This Vanilla Cake Pops Recipe is inspired by Starbucks’ famous birthday cake pops. These delightful bites combine vanilla cake, frosting, and a pink candy shell for an irresistible treat.
If you’re looking to whip up these petite snacks for a celebration, don’t forget to check out my simple red velvet cake pops (VIDEO) or my no-bake Oreo cake pops (VIDEO) for more options!
Recipe Details
If you have ever visited Starbucks, you’ve probably noticed their iconic pink birthday cake pops displayed among a selection of sweet treats or listed on their menu. This Vanilla Cake Pops recipe allows you to recreate these wonderfully moist and tasty treats at home.
- TASTE: These cake pops have a sweet and chocolaty flavor, with a prominent vanilla note, and the pink coating adds a classic birthday cake taste.
- TEXTURE: The cake inside these pops is incredibly moist, complemented by a delicious hard candy shell on the outside.
- TIME: The entire process for this recipe takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
- EASE: This cake pop recipe is straightforward to follow, utilizing box cake mix and melted chocolate for coating.
What you’ll need
Ingredient Notes
- White cake mix – Requires eggs, water, and oil to prepare.
- Vanilla frosting – Opt for white frosting for best results.
- Candy melts – You can select any color you prefer, but pink is reminiscent of those at Starbucks.
- Crisco shortening – This ingredient helps to create a shiny finish on the candy coating.
- Cake pop former – Use a 1 1/4-inch diameter mold (or a small cookie scoop) for shaping.
- Sprinkles – I opted for white nonpareils, but feel free to use any sprinkles you’d like.
- Lollipop sticks – Any variety of your choice will work.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Substitute cream cheese – If frosting isn’t available, cream cheese can also bind the crumbs together.
- Add flavoring – For a twist, you can infuse the cake with lemon flavor using lemon extract and zest or try using mint, caramel, or banana extracts.
- Substitute coconut oil – Coconut oil can be used instead of shortening to achieve a glossy finish on the outer layer of the cake pops.
- Change the sprinkles – Feel free to substitute with melted chocolate drizzle, shredded coconut, or crushed nuts instead of sprinkles.
How to Make Vanilla Cake Pops
- Bake the cake. Prepare the vanilla cake and test for doneness with a toothpick. Allow it to cool, then use a knife to remove any brown edges.
- Crumble the cake. Break the cake into small pieces and mix in the frosting.
- Shape the cake balls. Use your hands or a tool to form the crumbs into balls.
- Prepare the pop sticks. Coat the end of each cake pop stick in melted candy melts, then insert it halfway into each cake ball.
- Chill them. Place the vanilla cake pops in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Dip and sprinkle the cake pops. Pour melted candy melts into a tall, narrow container and immerse each cake pop in the coating. After dipping, gently tap to release any excess coating, and finish off by sprinkling with nonpareils.
- Allow to solidify. Position the completed vanilla cake pops into a block of styrofoam, which will help them cool and set.
Pro Tip: If your melted candy coating is excessively thick, mixing in some shortening like Crisco or coconut oil can help achieve a smoother consistency.
Recipe Tips
- Ensure thorough mixing of frosting and cake- To verify that the frosting and cake crumbs are properly blended, compress a handful and confirm that any visible marbling of frosting has disappeared.
- Remove and discard the outer layer of the baked cake – This section can be drier compared to the interior and may compromise the integrity of the cake balls.
- Coat the pops carefully- As you dip the cake pop into the candy coating, avoid swirling it. Instead, lower it straight down and then gently lift it back up to prevent breaking.
- Tap the pops post-dipping- After submerging the cake pops in the melted candy, quickly tap your hand holding the cake pop to eliminate any extra candy melt.
FAQs
A cake pop essentially consists of a baked cake that is crumbled into fine bits and then blended with frosting. This mixture is then shaped into a cake ball, put onto a stick, and coated with melted candy melts.
To prevent cracking, avoid significant temperature variations. If you find that your cake pops have cracked, it is often because they were too cold when they contacted the hot candy melts. The sudden change in temperature can shock the candy melts and lead to cracks in the coating.
Serving Ideas
These Vanilla Cake Pops are both moist and sweet, enveloped in a delectable chocolate coating. They pair excellently with other cake pops, cookies, cakes, and coffee.
- Cake pops: Serve these vanilla cake pops alongside Chocolate Cake Pops, Oreo Cake Pops (VIDEO), or Red Velvet Cake Pops (VIDEO). Alternatively, you could try Red Velvet Cake Balls.
- Cookies: Complement them with Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies, Double Chocolate Cookies (VIDEO), Chewy Nutella Cookies, or White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies.
- Cakes: Offer them next to a slice of New York Style Cheesecake, Tiramisu Cake (VIDEO), Chocolate Mousse Cake, or Chocolate Honey Cake (also known as Spartak Cake).
- Beverages: Enjoy these homemade cake pops with a Pumpkin Spice Latte, Brown Sugar Boba, Iced Caramel Macchiato, or a cup of Hot Chocolate.
Prepare This Recipe Ahead of Time
Make ahead: You can prepare these cake pops in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature in a cool, dry area. Coat them when you are ready to serve.
Storage: Keep the cake pops at room temperature in an airtight container for up to a week. Refrigeration may cause condensation to form on the cake pops.
Freezing: These cake pops can be individually wrapped and frozen for up to three months; however, the candy coating might become mushy or melted upon thawing due to moisture content. It’s advisable to freeze the uncoated cake pops and apply the coating once they have thawed.
More Irresistible Cakes!
This recipe was first published on April 30, 2015, and has undergone some updates since then.
Complete Recipe Directions
Vanilla Cake Pops (Starbucks Copycat)
This recipe for cake pops replicates Starbucks’ iconic birthday cake pop. If you’ve visited a Starbucks, you’ve likely spotted their renowned pink “birthday cake pops” displayed among the treats. This delightful snack consists of vanilla cake, frosting, and a pink candy coating.
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Servings: 24 cake pops
Calories: 119kcal
Notes
- Store the cake pops at room temperature to prevent condensation from forming on them if refrigerated.
- Mix the frosting and cake thoroughly- To ensure the frosting and cake crumbs are well blended, compress a handful and verify that no marbled frosting is visible.
- Remove and discard the outer layer of the baked cake – This section is often drier than the rest, which may cause the cake ball to break apart.
- Coat the pops carefully- When dipping, avoid swirling the cake pop; instead, lower it straight down into the candy coating, then slowly lift it back out to prevent breakage.
- Tap the pops post-dipping- After dipping in the melted candy, gently tap the hand holding the cake pop to eliminate any excess candy melt.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cake pop | Calories: 119kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 157mg | Potassium: 13mg | Sugar: 13g | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 0.4mg
