These delightful homemade Starbucks copycat cake pops bring the coffeehouse favorite right to your kitchen. With their pretty pink coating and moist, sweet interior, they’re perfect for parties, gifts, or whenever you need a bite-sized treat.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Making your own cake pops at home is not only more economical than buying them at Starbucks, but it also allows you to customize flavors and decorations to your liking. This recipe uses simple ingredients that are easy to find, and the process is straightforward enough for bakers of all skill levels. The end result is a batch of adorable, delicious treats that look impressive despite being relatively simple to make. They’re perfect for birthdays, baby showers, holiday gatherings, or just as a special weekend project with kids.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
Vanilla cake mix forms the foundation of these cake pops, providing a neutral, sweet base that works perfectly with the frosting and candy coating. You can use any brand you prefer, or substitute with chocolate, strawberry, or other flavors to customize your pops.
Vanilla frosting binds the crumbled cake together, adding moisture and additional sweetness while helping the pops hold their shape. Store-bought frosting works perfectly here, but you can also use homemade if you prefer more control over the ingredients and sweetness.
Pink candy melts create that signature smooth, colorful coating that gives cake pops their professional finish. These melt easily and harden quickly, making them ideal for coating the cake balls. If pink isn’t your preference, these come in virtually any color to match your event theme.
Lollipop sticks are essential for turning cake balls into proper cake pops. The standard 6-inch length works best for this recipe, providing enough handle to hold comfortably while eating.
White sprinkles add that perfect finishing touch, creating visual contrast against the pink coating and mimicking the classic Starbucks decoration style. You can substitute with any sprinkles or decorations that match your theme or occasion.
Directions
- Prepare the Cake: Follow the package instructions to make the cake. Once baked, let it cool completely.
- Crumble the Cake: Once cooled, crumble the cake into small pieces in a large bowl.
- Mix with Frosting: Stir in frosting until the mixture is moist and sticky.
- Shape the Pops: Roll the mixture into ping pong-sized balls and place on a cookie sheet. Freeze for about 30 minutes.
- Dip in Candy Melts: Melt the pink candy melts. Dip the end of each lollipop stick into the candy melts, then insert into the center of each cake ball.
- Coat the Cake Pops: Dip each cake ball into the melted candy, ensuring it’s completely coated. Let excess drip off.
- Decorate: Sprinkle with white sprinkles while the coating is still wet.
- Chill: Allow the cake pops to cool and set in the fridge for about 30 minutes before serving.
Servings and Timing
This recipe makes approximately 12 cake pops, though the exact number may vary depending on the size you make them.
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes (includes chilling)
Total Time: 1 hour
Calories: 250 kcal per cake pop
Variations
Chocolate Lovers: Use chocolate cake mix and chocolate frosting for the interior, then coat with milk or dark chocolate candy melts.
Birthday Cake: Use funfetti cake mix and add rainbow sprinkles to the cake mixture before forming balls.
Seasonal Themes: Change the candy melt colors and sprinkles to match holidays—orange with black sprinkles for Halloween, red and green for Christmas, or pastels for Easter.
Cookies and Cream: Mix crushed Oreo cookies into the cake and frosting mixture for added texture and flavor.
Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free cake mix to accommodate dietary restrictions without sacrificing taste or texture.
Storage/Reheating
Room Temperature: Cake pops can be stored at room temperature for 1-2 days if kept in a cool, dry place.
Refrigeration: For longer storage, keep cake pops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. The coating helps seal in moisture and prevents them from drying out.
Freezing: These cake pops freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet until frozen solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag.
Thawing: When ready to enjoy frozen cake pops, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for about 1 hour.
Presentation: For gifting or serving, stand cake pops upright in a foam block covered with decorative paper or place in individual cellophane bags tied with ribbon.
FAQs
Why are my cake pops falling off the sticks?
This common issue usually happens when the cake balls are too heavy or the candy coating hasn’t properly set around the stick. Make sure to dip the stick in melted candy before inserting it into the cake ball, and allow the cake pops to properly chill in the freezer before dipping them fully.
