Christmas Cake Pops

These Christmas Cake Pops contain all the elements of a traditional Christmas cake but with a modern presentation and the addition of chocolate!

Recently I was asked by Waitrose if I would like to create a twist on a traditional Christmas cake or pudding. Well, I love Christmas cakes and puddings and so I was delighted to have a go at something a little different. Even so, I decided to still use the traditional Christmas cake elements: fruit cake, marzipan and icing. Plus chocolate.

Hello Christmas cake pops!

These Christmas Cake Pops have a Secret Centre!

What I love most about Christmas cake is the marzipan. Of course I love the cake but the marzipan has to be my favourite bit. Don't you agree?

So, one of the best things about these Christmas cake pops is the ball of marzipan in the centre. It's the last bit of the cake pop you eat and don't we all save the best till last?

Where's the icing on these Xmas Cake Pops?

You may be reading this and wondering where the icing is. After all, Christmas cakes are normally covered in a layer of white icing. Well, when I eat Christmas cake I often peel a lot of the icing off and just eat the cake and the marzipan.

You may disagree but I'd say the icing is there to look good and the marzipan is there to taste good. With that in mind I've left just a little icing in the form of a few festive sprinkles.

Why the chocolate?

I know chocolate is not traditional in a Christmas cake but no one could complain about chocolate could they? I've coated the cake pops with a layer of dark chocolate. I normally prefer milk chocolate but for these cake pops it has to be dark. The brandy along with the sweetness and richness of the fruit in the cake goes so well with a bit of dark chocolate.

What ingredients do you need for Christmas cake pops?

To make these cake pops you'll need:

• Christmas cake - Use a bought Christmas cake, leftover homemade Christmas cake or make a cake specially for it. I've included a full Christmas recipe in the recipe card further down this page.
• Brandy - Or rum!
• Marzipan - You can use a bought marzipan or make your own.
• Dark chocolate - Use a good quality chocolate for these.
• Sprinkles - Sugary sprinkles are a replacement for the traditional icing on a Christmas cake. However, you could use chopped nuts instead or even leave the cake pops plain.

Can you replace the alcohol in these cake pops?

If you're making these for children  you could leave the alcohol out or use a little orange juice instead. I rarely cook with alcohol but I felt these cake pops needed it. I have used cider in my Christmas cake for the last two years but for these Christmas Cake Pops I've gone traditional.

Can you use a bought Christmas cake for these Cake Pops?

If you are making your own Christmas cake, it makes sense to double the quantities and make two cakes so you can use one for this recipe.

However, I know that not everyone has time to make their own cake and you certainly shouldn't feel pressurised to. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever why you shouldn't take the easy route and buy a Christmas cake just to make these Christmas cake pops.

Christmas Cake Batch Cooking

The recipe below is enough to make two cakes. I've gone both modern and traditional. One of the cakes is wrapped up and waiting for Christmas. I'll be feeding it liberally with more brandy over the coming weeks. It will definitely be coated with a generous layer of marzipan, although now I've tasted these cake pops I may do away with the white icing altogether and have a chocolate coated Christmas cake instead.

Of course, if you don't want a traditional cake at all simply use both cakes for the Christmas cake pops, just double the amount of marzipan and chocolate. And if you're feeling inspired but don't feel this is quite the right recipe for you, then do take a look at Waitrose's Christmas Puddings with a Twist  page for more seasonal inspiration.

How long do these Christmas Cake Pops Keep?

These Christmas cake pops keep for quite a long time. Just like the actual Christmas cake which is often still good to eat for a month or two, the cake pops are the same. I would advise aiming to eat them within a month though. It's not difficult! Just keep them in an airtight container. 

More Delicious Christmas Recipes

How about one of these festive Christmas recipes?

• Almond Rolls
• Mince Pies with Shortbread Pastry
• Nut and Cranberry Biscuits

Recipe

Christmas Cake Pops

Corina Blum

These Christmas Cake Pops contain all the elements of a traditional Christmas cake but with a modern presentation and the addition of chocolate!

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Total Time 3 hours hrs 50 minutes mins

Course cake, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine British

Servings 10

Ingredients

 

MetricUS Customary

 

1x2x3x

For the Christmas Cake

• 450 g currants
• 175 g raisins
• 175 g sultanas
• 60 g mixed peel
• 60 g glace cherries roughly chopped
• 3 tablespoon brandy
• 225 g plain flour
• Pinch of salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon mixed spice
• 225 g soft brown sugar
• 225 g unsalted butter
• 4 eggs lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon golden syrup

For the Cake Pops

• 50 ml Brandy
• 70 g marzipan
• 200 g dark chocolate
• Sprinkles to decorate with.

Instructions

 

• The night before making the Christmas cake put the currants, raisins, sultanas, mixed peel and glace cherries in a bowl and pour over the brandy. Cover with clingfilm.
• Sift the flour, salt and spices into a bowl. Set aside.
• Using either a stand mixer or by hand, cream together the butter and sugar until it is light and fluffy.
• Add the eggs a little at a time and beat them into the sugar and butter mixture.
• Fold the flour mixture in.
• Stir in the dried fruit and golden syrup.
• Grease and line two 15cm cake tins. Divide the mixture between the two tins. Alternatively put all the mixture into a 20cm tin to make one larger cake.
• Bake the cakes in the oven for approximately 3.5 hours at 140C. Keep checking the cakes after 3 hours and testing with a skewer so they don't overbake.
• Cool the cakes on a metal rack.
• Wrap one of the cakes up in foil and save till christmas.
• Crumble one of the cakes a little, put it in a bowl and pour over the brandy.Cover with cling film until the next day.
• Cover a baking tray with baking parchment. Divide the marzipan into 10 equal pieces. Roll each one into a ball and insert a cake pop stick into it. Put the sticks onto the baking tray. Put in the freezer to set.
• A couple of hours later, squash the Christmas cake mixture between your hands and fingers until it becomes like soft sticky crumbs.
• Take handfulls of the christmas cake mixture and squash them onto the ends of the cake pop sticks around the marzipan. Put the sticks back in the freezer for a few hours.
• Melt the chocolate slowly in the microwave until is has just all melted.
• Put the sprinkles in bowls.
• Line another baking tray with baking parchment.
• Take a cake pop. Dip it in the chocolate and turn it around so it is completely covered in chocolate. Use a spoon if you need to spoon the chocolate over the cake pop. Let any excess chocolate drip back into the bowl.
• Dip the cake pop into the bowl with the sprinkles. Again use a spoon to reach the area where the cake pop meets the stick. Put the cake pop on the new baking tray. Repeat with all the cake pops.
• Put them in the fridge for the chocolate to set and for the centre of the cake pop to defrost.

Notes

If you're short of time you could replace the homemade Christmas Cake with a ready-made one.

Keyword Christmas cake pops

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