling, and gold and silver sprinkles into convenient push pop containers. They’re unique, effortlessly impressive desserts that are sure to steal the spotlight at your upcoming, end-of-year festivities.
White Chocolate Champagne Fondue
If you’re looking for something to bring to a friend’s gathering or just want to make your at-home celebration a little more special, fondue is always a crowd pleaser. Made with rich, creamy white chocolate, heavy cream, and just a little champagne, it’s a delicious way to ring in the new year.
What You’ll Need
- Stand mixer or hand mixer and bowl
- Small cookie scoop
- Cookie sheet
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Lollipop sticks
Storage Information
The best way to keep cake pops fresh is to vacuum seal them before placing them in the freezer. This helps them retain their moisture without becoming soggy. If you don’t have a vacuum sealer at home, not a problem! Wrap each cake pop in plastic wrap then wrap them in aluminum foil. Whichever method you choose, you then place them in a sealed container. In the refrigerator, they will last roughly one week. In the freezer, they can last up to a month.
Tips for Making Ball Drop Cake Pops
- If you are having trouble forming the cake mixture into your balls, pop it back into the refrigerator for a few minutes. It will firm up your cake mixture, making the balls easier to roll.
- If your candy melts start to solidify while you’re making your cake pops, re-heat them in the microwave. Consider melting them in small batches to avoid having to constantly stop to reheat. This will help the coating process go more smoothly.
- I don’t recommend keeping these cake pops out of the refrigerator for more than an hour. At room temperature, the cream cheese in the filling will begin to soften and change the texture of the cake pops.
How to Make Ball Drop Cake Pops
Ball Drop Cake Pops
Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy24
servings150
kcal3
Everyone loves bite-sized desserts at parties. Make your countdown to midnight even sweeter when you serve these Ball Drop Cake Pops. Packed with pumpkin flavor and real cream cheese frosting, it’s an easy-to-make dessert that’s festively decorated for the occasion.
Ingredients
1 Dutch Apron® Bakery Pumpkin Cake Roll
2 pkg. bright white candy melts
Black, silver, and gold sprinkles for decorating
Directions
- Take the cake roll out of the package and let thaw for 30 minutes.
- Once the Pumpkin Cake Roll becomes pliable, break off pieces of it and place into a large mixing bowl. Use a mixer to beat on medium speed until thoroughly mixed.
- Use a small cookie scoop to make uniform balls. It is best to use your hands to finish rounding them out. Put on a cookie sheet and place in the refrigerator to chill for at least one hour.
- Warm up a small amount of the candy melts according to the package directions. Once the candy coating is melted, remove the cake balls from the refrigerator.
- Dip the tip of each lollipop stick (about 1/3 of an inch) into the melted candy. Then insert about halfway into the cake balls. Place back in the refrigerator to firm up for 2-3 minutes.
- Melt the remaining white candy according to package directions. Dip each cake pop into the candy coating, making sure to fully submerge to the stick. While removing, gently swirl to remove any excess coating from the cake pop. This helps to ensure you get a smooth coating.
- Finally, decorate the cake pops with sprinkles. Work quickly before the candy hardens. Hold the stick and rotate the cake pop as you sprinkle to ensure you cover the whole pop. Once complete, return them to the cookie sheet, stick up, to harden.
Notes
- Storage Instructions: Ball Drop Cake Balls can be kept fresh by being placed in a vacuum-sealed bag or by being wrapped in aluminum foil. Then, place them in a sealed container. In the refrigerator, they will last roughly one week. In the freezer, they can last up to a month.
- Special Tools: Stand mixer or hand mixer and bowl, small cookie scoop, cookie sheet, microwave-safe bowl, and lollipop sticks.
- Keep the Cake Pops Cool: I don’t recommend keeping these cake pops out of the refrigerator for more than an hour. At room temperature, the cream cheese in the filling will begin to soften and change the texture of the cake pops.
About the Author:
Brand Wind is a graphic designer at Dutch Apron® Bakery where he creates a wide variety of materials pertaining to a variety of delicious desserts; his portfolio includes social media promotions, motion graphics, and, occasionally, lending an (actual) hand to make sure each recipe turns out just right. Brandon lives in Iowa with his wife and three children and enjoys creating his own comic books, playing guitar with his band, and going on whatever adventure his wife has planned for the weekend. He strives to be a constant reminder to his kids that, no matter how old you get, you can still be young at heart!
