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Cake Pops Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 128 reviews

Delicious and fun vanilla cake pops made from scratch using a boxed cake mix, creamy frosting, and coated with smooth candy melts. Perfectly bite-sized and decorated with optional sprinkles, these cake pops are a delightful treat for parties or any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Balls

  • 1 (15.25-ounce) box vanilla cake mix
  • 1 cup water (240ml)
  • ½ cup vegetable oil (120ml)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup frosting

Coating and Decoration

  • 12 ounces candy melts or chocolate melting wafers
  • Sprinkles (optional, for decorating)
  • Lollipop sticks

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch cake pan thoroughly with baking spray to prevent sticking.
  2. Make the Cake Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the vanilla cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs until smooth and well combined.
  3. Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake according to the package directions until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely before proceeding.
  4. Prepare the Cake Balls Base: Line a small baking sheet or plate with wax or parchment paper. Crumble the cooled cake into a large bowl carefully, breaking it into fine crumbs.
  5. Add Frosting: Add 1 cup of frosting to the crumbled cake. Stir with a wooden spoon or beat on low speed with a hand mixer just until the mixture is crumbly and resembles wet sand, avoiding a pasty texture.
  6. Shape the Cake Balls: Scoop the mixture by tablespoons and roll into 1-inch balls. Place these balls on the prepared lined baking sheet. It’s fine if they touch.
  7. Chill the Cake Balls: Refrigerate the cake balls for at least 4 hours or freeze for 30 minutes to firm them up for coating.
  8. Melt Candy Coating: Melt the candy melts or chocolate wafers as per package instructions, then transfer the melted coating to a 2-cup liquid measuring cup or a tall glass for easy dipping.
  9. Assemble the Cake Pops: Remove a few cake balls from the fridge at a time (keep the rest chilled). Dip the tip of a lollipop stick in the melted coating, then insert it halfway into a cake ball. Dip the cake ball into the coating, covering fully and especially where the stick and ball meet. Gently tap excess coating off.
  10. Decorate and Set: If desired, sprinkle the coated cake pops with sprinkles. Place them upright in a cake pop holder and allow the coating to set at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Reheat coating as necessary while continuing to dip remaining cake pops.

Notes

  • Ensuring the cake is completely cooled before crumbling prevents a soggy mixture.
  • Keeping cake balls cold while dipping helps the coating set quickly and reduces melting.
  • Use a cake pop holder or styrofoam block to keep cake pops upright while drying.
  • The size of the cake balls can be adjusted, but 1-inch or about 1 tablespoon per ball works best for even coating and serving.
  • Sprinkles add festive decoration but are optional; you can also drizzle with melted chocolate for variation.
  • Store finished cake pops in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.

Keywords: cake pops, vanilla cake pops, candy melt coating, party treats, bite-sized desserts

Find it online: https://thefoodrecipe.com/cake-pops-recipe/