With just a little finesse and creativity, you can turn a classic cake pop recipe into Christmas light cake pops for the cutest holiday dessert.

Cake pops are fun, bite-sized treats we can’t get enough of. During the holiday season, why not tweak the traditional cake pop recipe and transform them into adorable edible Christmas light cake pops instead? It’s easier than you think, and you can add it to the list of Christmas recipes to make with kids.

All you have to do is shape the cake pop dough into a rounded cone shape to resemble those classic C9 Christmas bulbs. Then, drench each one in colorful sanding sugar to bring it to life. I used Tootsie Roll candies to create the screw base of each edible Christmas light, and then I “strung” the lights along strands of licorice candy. They look adorable on a festive dessert platter alongside Christmas light cookies or other easy Christmas treats.

How to Make Christmas Light Cake Pops

Ingredients

• 1 package (15-1/4 ounces) vanilla cake mix
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 3 tablespoons whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 30 cake pop sticks
• 2 cups white candy coating disks
• Red, green, blue and yellow sanding sugar, for decorating
• Chewy chocolate-flavored candies (such as Tootsie Rolls), for decorating
• String licorice candy (such as Twizzlers pull ‘n peel or licorice wheels)

Directions

Step 1: Shape the dough

Follow our classic cake pops recipe through step two. Instead of rolling the cake pop dough into balls, shape them into rounded cone shapes to look like Christmas lights.

Step 2: Dip the cake pops

Melt the white candy coating and place each color of sanding sugar into a separate bowl. Dip each Christmas light cake pop in the candy coating, allow the excess to drip off, and then immediately cover with sanding sugar. Insert the cake pops into a foam block. Let them stand until set.

Step 3: “String” the lights

To form the base of the lights, cut a Tootsie Roll candy in half. Use a knife to make indentations on each piece to mimic the ridges of the screw base. Remove the stick from the cake pop light and dip the end of the candy in a small amount of melted white candy coating to adhere.

If desired, brush each of these candies with an edible silver luster dust for an even more authentic appearance. Place the Christmas light cake pops on strings of red, green or black licorice on your serving platter to resemble a string of Christmas lights.

Related:

• 20 Gingerbread Decorating Ideas That Are (Almost) Too Cute to Eat
• The Secret to Bright White Buttercream Might Already Be in Your Pantry
• 25 Days of Christmas: What to Eat with All Your Favorite Christmas Movies