Name: Simple Cake Pops
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 150 min
Ingredients: 1 (15.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix (such as Betty Crocker®); 1 cup water; 3 large eggs; 0.5 cup vegetable oil; 1 (16 ounce) container prepared chocolate frosting; 18 lollipop sticks; 1 (14 ounce) bag chocolate candy melts; 1 (.75 ounce) tube decorating icing; 1 tablespoon multicolored candy sprinkles, or as needed

Prep Time:

30 mins

Cook Time:

30 mins

Additional Time:

1 hrs 30 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs 30 mins

Servings:

18

Yield:

18 cake pops

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Think cake pops are a bakery-only treat? Think again! These simple cake pops have a secret, shortcut ingredient: store-bought mix! You'll want to bookmark this top-rated cake pop recipe — you'll come back to it again and again.

two chocolate-coated cake pops with colored sprinkles held outside with green grass in the background — Tammy Lynn

What Are Cake Pops?

A cake pop is a cake ball (baked cake rolled into balls and dipped in candy coating) on a stick to resemble a lollipop. Though cake pops existed before the coffee chain's version, the bite-sized dessert experienced a surge in popularity after Starbucks added them to its menu in 2011.

Cake pops can be served plain, but they are more often coated with colorful sprinkles or embellished with icing.

Cake Pop Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make these easy cake pops:

Prepared Cake Mix
A boxed yellow cake is mixed with water, oil, and eggs and baked according to the package instructions.

Chocolate Frosting
You can use store-bought chocolate frosting or try our top-rated Creamy Chocolate Frosting recipe.

Lollipop Sticks
It wouldn't be a cake pop without a lollipop stick! If you can't find them in the baking aisle of your local grocery store, you can order them online.

Candy Melts
Candy melts serve as the hard, shiny coating of these silky cake pops. Don't try to substitute chocolate chips or wafers — they won't work in the same way.

How to Make Cake Pops

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make these simple cake pops:

Bake a Cake

Beat cake mix, water, oil, and eggs in a bowl. Pour the batter into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish and bake in a 350 degree F oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Crumble, Stir, and Roll

Let the cake cool completely, then crumble it in a large bowl. Stir the frosting into the crumbled cake, cover, and refrigerate until chilled. Use your hands to roll the mixture into evenly sized balls. Place on a baking sheet.

Coat, Stick, and Serve

Melt candy melts in the microwave or in a double boiler. Push a lollipop stick into each ball, then gently dip the balls into the melted chocolate. Decorate if desired. Place upright in a styrofoam block to harden.

How to Gift Cake Pops

Homemade cake pops make a fantastic food gift for everyone on your list. Of course, anyone would be thrilled to receive a regular ol' zip-top bag or storage container filled with cake pops. But you can go the extra mile by wrapping them in decorative cellophane tied with a ribbon, arranging them in a cookie tin filled with colorful shredded paper, or presenting them as a bouquet in a flower pot.

How to Store Cake Pops

Place finished cake pops in an airtight container lined with paper towels. Store in the fridge for up to a week. There's no reason to reheat, as cake pops are served chilled.

Can You Freeze Cake Pops?

Yes! You can freeze cake pops. However, it's best to freeze them uncoated. You can dip the cake balls in the candy melts before you plan to serve them: Arrange the balls on a baking sheet, cover, and freeze for at least three hours or up to overnight. Transfer the now-frozen cake balls to zip-top freezer bags labeled with the date, then lay flat. For added protection, wrap the flattened bags in one layer of foil. Freeze for up to six months.

Thaw in the fridge before coating.

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients

1 (15.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix (such as Betty Crocker®)
1 cup water
3 large eggs
½ cup vegetable oil
1 (16 ounce) container prepared chocolate frosting
18 lollipop sticks
1 (14 ounce) bag chocolate candy melts
1 (.75 ounce) tube decorating icing
1 tablespoon multicolored candy sprinkles, or as needed (Optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Beat cake mix, water, oil, and eggs in a bowl using an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more. Pour batter into the prepared baking dish.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 28 to 33 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely, at least 1 hour.
Crumble cooled cake into a large bowl. Stir frosting into the crumbled cake until mixture is sticky and starts to come together but is not too smooth. Refrigerate until chilled, for at least 30 minutes.
Roll cake mixture into eighteen 1 1/2-inch balls and place on a baking sheet.
Place about 1/4 cup candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high until melted, about 20 seconds.
Push a lollipop stick halfway into each ball of cake mixture. Gently dip balls into the melted chocolate to coat, then place upright in a block of styrofoam. Decorate with candy sprinkles while chocolate coating is wet. Repeat to make remaining cake pops, melting more candy melts as needed.

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Tips

You can use any flavor or brand of frosting or boxed cake mix for these cake pops. If you use a different cake mix, just follow the instructions and ingredient amounts on your package to bake the cake. Ingredients 1 through 4 (above) pertain to the Betty Crocker mix used in this recipe.

After Step 3, you can freeze the cake for up to 2 weeks. When ready to make the cake pops, just thaw the cake fully (3 hours at room temperature or 8 hours in the refrigerator) and continue with Step 4.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

372	Calories
23g	Fat
45g	Carbs
4g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 18
Calories 372
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 23g	29%
Saturated Fat 8g	39%
Cholesterol 32mg	11%
Sodium 216mg	9%
Total Carbohydrate 45g	16%
Dietary Fiber 1g	4%
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 0mg	1%
Calcium 52mg	4%
Iron 2mg	11%
Potassium 214mg	5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.