I am excited to show you how to make homemade cake pops. There is something cool about a ball of cake covered in chocolate on top of a lollipop stick.
Homemade cake pops are awesome and one of my favorite desserts! And they are way less expensive to make at home.
Are you tired of making the same thing for birthdays or maybe you want something new to bring to a party? Make these amazing treats and impress your friends and family with your baking skills.
Instead of giving a bouquet of flowers, maybe give a bouquet of cake pops! If I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get baking! 🙂
If you are a fan of cake make sure to check out these other cake recipes.
Step 1: How to make homemade cake pops
First, in order to make cake pops at home, we need a base cake. You can use any cake mix from the store or your favorite homemade cake recipe. Just follow the instructions and bake up that cake. You can make all kinds of different flavors.
Step 2: Break up that cake
I am sorry cake, I love you, but it is time for a breakup.
After you bake your cake in whatever pans you want to use, it really doesn’t matter, break it up in a large bowl. Alternatively, a little trick I learned is you can put the cake in a heavy-duty zip-lock bag and break it up in there.
We want to get the crumbs pretty fine. I am using only half of the cake, which makes 12 to 13 cake pops. Another thing you can try is using a hand mixer or stand mixer.
If using the stand mixer, use your paddle attachment. Be aware, some cake bits might want to pull a superman and fly out of the bowl. 🙂 You can also use a food processor too if you like.
Step 3: Frosting Time
Now we add in our favorite frosting. I am just using a store-bought white frosting. Start with one large heaping Tablespoon worth of frosting, which really is about 2 or 2 1/2 Tbsp. (approx. 35g or so).
You can always add some more if you want a little later. IF using the full cake you will probably use about 1/3 of a cup. Now dive in there with your clean hands and mix the frosting with the cake bits.
You can use gloves if you like as well if you don’t like the idea of touching the cake. Or again, you can use your mixer. 🙂 You want to add the mixture to resemble play-dough, once it is all mixed together, meaning it stays together when you smush it together, haha.
Step 4: Roll out the cake pops balls
Now we need to grab some cake mixture and make it into a ball. I usually use a Tablespoon and measure out two Tablespoons worth, which make a decent-sized cake ball. Knead the cake mix a little bit in your hand, then use your palms to roll it into a ball.
Again make sure your hands are clean or wear gloves. Next place the cake ball on a parchment paper-lined baking tray or plate.
Step 5: Melt, Dip, Stick, Smooth, Chill
Now, melt some of the Candiquik, candy melts, or chocolate chips/bars. I have used all three types, I really like the consistency that melted Candiquik gives. You can’t go wrong with candy melts though. Or even using your favorite kind of chocolate.
I use the microwave to melt the Candiquik. I either use the defrost setting on bursts of like 45 seconds then stir, or use the hi setting and do bursts of 30 seconds and then stir, until the chocolate is nice and melted, you may also use the double boiler method.
After that dip your treat stick into the Candiquik, about 3/4 of an inch, then stick it into your cake ball, about the same far. Don’t poke it too far, we don’t want it coming out the other side.
Now you can smooth out the chocolate that you like with your finger, purely for aesthetics. Next, place those in a piece of styrofoam or a cake pop stand, and then into the fridge for 10 minutes. This will help the chocolate firm up and give some stability to the cake ball.
You will be left with a bunch of un-dipped homemade cake pops.
*Note if you pick the cake ball up and turn it over you will have a little flat part which is a great place to stick your lollipop stick.
Step 6: Dip, Turn, Tap those cake pops
Once our homemade cake pops have firmed up it is dipping time! Melt more chocolate, I usually only do one color/flavor at a time. If you are using a more shallow bowl, tilt the bowl of chocolate, then dip your cake pop into it.
Use a spoon to cover the ball if needed. Now rotate the cake stick, and gently tap the stick with your finger, this will allow the excess chocolate to drip off, and rotating ensures a nice smooth covering.
You may also use a deeper more narrow glass. With these you can usually just dip straight down and come up with it, then do the rotating and tapping.
Once done place your cake pop back into the styrofoam or cake pops stand and let the chocolate set. If using traditional chocolate you may want to put them in the fridge for a few minutes to help the setting process. If not, by the time you are done dipping the last one, most of the others will have completely set.
Step 7: Decorate and Serve the Cake Pops
Now we get to decorate these little homemade cake pops. 🙂 I chose to just drizzle different flavors on the top, using a bit of chocolate in a plastic bag with the corner snipped. You can use a professional piping bag with tips as well.
