One of my most rewarding kitchen adventures has been learning how to make cake pops. I always know that if I want to let my baking imagination run wild, I can just start with a cake pop recipe and see where it takes me! The possibilities are endless.
That’s why today I am sharing with you a basic cake pop how to. If cake pops are new to you or you have tried them in the past and never gone back, this cake pop recipe is the perfect place to start.
Cake Pop Supplies
To make cake pops, you will need:
- A box cake mix and ingredients to make the cake
- A can of frosting
- A styrofoam block or cake pop stand
How to Make Cake Balls
To create cake pops, you need to start by making cake balls that you will later apply to lollipop sticks. The easiest way to make cake balls is to follow the directions on a box of cake mix. I usually deviate from the directions in one way, I use half the amount of oil. This helps create the right consistency for your cake balls. If you are not a fan of boxed cake mix, you can also bake a homemade cake (more power to you!).
After you bake your cake, let it cool completely and… get ready for destruction! Your goal is to crumble your cake into fine crumbs. You can do this one of two ways:
1) Use your hands. Put chunks of your cake into a large mixing bowl and use your hands to crumble it into a pile of fine crumbs. If you use this method, I suggest cutting off the hard edges of your baked cake.
2) Use a food processor. Put chunks of your cake into a food processor and pulse it into fine crumbs. Move the crumbs into a large mixing bowl.
Add a small amount of frosting to your cake crumbs and thoroughly combine using your hands. Continue to add small amounts of frosting until your crumb mixture becomes the consistency of clay.
Helpful Hint: Some cake pop recipes call for you to add an entire container of frosting. I have found that this is way too much. I generally add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of frosting. A good rule of thumb is to start with a small amount and then add more frosting as needed.
Once you have created your “dough”, you can begin rolling your cake balls. I like to use a stainless steel coffee scoop to portion out my cake mixture so that all my cake balls are the same size, about 1.25″. Roll the mixture in the palm of your hand to create round cake balls.
Set your cake balls onto a parchment lined baking sheet or plate and put them in the freezer or refrigerator. If you have time, keep the cake balls in the fridge for a few hours until chilled. If this just doesn’t fit into your busy schedule, about 15 to 20 minutes in the freezer will do the trick. Do keep in mind that making cake pops is a temperature sensitive process. Putting cake balls in the freezer may make them too cold for dipping, so you will need to let them sit for a few minutes after removing them.
How To Turn Your Cake Balls Into Cake Pops
Helpful Hint: For the next few steps, work with just a handful of cake balls at a time, rotating them in and out of the fridge. This will ensure that you always have chilled cake balls ready to go. This is where it comes in handy to have a few petite cake pop stands to rotate around!
Microwave your candy melts in a bowl on low power for 30-seconds at a time. Stop and stir after each 30-second interval then repeat until the coating is completely melted. Do not overheat the candy melts or your coating will become lumpy. If the coating is too thick, add a small amount of vegetable oil to thin it out.
Dip the end of a lollipop stick into the melted coating and then into a cake ball, gently pushing until the stick is about half way through the cake ball. Set your cake pops in the fridge to chill for dipping. (You can also turn your cake pop upright and set it in your styrofoam block or cake pop stand.)
Dip each chilled cake pop straight down into the melted coating until the cake ball is completely covered and sealed. If you need to angle the cake pop, gently tilt it in one direction and then another. Resist the temptation to stir the coating with the cake pop. If you do, your cake pop may fall off of the stick into a candy coating abyss.
Remove the cake pop from the melted coating by pulling it straight up. Then, turn the cake pop at an angle and gently tap off any excess coating. Don’t get fancy, keep it simple.
Helpful Hint: A tall narrow bowl works best for dipping cake pops. Keeping the coating warm throughout the entire dipping process is key to having a smooth coating on your cake pops. To avoid having to repeatedly reheat your coating, a chocolate melting pot is a great tool.
Set your cake pops in your styrofoam block or cake pop stand until the coating has hardened. Or while the coating is still wet use sprinkles, candies, or sugars to decorate your cake pops.
How To Make Cake Pops
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Ingredients and Supplies
- A box cake mix and ingredients to make the cake
- A can of frosting
- Candy melts
- Lollipop sticks
- A styrofoam block or cake pop stand
Directions
1. Follow the directions on a box of cake mix with one exception: use only half the amount of oil.
2. Let the baked cake cool completely. Then, crumble the cake into fine crumbs using your hands or a food processor.
3. Add a small amount of frosting to your cake crumbs and thoroughly combine using your hands. Continue to add small amounts of frosting until your crumb mixture becomes the consistency of clay.
4. Roll the cake mixture into balls about 1.25″ wide.
5. Set your cake balls onto a parchment lined baking sheet or plate and put them in the freezer or refrigerator until chilled.
6. Microwave your candy melts in a bowl on low power for 30-seconds at a time. Stop and stir after each 30-second interval then repeat until the coating is completely melted.
7. Dip the end of a lollipop stick into the melted coating and then into a cake ball, gently pushing until the stick is about half way through the cake ball. Turn your cake pop upright and set it in your styrofoam block or cake pop stand.
8. Set the cake pops in the fridge to chill for dipping.
9. Dip each chilled cake pop straight down into the melted coating until the cake ball is completely covered and sealed. Remove the cake pop from the melted coating by pulling it straight up. Then, turn the cake pop at an angle and gently tap off any excess coating. Turn the cake pop upright.
