1. Bake the Cake

• Preheat your oven according to the cake mix instructions.
• Prepare the cake mix as directed on the box, using the ingredients listed (typically eggs, oil, and water).
• Pour the batter into a 9×13-inch baking dish and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. This usually takes 25-30 minutes, but be sure to follow your cake mix’s specific instructions.
• Once baked, let the cake cool completely. This step is crucial! If the cake is too warm, it will crumble too easily.

2. Prepare the Frosting

• While the cake is cooling, make your frosting. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy.
• Gradually add in the powdered sugar, beating continuously. Add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time, adjusting the consistency until it’s smooth and spreadable. Stir in the vanilla extract for flavor.

3. Crumble the Cake

• Once the cake has cooled, crumble it into fine crumbs in a large mixing bowl. You can do this by hand or with a food processor.
• Add about ¾ of the frosting into the cake crumbs and mix until well combined. The mixture should be moist but firm enough to hold its shape. If it’s too dry, add a little more frosting; if it’s too wet, chill it for a few minutes to firm up.

4. Roll Cake Balls

• Using your hands or a small cookie scoop, form the cake mixture into golf ball-sized balls. Place them on a lined baking sheet. You should end up with about 20-24 cake balls.
• Insert a lollipop stick into the center of each cake ball. To help the sticks stay in place, dip the tip of each stick into a bit of melted candy coating before inserting it into the cake ball. This helps “glue” the stick to the cake.
• Place the tray of cake pops in the fridge or freezer for about 20-30 minutes to firm up.

5. Melt the Candy Coating

• While the cake pops are chilling, melt the white candy melts according to the package instructions. You can do this in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth. If the candy melts are too thick, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable shortening to thin them out.

6. Dip the Cake Pops

• Remove the cake pops from the fridge. Working one at a time, dip each cake pop into the melted candy coating, ensuring it’s fully covered. Gently tap off the excess coating by tapping the stick against the edge of the bowl.
• Place the cake pop upright into a styrofoam block or a cake pop stand to let the coating set. While the coating is still wet, attach a candy eyeball in the center of each cake pop. Repeat for all cake pops.

7. Add Details

• Once the coating has set, it’s time to get creative! Use gel icing or additional colored candy melts to add the iris and pupils to the eyeballs. You can use a piping bag or a toothpick for precision.
• For the veins, dip a fine-tipped brush or toothpick into red food coloring gel, and carefully draw thin, squiggly lines radiating from the center of the eye to the edges. This gives the eyeballs that creepy, bloodshot look!

8. Let Set

• Once decorated, allow the cake pops to set completely before serving. You can speed this process up by placing them in the fridge for 10-15 minutes.