Save to Pinterest My daughter came home from school one December afternoon with a craft project that spiraled into something unexpectedly delicious. She'd drawn a picture of three snowmen stacked on top of each other, and when she asked if we could make them edible, I didn't have the heart to say no. What started as a vague idea became these little Oreo snowman cake pops, and now I can't imagine getting through the holidays without making them together in the kitchen.
I brought a batch to a holiday potluck last year, and they disappeared before the main course was even served. Someone asked for the recipe with such urgency that I realized I'd stumbled onto something genuinely special, not just another festive treat that people felt obligated to eat.
Ingredients
- Oreo cookies: Thirty-six of them makes about two cups when crushed, and this is where all the deep cookie flavor lives. Use the standard kind, not the double-stuffed ones.
- Cream cheese: Make sure it's softened to room temperature so it mixes smoothly with the cookie crumbs without lumps.
- White chocolate or candy melts: Candy melts are actually easier to work with because they set faster and don't require tempering, but real white chocolate tastes richer.
- Mini chocolate chips or black decorating gel: These become the eyes and buttons, and chocolate chips look more natural than gel if you want a less polished look.
- Orange sprinkles or icing: A tiny pinch of orange becomes the carrot nose and adds that unmistakable snowman detail.
- Pretzel sticks or fondant: Pretzels work immediately without any prep, though fondant lets you get creative with scarves and hats.
- Lollipop sticks: These hold everything together and make them feel like proper cake pops instead of just frozen balls.
Instructions
- Crush the cookies into fine crumbs:
- A food processor makes this quick, but if you don't have one, seal the Oreos in a bag and let your frustrations out with a rolling pin. You want crumbs, not chunks.
- Mix the dough until it feels like putty:
- The cream cheese and crushed Oreos should come together into something smooth and cohesive that holds together when you squeeze it. If it feels too dry, add a touch more cream cheese.
- Roll two sizes of balls:
- The smaller balls sit on top like the head, while the larger ones form the base. Be consistent with sizes so they look intentional rather than lumpy.
- Stack and secure with sticks:
- Press the small ball gently onto the large one, then push a lollipop stick straight through the center. A piece of parchment paper on the baking sheet keeps things from sticking.
- Chill until firm:
- Twenty to thirty minutes in the freezer is usually enough, but you can prep these the night before and keep them frozen until you're ready to dip.
- Melt the coating smoothly:
- Microwave the white chocolate in short bursts, stirring between each one so it doesn't seize. You want it warm enough to flow but not so hot that it cracks the frozen cake pops.
- Dip with confidence:
- Submerge each pop, give it a gentle twist, and let the excess drip off before standing it upright in a styrofoam block or cup. The white coating should be smooth and glossy.
- Decorate while it's tacky:
- Add the eyes, buttons, and nose while the chocolate is still sticky so everything adheres. Once the coating sets, decorations won't stick as easily.
- Add finishing touches:
- Pretzel sticks slide in as arms, and if you've made fondant scarves, drape them loosely for character. Step back and admire your snowmen.
Save to Pinterest There's something magical about watching someone recognize that a little white-coated ball is actually a snowman before they bite into it. My nephew keeps a photo on his phone of the ones we made together three years ago.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
These cake pops live happily in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days, which makes them perfect for preparing ahead of parties. You can freeze the undipped dough balls for up to two weeks, then dip and decorate them whenever you have time. The white chocolate coating actually protects the filling, so they hold up better than you'd expect.
Variations Worth Trying
Once you understand how these work, the snowman concept becomes a template for experimenting. Tint the white chocolate with food coloring for different snowmen in scarves, use dark chocolate for a night scene, or switch to crushed cookies you actually prefer. Some people use the same base with different decorations to make other characters entirely.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The most common problem is trying to dip cake pops that aren't cold enough, which causes them to slide off the sticks mid-dip. Another mistake is using chocolate that's too thick, which creates an uneven coating with lumps. The third is decorating too early, before the chocolate sets, which makes decorations fall off.
- Always freeze for the full time before dipping, and let the coating cool back to the right temperature between batches.
- If your chocolate thickens, microwave it for just five seconds and stir again.
- Wait until the white coating firms up slightly before sticking on the pretzel arms, which takes just a few minutes at room temperature.
Save to Pinterest These cake pops have become the recipe I'm known for, and honestly, that's okay. There's comfort in mastering something small and being the person who brings the pretty snowmen to the party.
Recipe Questions & Answers
- → How do you crush the Oreo cookies effectively?
Use a food processor for even, fine crumbs. Alternatively, place the cookies in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
- → What is the best way to shape the snowmen?
Roll the Oreo cream cheese dough into small and slightly larger balls, then stack a small ball atop a larger one, pressing gently to adhere.
- → How can I ensure the white chocolate coating is smooth?
Melt the white chocolate slowly in short intervals in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring frequently until smooth and even.
- → What decorations work well for eyes and buttons?
Mini chocolate chips or black decorating gel make effective eyes and buttons, adding character to the snowmen.
- → How should these treats be stored?
Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep them fresh for up to 5 days.