Homemade Starbucks Cake Pops
Cake pops are crazy-easy to make and start with a mixture of cake crumbles and frosting.
So, if you have tons of leftover cake , cake pops are the perfect dessert to make.
Of course, you can bake any cake from scratch to make cake truffles.
You could even buy a whole cake thats frosted and ready to eat and mash it up if you want!
But why make life so hard? Youll be crushing it up anyway, so a boxed cake mix and store-bought frosting should do the trick and save you on time too.
Once youve mixed the sponge and the frosting to make a soft yet firm consistency, it gets rolled into bite-sized balls and dipped into melted chocolate.
These cake pops are super tasty and easy to make, and theyre much more affordable than the ones offered at Starbucks.
So save yourself the trip and make these at home. You wont regret it!
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How To Make Cake Pops From Scratch
In summary, the key steps you need to follow before you can take a bite into that perfect cake pop are as follows:
So easy! And so so good. Trust me on this one.
How To Keep The Cake Balls On The Stick
The best way to prevent the cake balls from falling off the stick is by makingsure you added enough frosting to the cake balls and thinning out the candy coating. If the chocolate coating is too thick it will be heavy and way down on the cake balls.
TIP: If you want to avoid using the stick, just make cake balls instead! I have an easy recipe for red velvet cake balls and no-bake oreo cake balls right here in my blog.
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Can You Freeze Cake Pops
Yes! You can freeze cake pops. However, it’s best to freeze them uncoated. You can dip the cake balls in the candy melts before you plan to serve them: Arrange the balls on a baking sheet, cover, and freeze for at least three hours or up to overnight. Transfer the now-frozen cake balls to zip-top freezer bags labeled with the date, then lay flat. For added protection, wrap the flattened bags in one layer of foil. Freeze for up to six months.
Thaw in the fridge before coating.
Editorial contributions by Corey Williams
Learn The Basics Of Making Delicious Cake Pops
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Are you looking for beginner tips on how to make cake pops? Youve come to the right place to learn the basics. From the best type of cake, frosting, candy melts, and tools to use to tips on making the process frustration-free and smooth.
Originally posted on Live Party Love moved to Northern Yum
If you want to start with the very basics of how to make cake pops, youve come to the right place! Follow this basic process, and youll be making intricate designs in no time.
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Shelf Life Storage And Making Ahead
- Storing: Keep cake pops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Freezing: Finished cake pops can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
- Making Ahead: I like to make the cake and frosting the night before I plan to assemble cake pops to save on time. Alternatively, you can make your cake pops up to 2 months in advance and simply store in the freezer.
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How To Gift Cake Pops
Homemade cake pops make a fantastic food gift for everyone on your list. Of course, anyone would be thrilled to receive a regular ol’ zip-top bag or storage container filled with cake pops. But you can go the extra mile by wrapping them in decorative cellophane tied with a ribbon, arranging them in a cookie tin filled with colorful shredded paper, or presenting them as a bouquet in a flower pot.
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Pro Tips For This Recipe
- Sift your powdered sugar to avoid clogging piping tips.
- Scrape the bowl down to help ensure even consistency throughout.
- You can use almost anything to flavor buttercream like fruit juice, citrus zest, coffee, orange blossom or rose water, melted chocolate, or Oreos!
- If your buttercream has been sitting for a while or was chilled and brought back to room temperature its always a good idea to give it a quick whip to restore its consistency.
- If youre looking for a very spreadable and very smooth icing for something like a sheet cake or to make your life easier when using a piping bag, you can add the full amount of cream in .
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What Are Cake Pops Made Of
Cake pops are usually a blend of plain sponge and a complimentary frosting flavor, such as chocolate and vanilla. Also known as cake truffles, they can also be made with baked brownies and other cake fillings, such as chocolate ganache. Once chilled and rolled, theyre usually covered in chocolate.
Heres what youll need to make these Starbucks cake pops.
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Making Cake Pops With Leftover Cake
Using leftover cake to make cake pops is the best!! We dont have leftover cake in my house very often, but when we do, its on and poppin!
That leftover cake turns into cake pops, and then all of a sudden, people are in the mood for cake again! Isnt it funny how you can put something on a stick, and everybody wants it?
When making cake pops with leftover cake, you want to scrape off the frosting first and place it in a bowl.
