Halloween Zombie Cake Pops with Red Velvet Brains

Mary and Brenda Maher

By Brenda & Mary

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Ever played Plants vs. Zombies and found yourself both terrified and amazed by those brain-munching zombies? That’s the exact energy I had in mind when I made these zombie cake pops! They’re full-on Halloween, from the creepy eyes to the gory details, and basically screaming to your face, “Eat me… if you dare!”

Zombie Cake Pops

Why Everyone Goes Crazy Over These Zombie Pops

  • These cake pops are full-on art projects that are actually super fun to get into! You get to roll up your sleeves, crumble up the cake with your hands, and feel like a kid playing with dough (Not to mention my favorite part – painting the skull molds with chocolate!)
  • When you show up with red velvet skulls that have brains spilling out, people are going to freak out – in the best way possible! They’re such a fun twist on a classic treat, especially for Halloween or any spooky-themed party. 
  • The red velvet cake is super moist and rich, with just enough frosting to make it melt-in-your-mouth good. Then you’ve got the candy coating that adds a satisfying little crunch when you bite into it. The combo of textures and flavors is spot-on – sweet but not too over-the-top – and is impossible to resist!
  • Do you know what makes these cakes even better? It’s how easy it is to make them your own! Feel free to mix things up with different candy colors, decorations, and even how you design the skulls. You can even go all out with crazy details on the eyes or add extra “brains” spilling out! 

Halloween Zombie Cake Pops Ingredients:

16 oz Dark Chocolate Candy Coating16 oz Dark Chocolate Candy Coating
16oz Light Green Candy Coating16oz Light Green Candy Coating
Skull Chocolate Sucker MoldSkull Chocolate Sucker Mold
White Sucker SticksSucker Sticks 4.5″ x 5/32″- Set of 50
Paintbrushes - Set of 5Paintbrushes – Set of 5
PME Sugar Craft KnifePME Sugar Craft Knife
Black Food Coloring MarkerBlack Food Coloring Markers -Set of 2
Yellow Candy Drops - 2.5 ozYellow Candy Drops – 3 oz.
Box Red Velvet Cake Mix, Baked and Cooled
16 oz. Tub Store Bought Icing

4 Steps to Make Zombie Cake Pops

Step 1.

First up, bake your red velvet cake according to the instructions on the box. Once it’s baked and cooled, crumble that cake into a bowl. You want it to be super fine, no big chunks, just crumbs. Don’t be afraid to get your hands in there — it’s way easier to break it down that way!

Next, grab ⅓  to ½ a tub of icing and mix it in using a rubber spatula or spoon. You’re aiming for a consistency that holds together when you press it but isn’t too mushy. If it feels too crumbly, just add a little more icing. Pop the mixture into the fridge to chill while we get the next step ready.

Step 2.

Now, it’s time to melt your chocolate! In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the dark chocolate and green candy coating discs at 50% power, and don’t forget to stir frequently. Be careful not to overheat it – because, trust me, burnt chocolate is a no-go.

Make Zombie Cake Pops

Once your coating is smooth, grab a small paintbrush and start painting! Brush a nice thick layer of dark chocolate on the eyes, nose, and mouth of each skull mold. Be thorough during the entire process; we all want these details to stand out! Then, pop the mold in the fridge for about 5 minutes so the chocolate can settle.

Make Zombie Cake Pops 1

After these 5 minutes are up, take the mold out and brush a thick layer of the melted green candy coating over the entire inside of each skull cavity. This will form a candy shell around your cake pops.

Back into the fridge, they go – for another 5 minutes until the shell is firm. And if you see any spots that look a little thin, don’t worry! Just touch them up with more candy coating.

Make Zombie Cake Pops 2

Step 3.

Okay, so our shells are ready. Let’s fill them up!

Take a small amount of that red velvet filling and press it into each mold, leaving a tiny gap (about ⅛ of an inch) at the top. Small as it is, this gap will make sealing everything up a breeze later on.

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Next, dip the end of each sucker stick into your melted candy coating and press it firmly into the filling. That’s how we make sure the stick attaches to the cake pop!

When your sticks are secure, use some more of the melted green coating to completely cover the back of each skull and seal the cake inside. Then, place the molds in the freezer for about 15 minutes so everything can firm up nicely.

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Step 4.

The grand finale is here, everyone! Gently pop each skull cake out of the mold, and then let them sit at room temperature for a bit to warm up.

Now, use a craft knife to carefully cut and crack off a piece of each skull, revealing the delicious red velvet brain shape underneath. If you want to make them extra creepy, pack some of that extra “brain” filling on top of the skulls for added effect.

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To finish off, attach the yellow candies to the eyes using a bit of melted candy coating. Finally, grab a food coloring marker and draw in the pupils to bring these spooky treats to life.

painting the Zombie Cake Pops

And that’s it! You’ve made some REAL creepy-cool red velvet skull cake pops, perfect for any Halloween fun! 

Zombie Cake Pops

Recipe Notes

1. Sure, crumbling the cake by hand is super satisfying. But if you want to level up, toss it in a food processor for a few quick pulses! You’ll get these perfect, super-fine crumbs that blend with the icing like a dream.

Just be careful not to overdo it — we’re not making cake paste here! You still want some texture but without those annoying big chunks that ruin your cake pops.

2. Let’s be real — a cake and icing mixture can get seriously sticky. So, in case you find it sticking to your hands more than staying in the bowl, here’s my favorite trick: dust your hands with a little powdered sugar or cornstarch.

Or, if you’re not a fan of sticky fingers, just wear disposable gloves. Your hands stay clean, and it’s so much easier to shape the filling.

3. Ever had your candy coating turned into a chunky mess? Yep, it was definitely not a pleasant experience for me.

To avoid this, if your candy starts to thicken up while you’re working, pop it back in the microwave for 10-second intervals, but at half power. Trust me, this will bring it back to that dreamy, smooth consistency.

And what if it’s still too thick? Well, don’t panic! Add a tiny bit of vegetable shortening to thin it out.

4. I often give the cake pop stick a gentle twist when pushing it into the cake filling. That way, the coating grabs onto the stick much better and holds on far longer! You can also chill the cake balls for a few minutes first to make sure that little twist-and-dip move will eventually lock everything into place.

Have fun with these zombie brain cakes!


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Mary and Brenda Maher

Mary & Brenda Maher

Mary & Brenda Maher, are the founders of Cake Girls, a Chicago-based online baking shop specializing in cake supplies, party decor, and DIY cake tutorials. They are known for their elaborate and artistic cake creations, which have been featured on the Food Network Challenge and in a reality show, Amazing Wedding Cakes.

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