These sweet, festive treats are easy to make and fun to eat!
Does your mouth water when you gaze into the bakery case at Starbucks while waiting for your latte? If you’re like me, your eyes linger on the cake pops because you are thinking, “That’s exactly what I want: just one little bite of cake.” Those adorable spheres on a stick are the perfect size to satisfy my sweet tooth, and I just love that great texture combo of hard coating and soft cake.
Well, now I don’t have to leave my house in order to indulge in a little ball of cake because I can make Starbucks cake pops at home. And you can, too! These delectable treats are surprisingly easy to make, and they taste divine: a combination of crumbled vanilla cake, creamy frosting, and a hard candy shell—what’s not to love? And don’t forget about the sprinkles—they’re the icing on the cake (sorry, I couldn’t help myself!).
Starbucks cake pops do take some time, but they are worth every minute. True, there are a lot of steps, and several of them include some waiting (you have to bake the cake, let the cake balls freeze, melt the candy, etc.), but none of the steps are difficult at all. And I know you will be thrilled when you are done because these cake pops come out looking and tasting as if you picked them up from your neighborhood Starbucks. Maybe better!
What is the difference between candy melts and chocolate?
Candy melts are made from sugar and some kind of oil—usually palm kernel or vegetable. They often also contain milk solids, artificial colors, and flavors. Chocolate, on the other hand, starts from cocoa beans that come from the cacao tree and includes cocoa butter, the natural fat extracted from the beans. Different kinds of chocolate—dark, milk, and white—can include other ingredients such as milk, vanilla, sugar, and an emulsifier to blend the ingredients together. If you don’t have or want to use candy melts for your Starbucks cake pops, you can always melt chocolate chips, but add a bit of vegetable oil to make the mixture thinner and smoother for dipping.
How do I store leftovers?
Starbucks cake pops can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place at room temperature for up to 1 week, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, and in the freezer for up to 3 months (thaw overnight in the fridge before serving).
Serving suggestions
If you want to keep the theme and flavors going, serve Starbucks cake pops with a Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Spice Latte (no such thing as too much vanilla!). But the cake pops are also really good with a Homemade Iced Americano or a cup of Rich And Creamy Hot Chocolate for the kids.
One of my favorite things to do with Starbucks cake pops is to throw a whimsical dessert party, starting with little treats that come on a stick! I set up a buffet with Starbucks cake pops, Brownie Cake Pops, Candied Strawberries, and Frozen Bananas. Then I add some mini desserts, such as Mini Almond Cheesecakes Baked In A Jar, Mini Key Lime Pies, and a mini version of these Lemon-Raspberry Cupcakes. Finally, to add a bit of savory to the sweetness, I’ll put out bowls of Rolo Pretzel Treats, Slow-Cooker Sweet-And-Spicy Nuts, and Salted Caramel Popcorn.
Starbucks Cake Pop Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box vanilla cake mix prepare the cake according to the package directions
- 3 1/2 tablespoons vanilla frosting
- 12 ounces pink candy melts
- 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 24 cake pop sticks
- White sprinkles
Instructions
- Bake the cake according to the box instructions. Allow it to cool completely (approximately 1 hour) and optionally trim firm edges for a softer center.
- Crumble the cooled cake in a large bowl. Add the frosting slowly and mix until the crumbs stick together. Use your hands or a cookie scoop to shape the mixture into 24 small balls. Place the cake balls on a parchment-lined tray and freeze them for about 15 minutes.
- Melt pink candy melts and vegetable oil in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.
- Dip the tip of each cake pop stick into the melted candy and then insert it about halfway into each frozen cake ball to secure the stick.
- Dip each cake ball in melted candy, let excess drip off, then sprinkle with white sprinkles.
- Place the finished cake pops upright on a drying rack or propped up inside glass jars until the coating hardens.
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