Copycat Starbucks Birthday Cake Pops: The Ultimate Homemade Recipe
Make the popular Starbucks Birthday Cake Pop at home using this straightforward recipe. You will create moist cake balls coated in smooth vanilla candy melts.
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Total Time: 95 min
- Yield: 24 pops 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Bake (after initial cake baking)
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
- Ingredients required by cake mix box (usually eggs, oil, water)
- 1/2 cup vanilla frosting (store-bought is fine)
- 1 bag (12 oz) white candy melts or vanilla flavored coating
- 1 teaspoon vegetable shortening (optional, for smoother coating)
- Rainbow sprinkles
- Cake pop sticks
Instructions
- Prepare the cake according to the package directions, but use slightly less water or milk than the box suggests to ensure a denser cake. Bake the cake in a 9×13 inch pan. Let the cake cool completely.
- Crumble the cooled cake into a large bowl, removing any browned edges. You want fine crumbs.
- Add the 1/2 cup of vanilla frosting to the cake crumbs. Mix thoroughly with your hands until the mixture holds together when pressed. This should resemble thick dough.
- Roll the mixture into uniform balls, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. Place the balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Chill the cake balls in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This step prevents them from falling apart when dipped.
- Prepare the coating: Place the white candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring well after each interval, until completely smooth. Stir in the shortening if using.
- Dip the tip of a cake pop stick into the melted coating, then insert the stick about halfway into a chilled cake ball. Return the pops to the refrigerator for 10 minutes to set the stick in place.
- Hold the stick and dip the entire cake ball into the melted coating, turning to cover completely. Tap the stick gently against the side of the bowl to remove excess coating.
- Immediately sprinkle with rainbow sprinkles before the coating sets.
- Insert the finished cake pops into a block of styrofoam or a cake pop stand to dry completely.
Notes
- For the smoothest coating, use high-quality vanilla candy melts. If the coating is too thick, add a small amount of vegetable shortening or coconut oil to thin it slightly.
- If you want a chocolate coating, use white chocolate chips mixed with milk chocolate chips, or use dark candy melts.
- Do not skip chilling the cake balls; this is key to preventing cracks during dipping.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pop
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 120
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Unsaturated Fat: 4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 15