A staple of autumn gatherings, these bite-sized treats look exactly like classic candy corn but taste so much better. You'll mix baked yellow cake with fluffy white frosting to create a sweet, dense center that holds its shape beautifully. Each piece gets dipped in bright layers of yellow, orange, and white candy melts for a crisp, colorful shell. They're a fun, festive baking project that kids and adults will love.
Prep
1 hr 30 min
Cook
35 min
Total
4 hr 15 min
Servings
72
Course
Dessert
Ingredients
1 box yellow cake mix with pudding
1 cup whipped fluffy white ready-to-spread frosting (from 12-oz container)
5 cups yellow candy melts
ΒΌ cup shortening
2 cups orange candy melts
1 cup white candy melts
72 paper lollipop sticks
1 large block white plastic foam
Instructions
1Bake the yellow cake mix in a 13x9-inch pan according to the package directions using the required water, oil, and eggs. Let the cake cool completely. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and crumble the cooled cake into a large mixing bowl.
2Stir the white frosting into the crumbled cake until thoroughly combined. Portion the mixture into 72 one-inch balls, then press the sides of each ball flat to form a triangle shape resembling candy corn. Arrange the triangles on the prepared baking sheet and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes. Transfer the baking sheet to the refrigerator to keep them chilled while you prepare the coatings.
3Place the yellow candy melts and two tablespoons of shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat uncovered on medium power for one minute, then continue heating in 15-second bursts, stirring after each, until the mixture is completely melted and smooth. Melt the orange candy melts with one tablespoon of shortening in a separate bowl using the same method. Repeat this process for the white candy melts and the remaining tablespoon of shortening.
4Dip the tip of a lollipop stick about half an inch into the melted yellow candy, then push it into the wide base of a chilled cake triangle, stopping halfway through. Repeat for all the cake pieces and place them back on the baking sheet. Chill in the refrigerator for five minutes so the candy coating on the sticks can set. Don't skip this quick chill, or the cake might slide off the stick during dipping.
5Take a few cake pops out of the refrigerator at a time. Submerge each cake triangle completely into the melted yellow candy, gently tapping the stick to remove any excess coating. Insert the bottom of the stick into the foam block and let the pops stand until the yellow layer hardens.
6Dip the top two-thirds of each yellow-coated cake pop into the melted orange candy and return to the foam block to set. Finally, dip just the pointed tips into the melted white candy and let them stand until the final layer is completely firm.
Notes
Storage: Store the finished cake pops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Make ahead: You can bake the cake and shape the triangles a day in advance. Keep them covered in the refrigerator until you're ready to dip.
Tip: If the candy melts become too thick while dipping, microwave them again in 10-second bursts until they're smooth and fluid.