# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
06 - 1 cup mashed cooked sweet potato (about 1 medium sweet potato)
07 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1/4 cup buttermilk
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Flavor & Mix-Ins
11 - 1/2 cup finely chopped dill pickles, patted dry
12 - 1/2 teaspoon dill weed
13 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
14 - 1/4 cup finely crushed Flamin Hot Cheetos (plus additional for coating)
→ Coating & Decoration
15 - 10 ounces white chocolate or candy melts, melted
16 - 1 cup finely crushed Flamin Hot Cheetos
17 - Candy eyes or small round candies for decorating
18 - 18 cake pop sticks
# Method Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
02 - Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk until evenly blended.
03 - In a separate bowl, blend mashed sweet potato, melted butter, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until smooth using a whisk or electric mixer.
04 - Fold wet mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring gently until just combined.
05 - Stir in chopped dill pickles, dill weed, garlic powder, and 1/4 cup crushed Flamin Hot Cheetos until evenly distributed.
06 - Transfer batter to the lined baking pan. Bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean.
07 - Allow the cake base to cool completely. Crumble into fine crumbs in a large bowl.
08 - Mix in 2 to 3 tablespoons additional buttermilk into crumbs until mixture forms a dough that holds together when pressed.
09 - Shape dough into 1.5-inch balls. Arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze for 20 minutes.
10 - Melt white chocolate or candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring as directed on package.
11 - Dip one end of each cake pop stick into melted chocolate. Insert into cake ball centers. Freeze for 5 minutes.
12 - Fully dip each chilled cake ball into melted chocolate, letting excess drip off.
13 - Immediately roll or sprinkle cake pops with finely crushed Flamin Hot Cheetos while coating is still wet.
14 - Press on candy eyes or decorative candies to create monster faces before coating sets.
15 - Stand finished cake pops upright in a styrofoam block or cake pop stand until chocolate hardens.
