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Cozy Turkey Cake Pops with Crunchy Pretzel Feathers

cozy turkey cake pops with crunchy pretzel feathers - featured image
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These adorable turkey cake pops feature a soft cake center, creamy frosting, and salty pretzel feathers for a perfect sweet-and-salty Thanksgiving treat. They’re fun to make, easy to customize, and guaranteed to bring smiles to your holiday table.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box yellow cake mix (Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines)
  • Eggs, oil, and water (as called for on cake mix box)
  • 1/2 cup canned cream cheese frosting (Pillsbury recommended)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
  • 1 bag pretzel sticks (thin)
  • 1 bag orange or yellow candy melts (Wilton brand)
  • Candy eyes (small round with black pupils)
  • 1/2 cup chocolate candy melts or melting wafers
  • Red candy melts or red frosting (for wattle)
  • Lollipop sticks (6-inch)
  • White or brown candy melts (for coating)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare yellow cake mix according to box directions. Pour batter into greased 9×13-inch pan and bake 25-30 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely (at least 1 hour).
  2. Crumble cooled cake into fine, even crumbs in a large mixing bowl (about 3-4 minutes).
  3. Add 1/2 cup cream cheese frosting, vanilla extract, and cinnamon (if using) to cake crumbs. Mix with hands until dough-like consistency forms (like Play-Doh). If too dry, add another tablespoon frosting; if too wet, add more cake crumbs.
  4. Scoop about 1.5 tablespoons of mixture and roll into smooth balls. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet. You should get 20-24 balls. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  5. While cake balls chill, melt white or brown candy melts in microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth. If too thick, add 1 teaspoon coconut oil or vegetable shortening.
  6. Remove chilled cake balls from fridge. Dip tip of lollipop stick into melted candy, then insert about halfway into a cake ball. Repeat for all balls. Return to fridge for 10 minutes.
  7. Holding each pop by the stick, dip cake ball into melted candy coating until fully covered. Gently tap stick against bowl to let excess drip off. Do not swirl. Place upright in Styrofoam block or stand. Repeat for all pops.
  8. While coating is still wet, insert 3-4 pretzel sticks into back of each cake ball at slightly different angles (like a turkey tail). If pretzels slide, dip tips in melted chocolate before inserting.
  9. Melt orange or yellow candy melts. Using toothpick or small piping bag, pipe tiny triangle beak onto front of each cake pop. Add small red dot or line below beak for wattle. Press two candy eyes above beak. Let set 10 minutes.
  10. Allow cake pops to dry completely—about 30 minutes at room temperature or 15 minutes in fridge. Coating should be firm before moving or serving.

Notes

Chill cake balls between every step for best results. Use thin pretzel sticks, not thick rods. Work in small batches when melting candy coating. If cake pop falls off stick during dipping, scoop out, reshape, rechill, and try again. Store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 5 days. Do not freeze.

Nutrition

Keywords: turkey cake pops, Thanksgiving dessert, cake pops, pretzel feathers, holiday baking, easy dessert, sweet and salty

Find it online: https://cookluma.com/cozy-turkey-cake-pops-with-crunchy-pretzel-feathers/