How to Make Cake Pops {And Cake Balls}

Use this tutorial to learn how to make cake pops and cake balls using a box cake mix or your favorite homemade recipe from scratch. Quick and easy, made with simple ingredients with various flavor options and decoration ideas.

I think this is the best way to use up cake scraps and trimmings. I have been making them for years and have picked up lots of tips and tricks along the way that I am so excited to share with you today. I am not Bakerella who started this trend and is incredibly talented. Even cafes and bakeries sell them now. My son loves the Starbucks ones. If you are fond of desserts on a stick, be sure to also check out my St. Patrick's Day Cake Pops (Leprechaun) and these Easy Marshmallow Pops (For Many Holidays) and of course these Fruit Kabobs (Brownie Fruit Skewers).

Jump to:

• Key ingredients and supplies
• Variations
• How to make easy homemade cake pops?
• How to make easy homemade cake balls?
• Tips and techniques
• How to package them?
• Recipe FAQs
• Storage
• More fun desserts
• Recipe

Key ingredients and supplies

• Cake- Can be any flavor. You can use a box mix or make something from scratch. You can also use leftovers or cake scraps and trimmings from previous baking projects.
• Frosting- This can be any flavor you like. It should compliment the cake flavor obviously.
• Chocolate- This needs to be in melted form. You can use candy melts, chocolate chips, almond bark. It can be dark, semisweet, milk or white and even colored with oil-based food coloring.
• Decoration- Such as sprinkles, chopped nuts, sesame seeds, chopped Oreos e.t.c.
• Sticks- Lollipop sticks or even popsicle sticks work very well. Depending on the size of your cake ball, you can decide what size of sticks to buy.
• Molds and rollers- I never needed to order these. However, some people love the molds for making different shapes instead of just simple round pops and they love using rollers to make little balls. I just use my hands.
• Stand or holder- These are fairly cheap and you can find them at Walmart, Michaels, Hobby Lobby or Amazon. You can also use a styrofoam block and make a DIY stand, which is cheaper. You can also decorate the styrofoam in wrapping paper and ribbons for dessert tables.

Variations

• Oreo flavor- Instead of cake mixture, crumble Oreos and mix in frosting and use that mixture to make small balls. Follow my recipe for Oreo Truffles (Oreo Balls).
• Red velvet version- Push a stick into these Red Velvet Truffles and dip them in melted chocolate.
• Vanilla and chocolate flavors- Probably the two most popular flavors. Use either chocolate cake mix or yellow cake mix. Use either chocolate frosting or vanilla frosting.
• For holiday pops- Use seasonal sprinkles and candies to decorate for Easter, Christmas Halloween, Thanksgiving e.t.c.
• Unicorn or birthday version- The best way to get this cute look is through the use of bright and colorful sprinkles.
• For gender reveal and baby showers- Make pink or blue cake, depending on the gender of the baby.
• Wedding style- Use white cake, vanilla frosting, white chocolate and decorate in white edible pearls, white sprinkles and sanding sugar. These look very classy and elegant and also make a great party favor or dessert.

How to make easy homemade cake pops?

1. Bake cake.
2. Crumble cake.
3. Mix in frosting.
4. Roll into balls and insert sticks.
5. Chill.
6. Dip in chocolate.
7. Tap off excess.
8. Decorate with sprinkles.
9. Let chocolate set and enjoy.
10. **Match each step with the corresponding number from the step by step collage.

How to make easy homemade cake balls?

These are essentially made without sticks. The process is the same as above until step 4 and then the final 2 steps are different. Bake cake. Crumble cake. Mix in frosting. Roll into balls. Chill until firm. Dip in melted chocolate. Tap off excess. Place on a cookie tray, lined with wax paper. Toss sprinkles. Allow chocolate to set at room temperature and enjoy. **Match each step with the corresponding number from the step by step collage.

Tips and techniques

• Cakes, especially fresh cakes are already very moist and if you add a lot of frosting to the crumbs, they will not be able to hold their round shape. So, go easy on the frosting! Add a little at a time.
• Cake mixture is ready when it's crumbly but still soft and moist to hold its shape. Shape a few balls each time you mix in a little frosting to see if it's easy for you to shape balls.
• Mixture can be combined with your hands, spoon, fork or even a hand-held mixer or stand mixer.
• The number of pops you get from this recipe depend on how big or small you make them.
• Store bought or homemade cake can be used.
• Store bought or homemade frosting can be used.
• To ensure all the pops are the same size, use an ice cream scooper or measuring spoons.
• Don't skip the freezing steps because that allows the cake ball to firm up and hold its shape and not fall off the stick when you are covering it in melted chocolate.
• To ensure the nice round shape, gently push the chocolate dipped pops into a block of styrofoam or box with tiny holes.

How to package them?

This is especially important for bake sales, farmers markerts or if you are using them as party favors for weddings and events..........

Recipe FAQs

are pops the same as balls? No....
Do I need to refrigerate before dipping in chocolate? YES! this is very important to prevent the ball from falling apart. Chill until firm and then dip.
Can I use a box cake mix?
Why did my coating crack?
How to decorate them? sprinkles, chopped nuts, sesame seeds, molds to create unique shapes, candies, pretzels........add more

Storage

• Can I make these ahead of time? Yes, you can make them 2 days ahead of time. Keep them in the fridge until you are ready to serve. Same applies for cake balls too.

More fun desserts

• Chocolate Pudding Pots (Dirt Pudding Cups)
• Emoji Cookies (Emoji Oreos)
• Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes (With Cake Mix)
• Easy Galaxy Cookies (Buttercream Frosting)
• Cookie Monster Cupcakes (Sesame Street)

Recipe