If you want to stick different candies or nuts on it, you will want to do it shortly after dipping before the chocolate sets completely. And there you go, cake pops! 🙂
How to store homemade cake pops?
You can store your cake pops at room temperature. You can also wrap them up with some candy bags for gifts. They will last about a week at room temperature. Alternatively you can place them in an airtight container in the fridge for about 2 weeks.
Can I freeze the cake pops?
Sure! You can freeze homemade cake pops. Just place them in a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for 2 to 3 months. Then when you want to eat one, remove it and let it thaw out. Just make sure the chocolate is fully set before freezing them.
Cake Pops Troubleshooting – Why are my cake balls falling off the stick?
Now for a few homemade cake pops troubleshooting tips. One of the most common questions I get is “Why do my cake balls keep falling off the stick?” Here are a few reasons why that happens and what to do to fix it:
- The texture of the cake balls is not quite right. Meaning, you added too much frosting or not enough. Just add the frosting a little bit at a time until when it comes together it resembles smooth play dough. When you roll it, the cake ball will be nice and smooth. If there is too much frosting in it, it will be too soft and fall of the stick easier.
- The cake ball was too large. Don’t make the cake ball for the cake pop too large. The ball should be about a Tablespoon in size before dipping or just slightly larger. And it will weigh around 20g. Just shy of 1.5 inches in diameter.
- Try leaving them in the fridge a little longer before dipping them. This can help to keep them on the stick longer. Some people will even put them in the freezer after putting the sticks in them and before dipping them. Although don’t let them freeze completely, the frozen cake ball will expand a bit after thawing which can crack the chocolate after it has been dipped.
- Make sure the melted chocolate you use is nice and runny. The CandiQuik kind really is one of the best dipping chocolates. And if you run into issues with the chocolate that you are using not being thin enough, add a little vegetable shortening to it while melting it. This will help make it runnier. 1 to 2 teaspoons is all you should need.
Homemade Cake Pops Recipe
Equipment
- treat sticks
- styrofoam or cake pop stand
- Bowls
- spoon
- bags
- hand mixer (optional)
- parchment paper
- baking tray or plate
Ingredients
- 1 cake mix box of your favorite cake (plus necessary ingredients listed on back of box) or use your favorite homemade cake recipe.
- 1/3 cup approx. of frosting (your favorite kind)
- candiquik
- candy melts
Instructions
- Bake your favorite cake from a mix or homemade recipe, and allow it to cool completely.
- Break the cake apart into small crumbs by rubbing the cake together or putting it into a plastic bag and breaking it apart in there or using a mixer or stand mixer with paddle attachment.)
- Now we add in your favorite frosting. Start with one large heaping Tablespoon worth of frosting, (approx. 35g or so). You can always add a little more later. IF using the full cake you will probably use about 1/3 of a cup.Use clean hands or wear gloves and mix the frosting with the cake bits. Or use your mixer. 🙂 The mixture should resemble play dough, once it is all mixed together. It will stay together when smashed together.
- Next, we need to grab some cake mixture and make it into a ball. A tablespoon worth makes a good-sized ball. Knead the cake mix a little bit in your hand, then use your palms to roll it into a ball and place it onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
- Now melt some of the candiquik, candy melts, or chocolate chips/bars. I prefer the candiquik. Use the microwave to melt the candiquik. Either use the defrost setting on bursts of like 45 seconds then stir, or use the hi setting and do bursts of 30 seconds and then stir, until the chocolate is nice and melted, you may also use the double boiler method.After that dip your treat stick into the candiquick, about 3/4 of an inch, then stick it into your cake ball, about the same far. Don't poke it too far, we don't want it coming out the other side. Smooth out the chocolate with your finger.Now place those in a piece of styrofoam or a cake pop stand, and then into the fridge they go for 10 minutes to firm up.
- Time to dip the cake pops! Melt more chocolate and place in a small bowl or narrow glass then dip your cake pop into it. Use a spoon to cover the ball if needed. Now rotate the cake stick, and gently tap the stick with your finger, this will allow the excess chocolate to drip off, and rotating ensures a nice smooth covering. Once done place your cake pop back into the styrofoam or cake pops stand and let the chocolate set. If using traditional chocolate you may want to put them in the fridge for a few minutes to help the setting process.