You definitely wont need all the frosting. Crumble the cake up and then add in the frosting a little at a time until the cake can hold its shape once formed into a tight ball.
These cake pops are what I consider cake pop perfection!!! They are the best cake pops Ive ever had. The texture is fluffy AND moist, and it was nowhere near as messy and time-consuming as my first attempts at making cake pops.
Now, if youre looking for a tutorial on how to decorate cake popsugh, Im not the girl for the job!! Sprinkles is as good as it gets over here : )
Even without fancy decoration, these cake pops can still make a pretty cute, cheap, and festive gift idea! Let your imagination run wild!
Strawberry Cake Pop Recipe: Perfectly Portable Cake Pops
I always seem to have leftover cake. Its not that Im a bad baker, but I always overestimate the number of guests who will show up at my house. So, whats a girl to do with a few pieces of leftover cake?
One day, I decided to make cake pops. Cake pops are the perfect way to use up leftover cake because you can just roll them into balls and then freeze them. And since theyre frozen, you can dip them in whatever coating you want.
I used my leftover strawberry cake and some pink frosting to make these strawberry cake pops. And they turned out so cute! Not to mention, theyre really delicious.
So if you ever find yourself with some leftover cake, be sure to give these strawberry cake pops a try.
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How To Make Cake Pops With Cake Mix
As much as I love all things from scratch on this site when it comes to food projects like cake pops, I usually turn to the box cake mix and a can of frosting route. Its so much quicker!
Although if Im making these for someone, I sometimes do a homemade frosting .
Box cakes are usually very moist, so youll only need to use a little bit of frosting for these cake pops. Its all about the frosting-cake ratio!
Why Did My Cake Balls Fall Off Their Stick
Dont skip dipping lollipop sticks in the frosting before inserting into the ball. This helps the sticks stay put in the balls as they harden. Not inserting the lollipop stick deep enough will cause them to fall off as well. Finally, make sure your lollipop sticks arent too thin, as you need a thick enough stick to hold the weight of the cake balls. My go-to lollipop sticks are pictured above.
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Quality Candy Melts Temperature & Consistency Are Key
Buying quality candy melts will help immensely. We use Wiltons candy melts. Melt and only if needed, add coconut oil until candy is a thinner consistency.
Dip the end of each cake pop stick into the melted candy and insert it into the cake pop. Let the pops sit for a few minutes before dipping.
Make sure the melted candy isnt too hot when you dip. If you have problems with the cake falling off into the candy make sure the melts are thin, not too hot, and you might have to put your cake balls back in the freezer for a while. Set the cake pops into a cake pop stand to dry.
Tips To Make Perfect Starbucks Cake Pops
- A good way to know if the frosting and cake crumbs are well combined is by compressing a handful and checking to make sure theres no more marbled frosting visible.
- Remove and discard the outer layer of the baked cake. It tends to be drier than the rest of the cake, therefore it can cause the cake ball to fall apart.
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For The Mug Cakes You Will Use For The Cake Pops
In a microwave safe bowl melt the butter.
Add the sugar and room temperature milk and mix to combine.
Add the flour, baking powder, and salt and mix to combine.
Pour half of the batter into 2 cups and microwave on high for between 1 minute and 1 minute and 45 seconds. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can pour this half of the batter into a single mug, but timings will be different.
To the other half of the batter add 1½ tbsp cocoa powder and 3 tbsp of milk. Mix to combine.
Pour this remaining batter in 2 cups and microwave on high for between 1 minute and 1 minute and 45 seconds. As with the plain cake above, you can pour this half of the batter into a single mug.
How To Make Starbucks Cake Pops
Dont be intimidated by the numerous steps! Making cake pops is a lot easier than you think.
1. Make and bake the cake.
I highly recommend using a box cake mix for cake pops. After all, theres no need to spend hours making the perfect cake only to crush it up in the end!
In this case, youll bake a white cake according to package instructions and allow it to cool.
2. Crumble the cake and mix in the frosting.
This is where the fun part begins. Use your hands to crumble the cake until it looks like breadcrumbs.
I suggest trimming the hard edges first if youre using an overbaked, slightly dry cake.
Add in the frosting and mix to combine. Youll want to do so gradually to keep from accidentally adding too much.
You need just enough so that the cake is moist and rollable. Too much, and it will be a sticky, soft mess.
