You’re not alone if you have ever found yourself hankering after a Starbucks cake pop while waiting for your coffee. Nearly seductive, these cute bite-sized sweets combine sweet, moist cake with a smooth caramel covering in just the right balance. Whether you’re indulging yourself or picking a few for a friend, they always feel like a small luxury.
The good news is, though, you won’t have to line up at Starbucks to enjoy them! Made right in your own kitchen, handmade Starbucks cake pops are easy and fun using this basic recipe. They taste just as good as those from the coffee shop, but you can also personalize them with various cake types, frosting mix-ins, and whimsical decorations.
The Reasons You Will Love This Starbucks Cake Pop Recipe
Cake pops provide an experience rather than only a treat. One finds great delight in biting into a soft, cake-filled center covered in a sweet, candy shell. They bring back memories of birthday celebrations, special events, and those small pleasures we reward ourselves to following a demanding day.
Making these handcrafted Starbucks-style cake pops will make you love:
✔ Fun and Easy to Make: Cake pops are really easy to make even if they appear elegant. You only need a few stages of baking, crumbling, combining, rolling, and dipping—not sophisticated baking knowledge.
✔ Completely Customizable: One of the nicest things about creating cake pops at home is that you can play around with flavors. Want chocolate rather than vanilla? Go forward. Likes lemon cake or red velvet? Not at all problematic. You can also alter the candy coating colors and sprinkle differently depending on the occasion.
✔ Perfect for Any Celebration Cake pops are fantastic party fare! Birthdays, marriages, baby showers, and holidays all find them really popular. Different colored sugar melts and decorations will let you match them to any theme.
✔ Perfect for Presenting Gifts Made from scratch, handmade cake pops are lovely edible presents when wrapped in a nice treat bag with a bow. Made for a buddy, a holiday celebration, or as party favors, they will wow you.
✔ No More Waiting in Line! Starbucks cake pops are excellent but expensive. Making them at home allows you to enjoy as many as you wish, anytime you want, free from additional expenses.
Tools You’ll Need to Create Starbucks Cake Pops
One box vanilla cake mix (along with the manufacturer’s recommended ingredients—typically eggs, oil, and water)
One quarter cup powdered sugar
One half a teaspoon vanilla essence
Twelve ounces of light pink candy melts or your preferred color.
White nonpareil dusts
24 lollipops total
Methodical Guide for Perfect Cake Pops
First, bake the cake.
Following the packaging directions, get and bake the vanilla cake. Try not to overbake it! The cake must be soft and moist if it is to mix readily into a dough-like consistency.
Second step: crush and stir.
Move the cake straight into the bowl of a stand mixer whenever it comes fresh out of the oven. Don’t hold off till it cools! Add the powdered sugar and vanilla essence; then, mix slowly with the paddle attachment on low speed. Pressing will cause your soft, moldable dough to cling together.
Third step the cake pops.
Using your palm of your hands, roll bits of the cake batter into smooth balls. If you have a cake pop press, you can also use it for additional uniform form. Arrange the cake balls on a prepared baking sheet and freeze for fifteen to twenty minutes. This enables them to becoming more firm and facilitates later on dipping.
Fourth step: get ready the candy coating.
In a microwave-safe bowl following package directions, melt the pink candy. Stir until smooth, thoroughly. Add a teaspoon of vegetable shortening or coconut oil to get the optimum consistency; this will assist thin the chocolate for simple dipping.
Step 5: Add the Sticks
Pull the cold cake balls from the freezer. After dipping one end of every lollipops stick into melted candy coating, gently press it into the middle of a cake ball. This stage stops the cake ball from falling off later and helps it to be secured to the stick. Let the chocolate set by returning them a few minutes to the refrigerator.
Step six: dip and embellish.
Spoon the last melted candy coating into a tall, thin glass or cup. This simplifies dipping the cake pops without making a mess. Straight down each cake pop into the candy melt; then, gently pick it out and allow any more chocolate trickle out. Turn it upright and, while the coating is still wet, immediately sprinkle the white nonpareil flakes.
The cake pops can be dried straight forward in a cake pop stand or a styrofoam piece. Should you not have one, you can alternatively create holes in a cardboard box to act as a drying station.
The seventh step is let them set and enjoy.
Let room temperature cake pops completely set. Hardened, they are ready to serve! You could enjoy them as they are or wrap them individually in little treat bags fastened with ribbons for a lovely display.
