Prepare the red velvet cake according to the package instructions. Bake it in a standard pan and let it cool completely. It is best to let it cool for at least an hour so it doesn’t melt the frosting later.

Once the cake is cool, crumble it into a large bowl using your hands or a fork. Add the frosting and mix thoroughly until you have a dough-like consistency that holds its shape when squeezed.

Scoop about a tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into an oval shape, rather than a perfect circle. Use a toothpick or a knife to press a slight indentation down the center to mimic the two hemispheres of a brain.

Place the shaped cake balls on a parchment-lined tray and freeze them for about 15 to 20 minutes. You want them firm, but not frozen solid, so they stay on the sticks easily.

Melt the pink candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring in between. Mix in the shortening or coconut oil to achieve a smooth, pourable consistency.

Dip the tip of a lollipop stick into the melted candy, then insert it into a cake ball. Dip the entire ball into the pink coating, let the excess drip off, and stick it into the Styrofoam block to dry.

Transfer the remaining melted pink candy into a piping bag or a plastic bag with a tiny corner snipped off. Pipe “squiggle” patterns all over the dry cake pops to create the brain-like texture.

Once the squiggles have set, lightly drizzle or dot red decorating gel over the brain to give it a fresh, zombie-themed look.