How to Make Cake Pops

5 from 4 votes
3 Comments

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

Birthday Cake and Chocolate Cake Pops stood up in an acrylic stand with bowls of sprinkles around them

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!
Birthday Cake and Chocolate Cake Pops stood up in an acrylic stand with bowls of sprinkles around them


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

A cake pop stick dipped in pink melted chocolate

Dipping the lollipop stick in the melted chocolate first is an important step, don’t skip it! It helps the cake pop stay on the stick. The chocolate hardens to the stick and the cake ball as it sets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make cake pops ahead of time?

Cake pops are best served immediately after setting. However, if you need to make them in advance, you can make the cake balls beforehand and store them in the fridge or freezer. Then, dip the day of serving. In a pinch, if you have to dip them ahead of time, you can store the dipped cake pops in the freezer. Allow to thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.

Why did my chocolate coating crack?

The chocolate coating can crack if the temperature of the cake ball and the chocolate are too different. The cake balls need to be cold to stay together while dipping. So, give the melted chocolate a stir after it comes out of the microwave and allow it to cool a bit before dipping.

More Birthday Treats

If you love these cake pops, and you are looking for more birthday treats, then check out more of our birthday recipes!

How to Make Cake Pops

A chocolate cake pop with a bite taken out of it revealing the filling

Cake Pops

5 from 4 votes
These cake pops are easy to make and can be decorated to suit any occasion. Learn how to make cake pops with this tutorial.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Decorating Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 48

Video

Equipment

  • lollipop sticks
  • cake pop stand or styrofoam block
  • Mixing Bowls
  • Hand Mixer
  • 9×13 pan

Ingredients

  • 1 cake mix
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 16 ounces frosting
  • 24 ounces candy melts
  • sprinkles

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl combine cake mix, water, oil, and eggs. Mix until fully incorporated. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
    A baked Devils Food Cake and Funfetti Cake
  • Let the cake cool completely. Then, using your hands, crumble the cake into fine crumbles. If the crumbs are too big, they won't stick together in a shape.
    A pan of crumbled Devil's food cake and a pan of crumbled funfetti cake
  • Add the whole container of frosting to the cake crumbs. Mix until you are able to form a ball with the mixture.
    Crumbled cake mixed with frosting and formed into balls in two separate cake pans
  • Using a small cookie scoop, scoop out small balls of cake mix onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Stick them in the freezer until they firm up a bit. You want them to be easier to handle, but not frozen.
    Scoops of cake pop filling on a baking sheet
  • Roll the cake balls between your hands to make them round. Put them back on the cookie sheet and back in the freezer while you prepare the chocolate.
    Rolled cake pops on a baking sheet before they are dipped
  • In a glass bowl or measuring cup, melt the candy melts by microwaving them for 30 seconds at a time and stirring well in between each time.
    Pink candy melts melted in a glass measuring cup
  • Only take a few cake pops out of the freezer at a time. Dip a lollipop stick in the candy melts and then stick it into the center of the cake pop.
    A cake pop stick dipped in pink melted chocolate
  • Dip the cake pop in the candy melts until the whole thing is covered. Pull it out and let the excess drip off. Place into a stand or a styrofoam block. Sprinkle with sprinkles if desired. Repeat with all of the cake pops. Let the chocolate cool and set completely before serving.
    Birthday Cake and Chocolate Cake Pops stood up in an acrylic stand with bowls of sprinkles around them

Notes

I used a Devil’s food cake mix and a Funfetti cake mix for the step-by-step photos so you could see how vanilla and chocolate cake both look. 

Nutrition Information

Calories: 111kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 86mgPotassium: 7mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 15IUCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg

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About the author

Kelsey Crist

Kelsey lives in Washington with her husband, Alex, and two cats, Diana and Nova. Her happy place is in the kitchen listening to an audiobook and trying new recipes. When she's not in the kitchen you can find her hiking, shopping at Trader Joe's, or playing Animal Crossing. Her favorite food is pasta and Alex loves when she makes Homemade Oreos.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    These are very cute and adorable cake pops! My kids can’t get off their eyes on them. So tasty and enjoyable!