Save There's something about watching a kitchen transform into a winter wonderland that makes you feel like a kid again. My neighbor knocked on the door with her daughter one December afternoon, and they caught me mid-bite of an Oreo—we ended up spending three hours turning crushed cookies and cream cheese into the most adorable little snowmen. By the time we'd added their chocolate-chip eyes and pretzel arms, we weren't just making treats anymore; we were building memories one pop at a time.
I brought a batch to my office Secret Santa exchange, and grown adults literally gasped when they unwrapped them. One colleague asked if I'd ordered them from a fancy shop, and I realized that homemade doesn't have to mean complicated—sometimes the most impressive gifts come from something you can make in your kitchen on a quiet afternoon.
Ingredients
- Oreo cookies (36 cookies, about 1 standard package): The foundation of everything—they bring that beloved cocoa flavor and the slight bitterness that balances the sweetness of cream cheese and white chocolate perfectly.
- Cream cheese (180 g or 6 oz, softened): This is what transforms crushed cookies into a workable dough that stays creamy without being greasy; make sure it's truly soft before mixing, or you'll spend ages trying to get a smooth texture.
- White chocolate or candy melts (350 g or 12 oz): Candy melts are your friend here because they set faster and more smoothly than real white chocolate, though either works beautifully.
- Mini chocolate chips or black decorating gel: Use whichever feels easier for you—the gel is more precise, but chips have a charming homemade look.
- Orange sprinkle or colored icing: A tiny pop of color that brings each snowman to life and honestly makes the whole project feel festive.
- Pretzel sticks or colored fondant: Pretzels are easier and add a salty crunch if someone sneaks a nibble, but fondant lets you get creative with scarves and accessories.
- Lollipop sticks: These hold everything together and make them fun to handle; avoid paper sticks because they'll get soggy.
Instructions
- Crush the Oreos:
- If you have a food processor, pulse the cookies until they're the texture of wet sand—not powder, not chunks, but something in between. If you're using a rolling pin and zip-top bag, take a beat to really get them fine; the texture matters for how the dough holds together.
- Make the dough:
- Fold the crushed Oreos into your softened cream cheese slowly, mixing until it's completely uniform. You'll know it's ready when there are no dry cookie bits hiding in the corners of the bowl.
- Roll your snowmen bodies:
- This is where it gets fun—roll 32 smaller balls (about the size of a large grape) and 16 bigger ones (about the size of a walnut). If your dough is sticky, chill it for a few minutes and wipe your hands clean between rolls.
- Stack and stick:
- Press one small ball gently onto one large ball to create your snowman shape, then carefully push a lollipop stick through the center of both. Nestle them upright on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and try not to jostle them as you move it to the freezer.
- Chill until firm:
- Twenty to thirty minutes in the freezer is crucial—this keeps them from falling apart when you dip them in warm chocolate. You'll feel the difference when you pick one up; it should feel solid, not squishy.
- Melt the chocolate:
- Use a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second bursts, stirring between each one, so the chocolate melts smoothly without seizing. Stir until it's completely pourable and feels silky to the touch.
- Dip with confidence:
- Hold the stick, dip the snowman straight down into the chocolate, give it a gentle quarter-turn, then pull it out slowly and let the excess drip off. Place it upright in a styrofoam block or nestle it into a tall glass to set.
- Add character while it's wet:
- Once the coating is still tacky but not runny, press on those chocolate-chip eyes, add a button or two, and stick on an orange nose. The white chocolate will still be warm enough to hold everything in place.
- Finish the details:
- Once everything is set solid, arrange your pretzel sticks as arms or tie on a little fondant scarf. This is the moment where they stop being cake pops and become actual snowmen with personality.
Save My daughter asked if we could make them again the next week, but this time we'd do a whole family of snowmen—different sizes, different decorations, each one getting its own backstory about where it lived and what it did over the summer. That's when I understood that this recipe had become less about the instructions and more about the excuse to create something together.
Making Them Look Professional
The secret to beautiful cake pops is steadiness and patience. Dip slowly, let gravity do the work, and don't second-guess yourself halfway through—that's when things get messy. I learned this the hard way by spinning them, tilting them, and generally treating them like they needed constant adjustment, which only made the coating uneven.
Storage and Planning Ahead
These cake pops actually improve over a day or two as the flavors meld together, so feel free to make them well ahead of a party. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and they'll stay fresh for up to five days—which means you can spread your decorating fun across a few evenings instead of doing it all at once.
Getting Creative with Decorations
Once you understand the basic formula, this recipe becomes a playground. I've used different cookie flavors, tinted the fondant scarves with food coloring, and even added edible glitter for a frosty effect. The beauty is that there's no wrong way to decorate a snowman—wonky eyes and mismatched buttons only add to the charm.
- Tint white fondant with gel food coloring for scarves that match your party theme or just your mood that day.
- If pretzels snap when you try to position them, soften them slightly with a touch of frosting to help them stick.
- Make these as far ahead as a week if you're planning a big gathering, and store them in the coldest part of your fridge.
Save These little snowmen have become our December tradition, and every year the batch looks a little different depending on who's helping. That's exactly how it should be.
Recipe FAQs
- → How do I crush Oreos without a food processor?
Place Oreos in a zip-top bag and crush with a rolling pin, pounding gently until finely broken.
- → What’s the best way to shape the snowmen?
Roll dough into small and large balls, then gently stack one atop the other, inserting a stick through the center for stability.
- → How can I prevent cracks in the white chocolate coating?
Melt white chocolate slowly and dip chilled dough balls evenly, allowing excess to drip off before setting upright.
- → Can I use alternatives to cream cheese?
Cream cheese provides smoothness and binding; similar soft cheeses can be tried but may alter texture and flavor.
- → How long should the shaped pops be chilled?
Freeze the assembled snowmen for 20 to 30 minutes or until firm before dipping in chocolate coating.