Can I make these cake pops in advance for a party?
Absolutely! Cake pops are perfect for make-ahead preparation. You can make them 2-3 days before your event and store them in the refrigerator, or even freeze them for up to 3 months and thaw before serving.
My candy coating is too thick. What should I do?
If your candy melts are too thick for smooth dipping, try adding a small amount (1-2 teaspoons) of solid vegetable shortening or coconut oil and stir until smooth. Never add water or milk, as this will cause the candy to seize.
How do I prevent cracks in the candy coating?
Cracks typically form when cold cake balls meet hot candy coating. Let your chilled cake balls sit at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes before dipping, and make sure your melted candy isn’t too hot.
Can I use regular chocolate instead of candy melts?
Yes, but you’ll need to temper the chocolate or add a bit of shortening to it so it sets properly and gives a glossy finish. Candy melts are generally easier to work with for beginners.
How moist should the cake mixture be before rolling into balls?
The mixture should hold together when squeezed but not be so wet that it’s sticky or gooey. You should be able to roll it into balls that hold their shape. Start with less frosting than you think you need – you can always add more.
Why did my cake pops develop condensation after being in the fridge?
This happens due to humidity and temperature changes. To prevent this, allow the cake pops to come to room temperature while still in their storage container before opening it.
Can I use homemade cake instead of a box mix?
Absolutely! Homemade cake works wonderfully and can provide more flavor options. Just make sure it’s not too moist or crumbly, as this can affect how well the cake balls hold together.
How do I get perfectly round cake pops?
Roll the cake mixture between your palms, applying even pressure to form smooth balls. If they’re not perfect after the first roll, you can reshape them after they’ve chilled for a few minutes.
What if I don’t have lollipop sticks?
While traditional lollipop sticks work best, you can substitute with paper straws, popsicle sticks cut in half, or even pretzel sticks for a fun twist (though pretzel sticks won’t hold as much weight).
Conclusion
These homemade Starbucks copycat cake pops bring the joy of the popular coffeehouse treat right into your kitchen. Not only are they more economical than store-bought versions, but they also allow for endless customization possibilities. Whether you’re making them for a special occasion or just to satisfy a sweet craving, these bite-sized treats are sure to impress with their professional appearance and delicious taste. The combination of moist cake interior, sweet frosting binder, and crisp candy coating creates the perfect textural contrast in each bite. With the straightforward instructions provided, even novice bakers can achieve bakery-quality results. So gather your ingredients, set aside a little time, and enjoy the rewarding process of creating these charming cake pops from scratch.
Print
Homemade Starbucks-style cake pops
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 pops
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Homemade Starbucks-style cake pops made with vanilla cake mix, vanilla frosting, pink candy melts, and decorated with white sprinkles. A perfect dessert or treat for parties.
Ingredients
1 box vanilla cake mix (or gluten-free)
1 can vanilla frosting (or homemade)
1 package pink candy melts
Lollipop sticks
White sprinkles (for decoration)
Instructions
- Prepare the Cake: Follow the package instructions to make the cake. Once baked, let it cool completely.
- Crumble the Cake: Once cooled, crumble the cake into small pieces in a large bowl.
- Mix with Frosting: Stir in frosting until the mixture is moist and sticky.
- Shape the Pops: Roll the mixture into ping pong-sized balls and place on a cookie sheet. Freeze for about 30 minutes.
- Dip in Candy Melts: Melt the pink candy melts. Dip the end of each lollipop stick into the candy melts, then insert into the center of each cake ball.
- Coat the Cake Pops: Dip each cake ball into the melted candy, ensuring it’s completely coated. Let excess drip off.
- Decorate: Sprinkle with white sprinkles while the coating is still wet.
- Chill: Allow the cake pops to cool and set in the fridge for about 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
You can substitute regular cake mix and frosting for gluten-free options if needed.
The color of the candy melts can be customized for different occasions.
Store cake pops in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cake pop
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