- Now we get to decorate these little cake pops. 🙂 You can drizzle chocolate on top using a small bag as a piping bag with the corner snipped off. If you want to stick different candies or nuts on it, you will want to do it shortly after dipping before the chocolate sets completely. And there you go, yummy homemade cake pops! 🙂
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Do you like the recipe? Please give it a rating and comment down below, I really appreciate it. 🙂 If you make it tag me on Instagram @inthekitchenwithmatt. Also, sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss out on any of my new posts and recipes.
Here are a few other recipes you may like:
Homemade Restaurant Quality French Fries
Best Ever Cinnamon Raisin Bread
Hi! How long can you make these in advance/store these? Also do they need refrigerated? 🙂
Hi Christina! They will last about a week. If you read the recipe/blog post you will find some tips for storage (Step 7) 🙂
Finally made it to Boulder CO to make ‘Matts’ cake pops with my granddaughter.
You are ‘very cool’, and thank you.
Awesome!!! 🙂
Do you mix white frosting with chocolate cake or would you use chocolate frosting?
Hello! You can use whichever frosting that you like. I use white frosting with chocolate all the time. 🙂 But you can use chocolate frosting too.
I just tried making cake pops from a different website and they turned out bland and all together not very good. The recipe used a homemade cake and frosting that I have never tried before. I’m about to try this recipe with homemade chocolate cake and frosting! Fingers crossed it works!
Awesome!! Good luck, let me know how it goes and if you run into any issues. Make sure to read the blog post where it talks about troubleshooting tips. 🙂 Step 7 of the blog post. 🙂
Hello there. For the drizzle did u just use normal chocolate not candy melts?
Hi Paula! I used both. You can use either. 🙂 The white drizzle was from the white CandiQuik, the Brown was from the chocolate CandiQuick, the pink drizzle is form the pink candy melts. 🙂
puedo hacer un biscocho de torta y luego lo uno con los ingredientes que tenga o que pueda usar y como se pega los palitos gracias
Help! While the taste was great, my cakepops looked like garbage when I dipped them. I used the quik melts in the microwave. It seemed to be too thick and I couldn’t tap off the excess. I sort of scrapped at the sides with a spoon. Any ideas what I did wrong? Not melted enough? Thanks!
Hello, Tina! Yes, it sounds like the candy melts weren’t quite melted enough. You can add about a tablespoon of shortening and melt it first then add the candy melts and melt them down, it will help make it thinner and easier to dip. 🙂
Thanks for the quick reply! I will try this.
You are very welcome, Tina! Good luck, let me know how it goes. 🙂
I REALLY LOVE THEM I AM GOING TO MAKE THEM
Thank you! Good luck! Let me know how they turn out. 🙂
This is amazing!!! I loved these cake pops soooo much! And so did the rest of my family! This is a delicious recipe that I would recommend very very much! Thankyou, Matt Taylor for making this wonderful recipe! 🙂
So glad you made them and liked them!!! You are very welcome. 🙂 🙂
That leftover cake turns into cake pops and then all of sudden people are in the mood for cake again! Isn t it funny how you can put something on a stick and everybody wants it?
hahaha I know right?
It is an amazing recipe that everyone should try. So sweet and tasty, just mmm…
Thank you, Annie! Glad you made them and liked them! 🙂 🙂
Do you need to reheat the Candiquik while you the cake pops are in the fridge for 10 min? And how long?
Hi Daisy! 🙂 You can just break a smaller part off and melt that, to dip the sticks in. Or you can heat half of it or so, and if it hardens up while the pops are in the fridge you can reheat it until it melts again. If using the microwave always start with bursts of 25 to 30 seconds and then stir. Defrost mode works great too. Or of course, you can use a double boiler. 🙂 🙂 Let me know if that helps.
This would be a great idea to make especially this coming Valentine’s. Those cake pops look quite tasty and easy to do as well.
For sure! 🙂
YUM! I love cake pops but have never tried to make them myself. Saving this recipe to make with my daughter! Thank you.
You are welcome! 🙂 Let me know how they turn out Autumn. 🙂
I love your Homemade Cake Pops! It sounds so yummy! I hope to make it soon.
Thank you, Emman! 🙂
Cake pops are so fun. I want to make some Valentines themed ones!
Yeah, they are!! 🙂
My kids would absolutely love these. This would disappear in no time at our house! This is my kind of weekend treat.
That is awesome! 🙂 🙂
These cake pops are so cute. Perfect for any occasions. I used to watch video tutorials about this. But it’s also convenient just reading the instructions. Thanks for sharing.
You are very welcome! 🙂