Pin A wild, sweet-and-savory treat that combines the tang of dill pickles, the subtle sweetness of sweet potato, and a spicy Flamin Hot crunch, all in playful cake pop form. Perfect for adventurous snackers and party fun.
I was inspired to create these monster cake pops after a weekend experiment mixing crushed Flamin Hot Cheetos and dill pickle chips with leftover sweet potato cake. They quickly became the star at our family birthday gathering, sparking laughter and requests for seconds!
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour: 1 cup
- Granulated sugar: 1/2 cup
- Baking powder: 1/2 tsp
- Baking soda: 1/4 tsp
- Salt: 1/4 tsp
- Mashed cooked sweet potato: 1 cup (about 1 medium sweet potato)
- Unsalted butter, melted: 1/2 cup
- Large eggs: 2
- Buttermilk: 1/4 cup, plus 2–3 tbsp for binding crumbs
- Vanilla extract: 1 tsp
- Finely chopped dill pickles (patted dry): 1/2 cup
- Dill weed: 1/2 tsp
- Garlic powder: 1/2 tsp
- Flamin Hot Cheetos, finely crushed: 1/4 cup (plus 1 cup for coating)
- White chocolate or candy melts, melted: 10 oz
- Candy eyes or small round candies: For decorating monster faces
- Cake pop sticks: 18
Instructions
- Prepare baking pan:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
- Mix dry ingredients:
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine wet ingredients:
- In another bowl, mix mashed sweet potato, melted butter, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Combine mixtures:
- Fold the wet mixture into the dry ingredients just until combined.
- Add flavor mix-ins:
- Stir in chopped dill pickles, dill weed, garlic powder, and 1/4 cup crushed Flamin Hot Cheetos.
- Bake cake:
- Pour batter into baking pan and bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Crumble & bind cake:
- Cool completely, then crumble cake into fine crumbs. Add 2–3 tbsp buttermilk, mixing until mixture holds together when pressed.
- Form cake balls:
- Roll mixture into 1.5-inch balls. Place on lined baking sheet and chill in the freezer for 20 minutes.
- Melt coating:
- Melt white chocolate or candy melts according to package instructions.
- Insert sticks:
- Dip the tip of each cake pop stick into melted chocolate, then insert into cake ball. Freeze for 5 minutes.
- Coat pops:
- Dip each cake pop fully into melted chocolate, letting excess drip off.
- Add crunch:
- Immediately roll or sprinkle pops with 1 cup crushed Flamin Hot Cheetos.
- Decorate monster faces:
- Press on candy eyes to create monster faces while coating is wet.
- Set pops:
- Stand cake pops upright in a styrofoam block or cake pop stand until coating sets.
Pin Making these cake pops with my kids turned our rainy afternoon into a riot of color and giggles. Watching everyone craft monster faces brought out creativity and made the finished treats even sweeter.
Required Tools
Mixing bowls, electric mixer or whisk, baking pan (8-inch square), parchment paper, spatula, cake pop sticks, microwave-safe bowl for chocolate, styrofoam block or cake pop stand.
Allergen Information
Contains wheat (gluten), dairy, eggs, and possible milk and gluten from Flamin Hot Cheetos. Always check labels for candy melts and decorations.
Nutritional Information (per serving)
Calories: 170, Total Fat: 7 g, Carbohydrates: 24 g, Protein: 2 g
Pin Surprise everyone with these sweet, spicy, and playful cake pops at your next gathering. They're sure to spark smiles and seconds!
Recipe FAQ
- → Can I use gluten-free flour for these monster pops?
Yes, substitute an equal amount of gluten-free flour blend for all-purpose flour to make them gluten-free.
- → How do I achieve extra tangy flavor?
Adding a teaspoon of pickle juice to the batter enhances the tang from the dill pickles.
- → What’s the best way to make the monster faces?
Attach candy eyes or round candies while the coating is still wet to create lively monster faces.
- → Are there alternative coatings besides Flamin Hot Cheetos?
Try crushed spicy chips, regular Cheetos, or even pretzels for different crunch and flavor options.
- → How do I keep cake pops from falling off sticks?
Dipping each stick tip in melted chocolate before inserting into the balls helps secure the pops.
- → Are these monster pops vegetarian?
Yes, the pops use vegetarian-friendly ingredients, but check coating labels for any hidden animal-derived components.