Homemade Starbuck’s Cake Pops Recipe (Vanilla)

Deliciously moist and soft vanilla cake pops that rival the ones from Starbucks! Simple to make and even easier to enjoy!

Having eaten and made cake pops for MANY an occasion, I feel that cake pops are just one of those treats that basically everyone loves. Now, I know there are a few haters out there, but I’d say the overwhelming majority of people enjoy them, ESPECIALLY when they look and taste like the Starbucks version!!!

So, whether you want cake pops for a bridal shower, kids birthday party, baby shower, or simply to enjoy at home, this recipe has got you covered! These homemade Starbucks cake pops are a delicious simple dupe that incorporate moist vanilla cake, creamy frosting, and a crunchy chocolate shell to give you a blissful bite! (I dare say they are virtually irresistible!!)

Ingredients

One of the reasons (I believe) that cake pops are such a popular treat is because of how simple they are to make. They require minimal ingredients, are easily made in bulk, and have plenty of room for customization in the flavor and decorating. At their heart, there are really just 3 main components needed to make these Starbucks cake pops:

• Fluffy Baked Cake – While I am sure you could make pretty much any box or homemade cake mix work for this recipe, I am a big fan of the Pillsbury white cake mix. It is super quick to make and only needs 1 cup of water, 1/2 cup of oil, and 3 eggs. This provides you with a fluffy cake that, when crumbled up, makes the perfect cake pop filling.
• Creamy Frosting – Similar to the cake, you can opt for a homemade frosting or a pre-made one from the store. For ease, I generally use the Pillsbury store-bought frosting. The thick, sticky frosting acts as a great binding agent for the center of the cake pops.
• Smooth Chocolate Coating – When it comes to the chocolate candy melts, you may want to pay a little more for nicer brands. I really like using Wilton candy melts . The other ones sometimes have a really cheap chocolate flavor and be harder to melt. Regardless, just be sure to slowly heat your chocolate and stir often. This will keep it from overheating and burning!

Tips for Success

Over time, I have learned some tips and tricks that can help you have cake pops that are as tasty and picture perfect as the one’s at Starbucks! Here’s what you need to know:

1. Getting Perfectly Round Cake Pops – So what I do is roll the balls right after the two are mixed together. They’re pretty misshapen because the cake + frosting mixture is super moist—and at room temperature. Chill the balls in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes. After that, give them another quick roll to smooth out the sides. When they’re cold, they’re easier to smooth out and form perfectly round shapes. 
2. Decorating Made Easy – To ensure the cake ball stays secure on the lollipop stick, dip one end of the stick into the coating first (just about 1/2 inch down). Then insert the coated end into the center of the cake ball. This helps the cake ball stay on the lollipop stick. Chill again in the fridge for 10 minutes.
3. Clean Looking Cake Pops – After all the work you’ve done, the last thing you want is for the cake pops to come out looking wonky and messy. The best way to allow the coating to dry and set—without ruining the perfectly round cake pop—is to place them right-side-up. You can either use styrofoam or make your own cake pop stand with our tutorial here.

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Starbucks Cake Pops

Deliciously moist and soft cake pops that rival the ones from Starbucks!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Decorating30 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cake pop

Equipment

• 1 cake pan
• 1 Large Bowl
• 1 small bowl
• 1 hand mixer
• 1 Spoon
• 1 Spatula

Ingredients

• 1 box Pillsbury white cake mix
• wet cake mix ingredients (water, oil, eggs)
• ¼ cup frosting
• 12 oz candy melts
• 3/4 tsp of coconut oil or vegetable oil

Instructions

• Bake the cake according to the package and let it cool down to room temperature.
• Cut the cake into 4 pieces and peel away the browned outside layer of the cake. I peel off the outer layer because it tends to be too dry to form the cake pop.
• In a large bowl, crumble the cake with your hands. Add ¼ cups of frosting to the crumbled cake and mix with a spoon or your hands.
• Shape the cake into balls. I use a small ice cream scooper. Roll the ball with your hands to smooth any imperfections.
• Melt the candy melts in a small bowl. Heat in 30 second intervals to avoid overheating the candy. Add the coconut oil or vegetable oil and mix well with spatula.
• Dip the tip of each cake pop stick into the melted candy and poke it into a ball about half way through. Place each cake pop onto a baking sheet and transfer to the freezer for about 20 minutes.
• Once the cake pops have been in the freezer for 20 minutes, dip each into the bowl and tilt to the sides slowly to make sure the entire cake pop is covered. Then slowly pull up the cake pop. (Don’t swirl the cake pop) Hold the cake pop in one hand and tap your wrist so that all the extra melted candy drips off into the bowl.
• Sprinkle the cake pop right away so that the sprinkles stick to it before the candy hardens.
• Place in a stand and let it dry for about an hour.

Notes

Success Tips:

1. So what I do is roll the balls right after the cake and frosting are mixed together. They’re pretty misshapen because the cake + frosting mixture is super moist—and at room temperature. Chill the balls in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes. After that, give them another quick roll to smooth out the sides. When they’re cold, they’re easier to smooth out and form perfectly round shapes. 
2. To ensure the cake ball stays secure on the lollipop stick, dip one end of the stick into the coating first (just about 1/2 inch down). Then insert the coated end into the center of the cake ball. This helps the cake ball stay on the lollipop stick. Chill again in the fridge for 10 minutes.
3. The best way to allow the coating to dry and set—without ruining the perfectly round cake pop—is to place them right-side-up.

Other Delicious Recipes

Let’s just say that, around here, cake pops are a popular treat. (Sorry not sorry!) So……we may or may not have a couple recipes that are perfect for cake pop lovers!

• DIY Wooden Cake Pop Stand
• 4 Ingredient Red Velvet Cake Balls
• Valentine’s Day Oreo Pops
• No-bake Graduation Cake Pops
• Easy Oreo Ball Recipe

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