Carrot-Shaped Cake Pops

These whimsical carrot-shaped cake pops combine the warm spices of carrot cake with a creamy cream cheese coating, creating a delightful dessert that’s perfect for any celebration. The pops are made with a moist carrot cake base and decorated to look like real carrots, making them a fun and festive treat. They are naturally sweetened and can be made gluten-free, meeting various dietary preferences while still being deliciously satisfying.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups grated carrots
• 1 cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour blend
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• Orange and green colored candy melts or chocolate
• Lollipop sticks

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a cake pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine grated carrots, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
3. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until just combined.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Let the cake cool completely before crumbling it into a large bowl.
7. Add softened cream cheese and powdered sugar to the crumbled cake and mix until fully combined, forming a dough-like consistency.
8. Scoop out small portions of the mixture and shape them into carrot forms. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
9. Melt the orange candy melts according to package instructions. Dip the tip of each lollipop stick into the melted candy and insert it into the base of each carrot pop.
10. Coat each carrot-shaped pop completely with the melted orange candy, letting the excess drip off. Use the green candy melts to create leaves by piping them onto the top of each pop.
11. Allow the pops to set at room temperature or in the refrigerator until the coating is firm. Serve and enjoy!