10. Set your cake pops in your styrofoam block or cake pop stand until the coating has hardened. Or while the coating is still wet use sprinkles, candies, or sugars to decorate your cake pops.
That’s where this cake pop how to ends and another begins…
If you’re looking for inspiration for how to decorate cake pops, browse through my Cake Pop Gallery.
To learn step-by-step how to make cake pops into characters, check out my Santa Christmas Cake Pops, Snowman Christmas Cake Pops, and Spider Cake Pops with Sparkle.
For more creative cake pop recipe ideas, check out How To Make Cake Pops with Unique Flavors.
Awesome tutorial!
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma’s Cookie recently posted..3 Ingredient Sea Salt Ice Cream
Thanks, Jennifer. I think it really simplifies the process when you see how to make cake pops step-by-step.
instead of telling people to google “how to make cake pops” when i make a post, this will be one of my “go to” posts that i will refer people to! yay for you
Lisa@hooplapalooza recently posted..rainbow shortbread cookies for st. patty’s day
Thanks, Lisa… you know I love hearing that! Making cake pops is just so much easier when you have step-by-step directions to follow. Glad this will be helpful!
Awesome! I have never made them, and I always wondering how they were perfectly round. Thanks for the tutorial
Bethany recently posted..Sweet Potato Fries with BBQ Ranch Dipping Sauce
I hope you give cake pops a try, Bethany. They’re one of my favorite treats to make.
Great pictures and directions! I am excited to try this. Have you ever made golf ball cake pops? How would I do that?
I haven’t made golf ball cake pops myself but 1 Fine Cookie has a great tutorial you should check out: http://m.pinterest.com/pin/200550989629303646/
What a great tutorial! I’ve never made cake pops. They are so cute and seem like so much work…so I haven’t gone there yet. I bet I will one day. I’m pinning this to refer to later.
I would love if you would share this at my link party. http://www.realcoake.com/2013/03/real-family-fun-6.html
Take care,
KC
KC @ Real Coake recently posted..Real Family Fun #6
Cake pops are not that hard when you you break it down step-by-step. I hope this cake pop tutorial inspires you to give them a try, KC. On my way to check out your link party!
Thank you so much for coming by and linking up.
KC
KC @ Real Coake recently posted..Shoo Fly Pie
Thanks for hosting, KC!
I will def be trying this! Just made my first batch ever and they called for a whole can of frosting and never having made them before, i didnt realize the mix was too sticky so they kept sliding off the sticks. Im making a cake pop wedding cake in july so i need to perfect this and fast! Thank u for the step by step. Very helpful.
I’m glad you found the step-by-step directions for cake pops helpful, Shawna! I did the same thing my first time making them and they kept falling off the sticks. I had a lot more success after I learned not to use so much icing.
Thanks for the info! I love to bake and if I must say I am a very good baker and love to try new things but this always made me nervous! Your step by step made it seem easier then I had imaged! Now, I’m gonna have to try!
In glad you found the step-by-step tutorial for making cake pops helpful. Have fun making cake pops, Terry!
This is a great tutorial. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday.
Thanks for stopping by to check out how to make cake pops, Michelle!
Hanging on your every word!! Happy to learn from the expert. I appreciate your tips about less oil in the mix and less frosting, too. Thanks so much!
Michelle recently posted..ORDER EYE OF THE TIGER VOL 1 DIRECT NOW!
Glad to hear you found the cake pops tips helpful, Michelle! Thanks for commenting!
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Cake pops always intimidated me, but you made it sound easy! Thank you so much for sharing with Saturday Spotlight last week. I hope you come by today to share more of your awesome creations! Happy Easter
http://angelshomestead.com/
April
April @ Angel’s Homestead recently posted..Saturday Spotlight #10
Thanks for stopping by to check out my tutorial about how to make cake pops, April! I hope you give them a try.
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Thanks for spelling this process out so clearly, Janine! I have always wanted to try cake pops, but I have never quite taken the plunge. Maybe I will now! Thank you!
~Rachel
Rachel @ Rachel Laine Designs recently posted..Knitted Pouf Plans
Step-by-step directions make cake pops a lot easier, Rachel. I hope you give them a try!
What could you add instead of frosting to bind the cake?
My favorite is coffee creamer, Sara. Lots of flavor combos! Check out my recipe for cheesecake flavored cake pops: http://sugarkissed.net/how-to-make-cake-pops-with-unique-flavors/
Thank you. thisxwas easy to follow and to make, is there an alternative for the candy melts? it was too sweet for my taste. And what do you do if it hardens too quickly?
Claudia, if you don’t like the taste of candy melts, you can try using almond bark instead. To get the colors you want, just add candy coloring. If the coating is hardening too quickly, make sure that you are not working with coating that has cooled and that your cake balls are not over-chilled. I like to use the Wilton Chocolate Pro to keep my coating warm while I work with it without have to reheat it. If your coating hardens too quickly on your first dip, you can always dip the cake pop again.
Thanks for this great tutorial. I have shied away from making cake pops because they look too hard. I will definitely give them a go now!
KayleneP recently posted..Rose Care: Fertilizing Hints and Tips
I’m glad your found it helpful, Kaylene! Have fun making cake pops!