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Easy Turkey Cake Pops with Pretzel Feathers (Best Thanksgiving Treat)

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These quick turkey cake pops with pretzel feathers are the perfect Thanksgiving treat. They look impressive but come together in about 30 minutes of active time, using simple ingredients like cake mix, frosting, and pretzels.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box vanilla or chocolate cake mix (plus eggs, oil, and water as directed on the box)
  • 1/2 cup cream cheese frosting (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar (optional, for adjusting sweetness)
  • 24 mini pretzel twists (the thin, crunchy kind)
  • 12 ounces candy melts (chocolate, vanilla, or orange)
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil or vegetable shortening
  • 24 candy eyes
  • 1/4 cup orange candy melts or orange frosting (for beak and snood)
  • 12 lollipop sticks (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bake the cake according to package directions in a 9×13-inch pan. Let it cool completely.
  2. Crumble the cooled cake into fine crumbs in a large bowl.
  3. Add 1/2 cup cream cheese frosting to the cake crumbs and mix until evenly combined. The mixture should hold together when squeezed.
  4. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, form the mixture into 20-24 smooth balls. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  5. Chill the cake balls in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or freeze for 15 minutes).
  6. Melt the candy melts with 1 tablespoon coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second bursts, stirring after each, until smooth.
  7. If using lollipop sticks, dip the tip of each stick into the melted candy, then insert it about halfway into a cake ball. Dip the entire cake ball into the melted coating, using a fork to help submerge. Tap off excess coating.
  8. While the coating is still wet, insert 3-4 mini pretzel twists into the back of each cake pop, fanning them out like turkey feathers.
  9. Set the pops upright in a styrofoam block or on parchment paper. Let them set completely, about 10-15 minutes.
  10. Once set, use a toothpick or piping bag to add a tiny dot of orange candy melt for the beak and two small dots of red or orange for the snood. Press on the candy eyes while the details are still wet. Let set for another 10 minutes.

Notes

Chill cake balls thoroughly before dipping to prevent them from falling apart. If candy coating is too thick, add more coconut oil. For gluten-free, use gluten-free cake mix and pretzels. For dairy-free, use dairy-free cake mix, vegan frosting, and dairy-free candy melts. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Freeze undipped cake balls for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: turkey cake pops, Thanksgiving treats, easy cake pops, pretzel feathers, holiday desserts, cake pops recipe

Find it online: https://willarecipes.com/easy-turkey-cake-pops-with-pretzel-feathers-best-thanksgiving-treat/