Our Easy Cake Pop Recipe is a favorite. We use a combination of a baked cake mix and cream cheese frosting to create these delicious little sweet. Change the flavors and candy melts to suit any occasion.
Easy Cake Pop Recipe
Looking for an easy cake ball recipe? These are a breeze to prepare and can be decorated for any occasion. Even the kids can pitch in and help. Decorate with melted chocolate and festive sprinkles. Truly, you can vary this recipe for any occasion. It is quite versatile.
These are our Valentine Day cake pops. My youngest daughter and niece helped me make them. The kids love to decorate with the sprinkles so keep a variety around for them to enjoy.
Ingredients
This is a very flexible recipe. You can use any flavor of boxed cake mix. The same goes for the candy melts, sprinkles and frosting, feel free to swap out colors and design for any occasion.
Step by Step Instructions
1. In a large bowl, crumble your cake.
2. Add in your cream cheese frosting. Mix well with a hand mixer, spoon, or stand mixer.
3. Divide your cake into 20 sections. With the palm of your hand, round out each portion into a ball shape.
4. Place your cake pops on a sheet pan or plate, and place in the freezer for 15 minutes.
5. While your cake pops are in the freezer, place the candy melts in a medium sized bowl. Microwave for 30 second intervals until completely melted.
6. Remove the cake pops from the freezer.
7. Place your cookie stick in the candy melt, then the cake pop. Then add your cake pop to the candy melts. Coat the pop completely with the melt. On the side of the bowl, tap it gently with the stick removing any excess chocolate from the cake pop to create a smooth finish.
8. Place the cake pop on the parchment paper. Immediately add your sprinkles before the chocolate dries.
Tips
- This recipe uses half a baked cake for 20 pops. Generally, I make two batches and freeze the second batch for another day.
- When making the pops, use the 2 Tablespoons of the frosting. If you add too much, the pops will be mushy.
- Be sure the cream cheese is soft so the ingredients come together easily.
- It is very important to freeze the pops for at least 20 minutes before decorating with the melted candy.
- When removing the rounded balls from the freezer and give them a minute or two at room temperature so they are not too cold.
- If the candy melt mixture is too thick when melted, add a drop of vegetable or coconut oil.
- If you experience cracking, your candy melts are too hot or your cake is still very cold. Be sure coating is not too hot before decorating.
Decorating Tips
To place the stick in the cake pop, first dip the stick into the melted chocolate. Then place into the ball. This ensures the stick will stay in the mixture.
Use a deep glass bowl or measuring cup to melt the candy melts. Dip your prepared cake balls into the mix and be sure entire ball. However, you don’t want too much on it. Gently tap the ball against the side of the glass bowl to remove excess coating. Then decorate with the sprinkles.
Variations
- For the cake mix, try red velvet, chocolate, pumpkin spice, or strawberry to name a few.
- Any color candy melt will work. Green for Saint Patrick’s Day, blue for 4th of July, orange for Pumpkin for Halloween and Thanksgiving, pink and green for Easter, blue and pink for baby showers. Use white melts for any holiday. There are endless possibilities.
- Go crazy with sprinkles and decorating for any occasion.
Storage
Once they are baked, the cake balls can be kept in the fridge in a covered container for about 3 -4 days. They can be frozen for up to 4 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge. You can also freeze unfrosted. Place the balls on the baking sheet in the freezer until frozen. Then place in the freezer safe bag so they do not stick together.
Drying Tips
Give the cake balls about 1 hour to dry completely.
When looking for a flat side to the balls, use the method I did above. Place the coated pieces on parchment paper to dry.
You can certainly purchase a cake pop holder from your local craft store. I hate to spend money on things I don’t use at least weekly, so I don’t have one.
Don’t want a flat side on the pops? Place the decorated balls into a piece of Styrofoam to dry upright.
A friend of mine told me a great trick, flip an egg carton over, empty of course, and place the sticks into the egg carton. They stay upright and dry nicely.
When celebrating Valentine Day, you should also try our Valentine version of Rocky Road Fudge, which is a no bake festive candy. Another fun candy is our version of Hot Cocoa Bombs.
A few festive treats to enjoy, Strawberry Lemonade cupcakes and Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes. Both are seasonal cupcakes that are from scratch and delicious.
They are easy and the family will love them. Great to pair with the cake pops.
When you make this recipe, take a pic and tag me on Instagram @everyday_eileen or #everydayeileen
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Easy Cake Pop Recipe
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Ingredients
- 15 ounce box cake mix, baked Note 1
- 2 Tablespoons cream cheese frosting, softened Note 2
- 12 ounces candy melts Note 3
- sprinkles, any of your favorites Note 4
Instructions
- In a large bowl, crumble your cake.
- Use a hand mixer, stand mixer, or spoon to blend in the softened cream cheese frosting.
- Divide cake mixture into 20 sections. With the palm of your hand, round out each portion into a ball shape, about 1 ½ inch each.
- Place the cake pops on a sheet pan or plate. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- While the cake pops are in the freezer, place all of your candy melts in a medium sized bowl. Microwave for 30 second intervals until completely melted.
- Remove the cake pops from the freezer.
- Place the cookie stick in the candy melt, then the cake pop. Then add your cake pop to the candy melts. Coat the pop completely with the melt. On the side of the bowl, tap it gently with the stick removing any excess chocolate from the cake pop to create a smooth finish.
- Place the cake pop on the parchment paper. Immediately add your sprinkles before the chocolate dries.
- Continue steps 6 – 8 until each cake pop is complete.
Notes
- This recipe uses half a baked cake for 20 pops. Generally, I make two batches and freeze the second batch for another day.
- Be sure the cream cheese is soft so the ingredients come together easily.
- It is very important to freeze the pops for at least 20 minutes before decorating with the melted candy.
- When removing the rounded balls from the freezer and give them a minue at room temperature so they are not too cold.
- If the candy melt mixture is too thick when melted, add a drop of vegetable or coconut oil.
- If you experience cracking, your candy melts are either too hot or your cake is still very cold. Be sure coating is not too hot before decorating.
- For the cake mix, try red velvet, chocolate, pumpkin spice, or strawberry to name a few.
- Any color candy melt will work. Green for Saint Patrick's Day, blue for 4th of July, orange for Pumpkin for Halloween and Thanksgiving, pink and green for Easter, blue and pink for baby showers. Use white melts for any holiday. There are endless possibilities.
- Go crazy with sprinkles and decorating for any occasion.
Nutrition
