Easy Cake Pop Recipe (Homemade & Store Bought Versions)
Make adorable cake pops at home with this easy cake pop recipe! Using a box cake mix and candy melts, you’ll create bite-sized desserts perfect for birthdays, Christmas, and every celebration.
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Cake pops continue to be a favorite treat for both kids and adults! They’re cute, customizable, and perfect for parties or special occasions like birthdays, baby showers, or even a casual backyard BBQ. However, buying them pre-made can get pricey. With this easy cake pop recipe, you’ll save money and whip up about 35 cake pops for under $13. Talk about a no-brainer for budget-conscious moms who want something festive and fun.
Easy Cake Pop Recipe – Why You’ll Love Them
- Budget-Friendly: Far less expensive than store-bought options.
- Customizable: Adapt candy melts and sprinkles for any occasion or theme.
- Easy-to-Make: With boxed cake mix and basic tools, anyone can make these bite-sized treats.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Loved by kids and adults alike, they’re perfect for any party or get-together.
Ingredients for the Perfect Cake Pops
- White Cake Mix: Boxed cake mix is the easiest way to achieve consistent results.
- Vanilla Frosting: Homemade or store-bought options both work! (I’m including a homemade version in the recipe card below. It’s much tastier if you have a few extra minutes to make it homemade.)
- Candy Melts: Choose your favorite colors or go with white chocolate for a sophisticated touch.
- Sprinkles: Add a pop of fun and color to match any event theme.
- Cake Pop Sticks: Essential for creating the iconic cake pop look. Here are the 4” sticks used in the recipe.
How to Make Cake Pops
Bake and Cool the Cake
Prepare your choice of boxed cake mix according to package instructions and let it cool completely. Crumble the cake into fine crumbs in a large bowl. (I used a vanilla cake mix in the recipe below)
Mix the Cake and Frosting
Add 1/3 cup of frosting to the crumbled cake. Mix thoroughly until it forms a dough-like consistency.
Form Cake Balls
Use a cookie scoop to portion the dough evenly. Roll into smooth balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze for 20 minutes to firm up.
Prepare the Candy Melts
Melt your candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl at 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until smooth. (Tip: I find the best colors and pricing at Michael’s Craft Stores)
Assemble the Cake Pops
Dip the end of each cake pop stick into the melted candy coating and insert it into the center of a cake ball. Once all sticks are in place, dip each cake pop into the melted coating, ensuring it’s fully covered. Gently tap off excess chocolate.
Decorate and Dry
Quickly add sprinkles before the coating hardens. Place the cake pops upright in a styrofoam block to set completely.
Customizing for Holidays and Themes
Cake pops are perfect for any occasion, and a quick change in candy melts color or sprinkles can make them fit any holiday:
- Christmas: Red and green candy melts with gold sprinkles.
- New Year’s Eve: Metallic gold or silver candy melts and edible glitter.
- July 4th: Red, white, and blue candy melts with star-shaped sprinkles.
- Halloween: Orange candy melts with black and purple sprinkles or candy eyes.
- Baby Showers: Soft Pink or Baby Blue candy melts make for pretty treats and party favors!
- First Birthday Parties: Choose your candy melt colors to coordinate with your party theme!
More Cake Pop Recipes You’ll Love:
- Frosted Animal Cookies Circus Cake Pop Recipe
- The Best Christmas Grinch Cake Pops Recipe
- Super Easy Cake Pops [Easter Dessert Recipe]
Tips & Tricks for Perfect Cake Pops
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your frosting is at room temperature for easy mixing.
- Don’t Overload with Frosting: Add frosting gradually to avoid making the mixture too sticky.
- Use a Styrofoam Block: This ensures your cake pops stay upright and set perfectly. Styrofoam Block Linked Here
- Avoid Cracks in the Coating: Make sure your cake balls are frozen but not rock-hard before dipping.
- Thin the Candy Melts: Add a teaspoon of vegetable or coconut oil if the coating is too thick.
Creative Serving Ideas
These bite-sized desserts are versatile for any event:
- Display them in small jars filled with candy for a playful dessert table.
- Wrap them in clear treat bags with a ribbon for party favors.
- Arrange them on a platter with cowboy chocolate chip cookies and brownies for a dessert spread.
Storing and Reheating
- Short-Term Storage: Store in an airtight container in a refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Long-Term Storage: Freeze in a single layer in a zip-top bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge for a few hours before serving.
Making cake pops at home doesn’t have to be intimidating! With this easy cake pop recipe, you’ll enjoy the satisfaction of making a homemade treat while saving money. Plus, the versatility of flavors and decorations ensures they’ll be a hit no matter the occasion.
Next time you’re planning a birthday party, baby shower, or even July 4th BBQ, skip the bakery and whip up these homemade cake pops. They’re budget-friendly, fun to make, and absolutely delicious!
Happy Baking!
Easy Cake Pops
These cake pops feature white cake and fluffy vanilla buttercream coated with a classic candy shell and iconic crunchy sprinkles. The perfect two bite, sweet treat.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
- 4 Tablespoons (½ stick) salted butter, softened
- 2 Tablespoons whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 (15.25 ounce) box white cake mix, prepared to package instructions, cooled and crumbled
- 2 (12 ounce) bags candy melts (any color)
- Sprinkles, optional garnish
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar, butter, milk and vanilla.
- Use a hand mixer, on low, to combine before turning to medium and beating until fluffy (about 1-2 minutes) and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the crumbled cake with ⅓ cup frosting and stir until well until the cake and frosting resemble a dough (Add more frosting as needed but you don’t want the dough to be too wet.)
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and use a 1 ½ Tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop the dough, roll into a ball and place it on the cookie sheet.
- Place the cake balls in the freezer for 20 minutes (or up to overnight).
- When the cake balls have frozen, place your candy melts in a microwave safe container and microwave at 50% power in 30 second intervals until they are almost completely melted. Stir to a smooth consistency.
- Working in batches, dip a lollipop stick in the melted candy melts and then stick immediately into a frozen cake ball, pushing about halfway through.
- Coat the rest of the outside of the cake ball in the candy melts and allow the excess to drip off.
- Working quickly, top with sprinkles of your choice and set upright in styrofoam to set up completely.
- Repeat steps 8-9 until all of the cake pops are done.
Notes
- I used salted butter, but unsalted butter would do fine. The candy melts are really sweet, so if you use unsalted, add ½ teaspoon of salt to your frosting.
- Store-bought frosting is a great shortcut for when you need to make these fast. You can use vanilla or
even cream cheese frosting. Start out by adding ⅓ cup of frosting to your cake and then add more until the cake and frosting are just combined.
- You can store any leftover birthday cake pops in an airtight container in a refrigerator for up
to a week. Your cake pops can also freeze in a gallon sized zip-loc bag for up to 3 months.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 35 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 40Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 18mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 0g
