Simple Cake Pops Recipe

Think cake pops are a bakery-only treat? Think again! These simple cake pops have a secret, shortcut ingredient: store-bought mix! You'll want to bookmark this top-rated cake pop recipe you'll come back to it again and again.

A cake pop is a cake ball (baked cake rolled into balls and dipped in candy coating) on a stick to resemble a lollipop. Though cake pops existed before the coffee chain's version, the bite-sized dessert experienced a surge in popularity after Starbucks added them to its menu in 2011. Cake pops can be served plain, but they are more often coated with colorful sprinkles or embellished with icing.

Ingredients

• 1 (15.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix (such as Betty Crocker)
• 1 cup water
• 3 large eggs
• cup vegetable oil
• 1 (16 ounce) prepared chocolate frosting
• 18 lollipop sticks
• 1 (14 ounce) bag chocolate candy melts
• 1 (.75 ounce) tube decorating icing
• 1 tablespoon multicolored candy sprinkles, or as needed (optional)

Directions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350F (175C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Step 2: Beat cake mix, water, oil, and eggs in a bowl using an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more.

Step 3: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 28 to 33 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool completely, for at least 1 hour.

Step 4: Once the cake has cooled, crumble it into a large bowl. Stir the chocolate frosting into the crumbled cake until the mixture is sticky and starts to come together, but is not too smooth. Refrigerate until chilled, for at least 30 minutes.

Step 5: Roll the chilled cake mixture into eighteen 1 1/2-inch balls and place them on a baking sheet.

Step 6: Place about cup of candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for about 20 seconds until melted.

Step 7: Push a lollipop stick halfway into each ball of cake mixture. Gently dip each ball into the melted candy to coat it. Then, place each coated cake pop upright in a block of styrofoam.

Step 8: While the chocolate coating is still wet, decorate the cake pops with candy sprinkles. Repeat the process to make the remaining cake pops, melting more candy melts as needed. Let them set and enjoy!

How to Gift Cake Pops

Homemade cake pops make a fantastic food gift for anyone on your list. To make your gift extra special, you can wrap the cake pops in decorative cellophane tied with a ribbon, place them in a cookie tin filled with colorful shredded paper, or present them as a bouquet in a flower pot.

How to Store Cake Pops

Store the finished cake pops in an airtight lined with paper towels. Keep them in the fridge for up to a week. There's no need to reheat them, as cake pops are best served chilled.

Can You Freeze Cake Pops?

Yes, you can freeze cake pops! It's best to freeze them uncoated. Arrange the balls on a baking sheet, cover, and freeze for at least three hours or up to overnight. After freezing, transfer the cake balls to zip-top freezer bags, labeled with the date, and lay them flat. For extra protection, wrap the bags in foil. You can freeze them for up to six months. When ready to serve, thaw the cake balls in the fridge before dipping them in candy melts.

Recipe Tips

You can use any flavor or brand of frosting or boxed cake mix for these cake pops. If you choose a different cake mix, simply follow the instructions and ingredient amounts provided on the package. If you decide to freeze the cake, do so after Step 4. When ready to make cake pops, thaw the cake completely (either for 3 hours at room temperature or 8 hours in the fridge) and continue with Step 5.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

• Calories: 372
• Total Fat: 23g (29%)
• Saturated Fat: 8g (39%)
• Cholesterol: 32mg (11%)
• Sodium: 216mg (9%)
• Total Carbohydrate: 45g (16%)
• Dietary Fiber: 1g (4%)
• Protein: 4g (8%)
• Calcium: 52mg (4%)
• Iron: 2mg (11%)
• Potassium: 214mg (5%)