3. Form the cake mix into balls.
I like to use a mini ice cream or cookie scoop for this, but you can just use your hands if you prefer.
Either way, youll want the balls to be bite-sized or about 1-inch in diameter.
This is easier if you allow the mixture to chill first. Just cover the bowl and pop it in the fridge for an hour or so until the frosting has set a little.
Once scooped and shaped, freeze the balls for at least an hour. This part is very crucial!
The cake truffles will fall apart if theyre not cold enough.
4. Dip the end of the sticks in chocolate and attach the cake pops.
5. Dunk the balls in melted chocolate.
Of course, a bowl will work too.
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How To Make Cake Pops
1. Crumble cooled cake into a large bowl.
2. Add frosting and stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture resembles wet sand but is not smooth.
3. Use a cookie scoop to portion out the cake mixture.
4. Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls.
5. Place the rolled balls on a lined plate. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or freeze for 30 minutes.
6. Melt candy or chocolate wafers according to the package instructions. Dip the tip of a lollipop stick in the melted chocolate and insert about halfway into a cake ball.
7. Dip the cake ball into the chocolate. Remove and gently tap on the side of the cup to let excess coating drip off.
8. Decorate with sprinkles if desired. Place upright and let stand until the coating is set.
Bake For 4 To 5 Minutes
Bake for 4 to 5 minutes . Remove the cake balls to a tray carefully, as the cake pop maker can become very hot to handle. I like to use a heat glove or spatula. When finished, unplug the unit and let it cool before wiping clean.
COOKING TIP: If there is excess cake on the cake balls , simply remove it with a small knife, once the cake pops have cooled.
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How To Make The Easy Version Of Cake Pops
If youre looking into a super fast and easy version of my original vanilla cake pops, you have to try my no-bake oreo cake pops . All you need is Oreos, cream cheese, and candy melts. Thats it!
Tips From The Betty Crocker Kitchens
- tip 1 *Be sure the flowers you are using are nontoxic and havent been treated with any chemicals. Use edible flowers if possible. Silk flowers can also be used to decorate the cake, or cover the top with more cake pops instead.
- tip 2 You can customize this cake using any colors of candy melts and choosing complementary flowers. For instance, make red and white cake balls, swirled with dark cocoa candy melts, and decorate the cake with red roses.
- tip 3 If you dont have a decorating bag, use a small resealable freezer plastic bag. Fill the bag with melted candy, cut off a tiny corner of the bag and squeeze bag to pipe the candy on the cake pops.
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Important Things To Remember When Making Strawberry Cake Pop
- Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature before beginning.
- Be sure to grease and line your baking pan with parchment paper if making the cake pops from scratch.
- Melt your candy melts slowly in the microwave or over a double boiler to prevent burning.
- Allow the cake pops to cool completely before coating them in melted candy.
- If desired, you can dip your finished cake pops in powdered sugar or sprinkle with freeze-dried strawberries for an extra special treat!
A Sweet Treat Like No Other
Its so true! Cake pops are a unique dessert that acts as both a cute party favor and a tasty treat.
While the process is more time-consuming to put together than other desserts, its well worth the time and effort if you want to create an unforgettable finale at your next party.
If you are new to this entire process, I would suggest starting with an easier base, like store-bought marshmallows, to get comfortable and confident with the technique! We have a recipe for chocolate-covered marshmallow pops that utilizes the same methods. Its an easy, and still very cute, way to start.
Once you understand the basics, feel free to customize your decorations and designs however you wish!
Make the most out of the cake supplies section of your grocery store or craft store there are so many options for icing and decorations to fit any theme or holiday.
Want to go even more DIY? You can even make your own sprinkles and decorations, using my recipe for hardened royal icing.
Have you made these miniature desserts before? Do you have any suggestions for those who are making them for the first time? Give us your best advice in the comment section below, and be sure to rate our recipe!
Would you like to tailor these to specific seasons? Take a look at more of our cake pop decorating guides:
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Add A Splash Of Color With Gel Food Coloring
If youd like to color the frosting or the cake, I recommend using gel food coloring. Wilton is my go-to brand because I can find it almost anywhere! Insert a clean toothpick into the coloring and then drag it through the cake batter or frosting. If you need more coloring, repeat the process, but use a clean toothpick each time!
Just a little PSA: using liquid food coloring may change the consistency of the frosting, so stick with gel!