Advice for the Ideal Homemade Cake Pops
Keep a close eye on the baking time; a dry cake will not form into smooth cake pop dough.
Chill but avoid freezing too long: Should your cake pops be overly cold when dipped, the sugar melt could split when it sets.
To stop the cake pop from slipping off the stick, dip it straight down and then bring it straight back up without swirled action.
Although Starbucks cake pops are usually pink, you may play about with other colors and embellishments to suit any occasion.
keeping Your Cake Pops Stashed
Room temperature homemade cake pops keep for up to three days in an airtight container. Store them in the refrigerator for up to one week if you need them kept longer. Freeze them for up to a month then defrost before serving for even more long storage.
Ask Questions About Creating Cake Pops
Rather using a cake mix, may I use baked cake?
Definitely yes. Go for it if you would rather make a fresh cake from scratch. Just make sure it’s moist and soft so it crumbles readily into the proper consistency.
How might I stop my cake pops from breaking?
When the cake pop’s temperature differs greatly from the candy coating, cracking results. Before dipping your cake balls straight out of the freezer, let them rest for a few minutes.
Can I create cake pops without a stand mixer?
Perfect! Should you not have a stand mixer, you can hand-crumble the cake and stir in the powdered sugar and vanilla essence with a spoon or spatula.
Does one have to use candy melts?
Though you may simply use melted white chocolate combined with food coloring, candy melts give that traditional Starbucks cake pop look and texture.
Thoughts on Final Notes
Not only is making Starbucks cake pops at home entertaining, but it also will wow your friends and relatives. They are ideal for celebrations, presents, or a treat for yourself just. With some work, you will be producing cake pops fit for a bakery that taste either exactly like Starbucks or even better. Try making a batch of these homemade cake pops the next time you want something sweet with your coffee. You might not return to store-bought ones ever!
For more delicious desserts, check out:
- Crumbl Cookie Recipe Soft, thick, and bakery-style cookies you can make at home.
- No-Bake Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake A fruity, creamy dessert with a nostalgic crunch.
- Black Velvet Cake Recipe A rich and elegant cake with a dramatic look.
Homemade Starbucks Cake Pops: A Sweet Treat You Can Make at Home
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cake pops 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Recreate Starbucks-style cake pops at home with this easy and fun recipe! These adorable treats feature moist cake, creamy frosting, and a smooth candy shell, making them perfect for birthdays, parties, or everyday cravings. Plus, you can customize the flavors, colors, and decorations to match any occasion!
Ingredients
For the Cake Base:
- 1 box vanilla cake mix (or homemade vanilla cake)
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
For the Frosting Mixture:
- ½ cup (113g) butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups (180g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons milk (if needed, for consistency)
For the Coating and Decoration:
- 2 cups candy melts (pink, white, or your choice of color)
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or vegetable shortening
- Sprinkles (optional, for decoration)
- Cake pop sticks
Instructions
Instructions:
Step 1: Bake the Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Prepare the cake mix according to package instructions (or use a homemade vanilla cake recipe).
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool completely before moving to the next step.
Step 2: Make the Cake Pop Mixture
- Once the cake has cooled, crumble it into fine crumbs using your hands or a fork.
- In a separate bowl, mix butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Add the frosting to the crumbled cake and mix until it reaches a dough-like consistency.
- Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on a lined baking sheet.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour or freeze for 20 minutes to firm up.
Step 3: Melt the Candy Coating
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the candy melts in 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until smooth.
- Stir in coconut oil or vegetable shortening for a thinner consistency.
Step 4: Assemble the Cake Pops
- Dip the tip of a cake pop stick into the melted candy, then insert it halfway into each cake ball.
- Return the pops to the fridge for 10 minutes to set.
Step 5: Dip and Decorate
- Dip each cake pop into the melted candy, twirling gently to coat evenly.
- Allow excess coating to drip off, then place them upright in a cake pop stand or styrofoam block.
- Decorate with sprinkles before the coating hardens.
Step 6: Let Them Set and Enjoy!
- Let the cake pops sit at room temperature until fully set.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Chilling the cake pops before dipping prevents them from falling off the sticks.
- Thinning the candy melts with a bit of coconut oil makes for a smoother coating.
- Experiment with flavors—chocolate cake with chocolate coating is a great alternative!
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cake pop
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: homemade Starbucks cake pops, DIY cake pops, cake pop recipe, vanilla cake pops, Starbucks copycat recipe