How to Make and Decorate Cake Pops

It’s common knowledge that everything tastes better on a stick—cake is no exception. Cake pops are all the rage for all the right reasons: They’re adorable and adaptable; they don’t require serving utensils and plates; and they’re just the right size for tiny hands (or anyone trying to keep themselves from eating a whole cake, ahem). Why, then, are people nervous to make them?

Photo by Meredith

As it turns out, cake pops are a fairly easy project—somewhere in between cake-mix cupcakes and a fondant-covered wedding cake in terms of time and baking expertise. Here are simple step-by-step instructions and a video to get you started, and plenty of inspiration for creating these cake cuties.

Cake Pop Method #1: Pre-Baked Cake

Though there are folks who swear by those specialty cake-pop pans, the most popular (and, we think, the best) way to make cake pops starts with a regular ol’ baked cake.

1. Make a cake, using a mix or from scratch—whichever you prefer.
2. When the cake cools, crumble it into fine crumbs with your fingers, or throw it in the food processor. Looking to save time? Bake ahead and freeze your cake, just defrost and crumble when you’re ready to assemble.
3. Add a frosting binder so the cake crumbs can hold a ball shape, and to give the cake pop that deliciously moist texture. Use your favorite recipe—buttercream, cream cheese frosting, fudgy ganache, or peanut butter all work well. Add spoonfuls of frosting to the bowl of cake crumbs a little at a time and mix thoroughly—it’s best to use your hands!—until you can pinch the mixture and see that it stays together. Roll a sample ball and see if it holds. You don’t want to add too much frosting, so go light.

A note about cake flavors: Don’t think you have to stick with chocolate and vanilla. Any cake recipe can be used here. Red velvet, cookies and cream, strawberry shortcake.

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We have so many cake recipes to try.

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Create a colorful variety of cake pops for your next party

Take inspiration from your favorite layer cakes and condense those flavors into cake pop form. You can even try it with cheesecake!

Cheesecake pops

Cheesecake Pops. Photo by Sashja2413

4. Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop a ball of doll and roll it around in your (lightly moistened) hands to make tightly packed, uniformly round balls. Place the balls on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Keep rolling until you’ve used all the mixture. Now, refrigerate the cake balls for a couple of hours—or freeze for about 20 minutes—until they are firm, though not frozen all the way through.

5. To make the coating, melt chocolate chips in the microwave in short bursts of time until completely melted. (Alternately, you can buy multicolored candy melts that microwave easily and coat well.) If you have a small, deep bowl, that will work best.

6. Insert a stick into each ball, no more than halfway. Holding the stick, dip the ball into the melted chocolate or candy and swirl to coat completely in one movement. Make sure it touches the base, where the stick was inserted. Roll in sprinkles, cookie crumbs, mini chocolate chips, coconut, nuts, or any other topping you can imagine!

Allow the cake pops to dry by inserting them upright into a block of Styrofoam, or use a colander if the holes are the right size. Refrigerate to set faster, or simply leave out in a cool place. Enjoy!

Video: How to make cake balls

Other Cake Pop Methods

If you have a cake-pop pan, follow the instructions it came with, pressing the dough firmly into each cavity, and then chilling for several hours.

Some like to use cake-ball pans, like these — but you can easily roll your balls by hand.

You can also press the cake-and-frosting mix into a pan and use a cookie cutter to create shapes, like hearts for Valentine’s Day.

And if you’re into gadgets, check out this video on how to use a special cake-pop appliance thingy, the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker.

Video: Using the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker

Decorating Your Cake Pops

When it comes to decorating these tasty little treats, the sky’s the limit.

Get creative when decorating your cake pops. These are rolled in almonds and bacon. Photo by Meredith

 

Use colorful sprinkles to create a fun assortment.

Go all-out with fondant for these adorable Halloween cake pops

Make funfetti cake and roll in sprinkles for a delightful birthday party favor. If you’re comfortable with fondant, cut out little ears to make animal faces, or create the cute monsters above. Check out these adorable baby-rattle cake pops!

 

See more decorating ideas in our cake-pop gallery.

Go nuts with dozens of delicious cake-pop recipes.

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Try the pie variation.

Mini Pie Pops

Mini pie pops. Photo by NellAP

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