How to Make Cake Pops

These cake pops are easy to make and can be decorated to suit any occasion. Learn how to make cake pops with this tutorial.

Cake Pops

Homemade Cake Pops are simple to make and so fun! Kids and adults alike will love these delicious and colorful treats. I love getting cake pops whenever I go to Starbucks, but they are a little pricey. A Starbucks cake pop is about $2.00. With this cake pop recipe you can make 48 for under $10.00. Much more cost effective!

Cake Pop Ingredients and Equipment

• Lollipop Sticks – You can order these online, or buy them at a baking goods store.
• Cake Pop Stand or Styrofoam Block – Again, you can order these online or look for them at a craft store or baking store.
• Box Cake Mix – For this post I used a Funfetti cake mix and a Devil’s Food Cake mix. Of course, you can make your cake from scratch, but I wanted to keep this recipe simple.
• Water, Oil, Eggs – You will add these to the cake mix, just like the package says.
• Frosting – You can make your own frosting or buy it. I used a vanilla frosting and a chocolate fudge frosting.
• Candy Melts – Find these near the cake decorating supplies at the store. They melt so smoothly, much better than chocolate chips.
• Sprinkles – Sprinkles are optional but they make such cute decorations!

Method

Cake pops might seem a little daunting, but trust me, you can make them! Just follow these steps and you’ll have adorable treats on a stick in no time!

Preparation

• Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Then, mix up the cake batter. Add the cake mix, water, oil, and eggs to a large bowl and mix. You want to mix until most of the lumps are gone. Then, our into a greased cake pan and bake for 30-40 minutes.
• You’ll know the cake is done when you can insert a toothpick into the middle of the cake and it comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and let cool completely.
• Once the cake is cooled, it is time for some fun. Using your hands, crumble the cake up into fine crumbs. If the crumbs are too big, then the cake pops won’t stick together.
• Then, add the frosting. Again, using your hands, mix everything together until you can form a large ball with the mixture.
• Prepare a baking sheet by spreading some parchment paper over it. Using a cookie scoop, scoop small cake balls out onto the sheet. Stick the baking sheet into the fridge or freezer and allow the cake balls to chill and firm up a bit.
• Once the cake balls are firm enough to handle, roll them into a sphere. Place back on the baking sheet and back in the refrigerator while you prepare the chocolate.
• Place the candy melts in a small but deep microwave safe dish, like a glass measuring cup. Melt by microwaving for 30 seconds at a time. Stir well between each interval. Once the melted chocolate is smooth, it is ready.

Decorating

• Then, work in batches. Take only a few cake balls out of the fridge at a time. Set up your work station with the bowl of melted chocolate, the stand, sprinkles, and the cake balls.
• Dip the lollipop stick into the candy coating, then insert it into the center of the cake ball. Dip the whole cake ball into the chocolate, making sure to cover the whole thing. Take the cake pop out of the chocolate and let the excess chocolate drip off. Place into the stand and top with sprinkles.
• Repeat with each cake pop. Let set and store at room temperature.

Cake Pop Flavor Combinations

For this recipe, I made two combinations: Funfetti with vanilla frosting and white chocolate coating, and Devil’s Food Cake with chocolate fudge frosting and milk chocolate coating. However, the flavor combo possibilities are practically endless! Here are some of our favorites:

• Red Velvet cake mix with cream cheese frosting and milk chocolate coating
• Vanilla cake mix with buttercream frosting and white chocolate coating
• Carrot Cake mix with cream cheese frosting and dark chocolate coating
• Lemon Cake mix with buttercream frosting and white chocolate coating

Recipe Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Make Cake Pops