Skip to content
Home » Cake Pops

Cake Pops





Cake Pops Recipe

Description of the Recipe

Cake pops are delightful bite-sized treats that are perfect for any occasion. These charming confections consist of crumbled cake mixed with frosting, shaped into balls, and coated with a luscious layer of chocolate or candy melts. What makes cake pops unique is their versatility in flavor, color, and decoration, allowing you to tailor them to any theme or celebration. Whether you’re planning a birthday party, wedding, or casual get-together, cake pops are sure to impress your guests with their delightful appearance and delicious taste.

Ingredients

  • 1 box of cake mix (any flavor)
  • Ingredients listed on the cake mix box (typically eggs, oil, and water)
  • 1 cup of frosting (complementary flavor to the cake)
  • 2 cups of candy melts or chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons of vegetable shortening (optional, for thinning candy melts)
  • Sprinkles, edible glitter, or other decorations (optional)
  • Lollipop sticks
  • Styrofoam block or cake pop stand

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Cake Pops

1. Baking the Cake

  1. Preheat the Oven: Follow the instructions on your cake mix box to preheat the oven.
  2. Prepare the Cake Mix: In a large bowl, combine the cake mix with the eggs, oil, and water as per the package instructions. Mix until smooth and well combined.
  3. Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into a greased baking pan and bake according to the time and temperature specified on the box. Use a toothpick to check for doneness; it should come out clean when the cake is fully baked.
  4. Cool the Cake: Allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack. This is crucial as it prevents the frosting from melting when you mix it with the cake crumbs.

2. Preparing the Cake Pop Mixture

  1. Crumble the Cake: Once the cake is completely cool, use your hands or a food processor to crumble it into fine crumbs. Ensure there are no large chunks remaining.
  2. Add the Frosting: In a large bowl, combine the cake crumbs with 1 cup of frosting. Start with half a cup and gradually add more until the mixture is moist enough to hold together when shaped into balls. You may not need the entire cup of frosting.
  3. Mix Thoroughly: Use your hands or a spatula to thoroughly mix the frosting and cake crumbs until they are well combined and form a dough-like consistency.

3. Shaping the Cake Pops

  1. Shape into Balls: Use a small ice cream scoop or your hands to portion out the cake mixture. Roll each portion into a smooth, round ball. Aim for uniform sizes so that they look aesthetically pleasing.
  2. Chill the Balls: Place the cake balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate them for at least 2 hours or freeze for 30 minutes. This helps them firm up and makes them easier to dip in the coating.

4. Coating the Cake Pops

  1. Melt the Candy Coating: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the candy melts or chocolate chips according to the package instructions. If the coating is too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable shortening to thin it out.
  2. Dip the Sticks: Dip the end of each lollipop stick into the melted candy coating, then insert it about halfway into each cake ball. This helps secure the stick to the cake ball.
  3. Coat the Cake Pops: Once all the sticks are inserted, dip each cake pop into the melted candy coating, ensuring it is fully covered. Gently tap the stick on the edge of the bowl to remove any excess coating.
  4. Decorate Immediately: While the coating is still wet, add sprinkles, edible glitter, or other decorations as desired. Place the cake pops upright in a Styrofoam block or cake pop stand to set.

Tips and Variations for Cake Pops

  • Flavor Variations: Experiment with different cake and frosting combinations. Some popular pairings include chocolate cake with vanilla frosting, red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, and lemon cake with buttercream frosting.
  • Colorful Coatings: Use different colors of candy melts to match the theme of your event. You can also add food coloring to white candy melts for custom shades.
  • Creative Decorations: Get creative with your decorations! Use edible markers to draw faces or designs on the cake pops, or drizzle a contrasting color of melted candy coating over the top for a fun effect.
  • Stuffed Cake Pops: For an extra surprise, add a small piece of fruit, candy, or chocolate in the center of each cake ball before dipping it in the coating.
  • Shaped Cake Pops: Use cookie cutters to shape the cake mixture into fun forms like hearts, stars, or animals. This adds a unique touch to your presentation.

Preparation and Cooking Time

  • Preparation Time: 30 minutes (excluding cake baking and chilling time)
  • Cooking Time: As per the cake mix instructions
  • Chilling Time: 2 hours in the refrigerator or 30 minutes in the freezer

Nutritional Information

  • Serving Size: 1 cake pop
  • Calories: 150-200 (varies depending on ingredients and decorations)
  • Total Fat: 8-10 grams
  • Saturated Fat: 3-5 grams
  • Cholesterol: 15-25 milligrams
  • Sodium: 100-150 milligrams
  • Total Carbohydrates: 20-25 grams
  • Dietary Fiber: 0-1 gram
  • Sugars: 15-20 grams
  • Protein: 1-2 grams

Historical Tidbits about Cake Pops

Cake pops, as we know them today, gained popularity in the late 2000s, largely thanks to the influence of food bloggers and the rise of social media. However, the concept of combining cake and frosting to create a new dessert is not entirely new. In fact, it can be traced back to various cultural traditions that involve using leftover cake to make truffles or other confections.

The modern cake pop trend can be credited to Angie Dudley, also known as Bakerella, who published a book on cake pops in 2010. Her creative and visually appealing designs captured the imagination of bakers and dessert lovers around the world. Since then, cake pops have become a staple at bakeries and events, celebrated for their versatility and charm.