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Lighter Christmas Tree Brownie Cake Pops – Easy No-Bake Treat

Lighter Christmas Tree Brownie Cake Pops - featured image
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These no-bake Christmas tree cake pops are made with a lighter brownie and cream cheese filling, dipped in green candy melts with a pretzel trunk. They’re quick, easy, and perfect for holiday parties.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box (18 oz) lower-sugar brownie mix (e.g., Ghirardelli or Kodiak Cakes)
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 4 oz reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (pure)
  • 12 oz green candy melts (e.g., Wilton or Merckens)
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 24 pretzel sticks, broken in half
  • 24 lollipop sticks (about 6 inches long)
  • Sprinkles (star-shaped, red, and green)
  • Optional: white candy melts for drizzling

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 baking pan lightly with cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, mix brownie mix, applesauce, egg, and water until just combined. Pour into pan and spread evenly.
  3. Bake for 18-22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs. Cool completely in pan.
  4. In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy (about 2 minutes).
  5. Crumble cooled brownies into a large bowl into fine crumbs. Add cream cheese mixture and mix thoroughly with hands until mixture holds together when pressed.
  6. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of mixture and roll into a ball. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat to make 24 balls.
  7. Insert a lollipop stick into each ball about halfway through. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes until firm.
  8. Melt green candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth. Stir in coconut oil.
  9. Remove chilled cake balls from fridge. Dip each ball into melted candy, covering completely. Tap stick on bowl edge to remove excess.
  10. Place dipped cake pop upright in a Styrofoam block or cardboard box. While coating is wet, press a pretzel stick half into bottom for trunk. Add sprinkles on top.
  11. Let set at room temperature for 15-20 minutes until firm. Optionally drizzle with melted white candy melts for a snow effect.
  12. Serve at room temperature.

Notes

Don’t skip chilling the cake balls before dipping—they need to be firm. If candy melts are too thick, add more coconut oil, not water. Work in small batches, keeping remaining balls cold. Cake pops can be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge; dip and decorate the day of serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: Christmas tree cake pops, brownie cake pops, no-bake dessert, holiday treats, lighter cake pops, easy Christmas dessert

Find it online: https://jollyfork.com/lighter-christmas-tree-brownie-cake-pops-easy-no-bake-treat/