Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 Box Vanilla Cake Mix (15.25 ounces)
Wet Ingredients & Frosting
- 1/3 container Vanilla Frosting
Decorations & Coating
- 1 (12 ounce) Bag Pink Candy Melts (Vanilla Flavor)
- White Sugar Pearl Sprinkles, for decorating
Tools
- 15 Lollipop Sticks
- Parchment paper
- Baking sheet
- Microwave-safe bowl
Instructions
- Prepare the Cake: Follow the instructions on the vanilla cake mix box to prepare the cake batter and bake the cake. Allow the cake to cool completely to room temperature before proceeding.
- Make Cake Crumbs: Once cooled, crumble the cake into fine crumbs using your hands or a fork, ensuring there are no large chunks.
- Combine Cake and Frosting: In a large bowl, mix the cake crumbs with the vanilla frosting a little at a time using a rubber spatula. Stir thoroughly until the mixture holds together and is moldable.
- Form Cake Balls: Using a cookie scoop or your hands, roll the mixture into 1-inch bite-sized balls. Place these onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Chill Cake Balls: Put the baking sheet with cake balls into the freezer for 30 minutes to firmly set, or refrigerate for 2 hours if preferred.
- Prepare Candy Melts: About 5 minutes before removing the cake balls, melt the pink candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl according to package instructions, stirring until smooth.
- Insert Sticks: Take the cake balls from the freezer and insert a lollipop stick halfway into each one. Dip the tip of each stick into the melted candy coating before inserting to help it stick securely.
- Coat Cake Pops: Dip each cake pop into the melted candy coating, twisting slightly to ensure they are evenly coated. Let any excess coating drip off.
- Decorate: While the coating is still wet, immediately sprinkle white sugar pearl sprinkles over the cake pops to decorate.
- Set Cake Pops: Place the finished cake pops upright in a cake pop stand or styrofoam block to allow the coating to harden completely. Alternatively, place them back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Repeat: Continue dipping, decorating, and setting the remaining cake pops until all are coated and decorated.
- Serve: Once the coating has fully set, enjoy your homemade Starbucks Birthday Cake Pops!
Notes
- Ensure the cake is completely cooled before crumbling to avoid a soggy mixture.
- Adding frosting gradually helps achieve the right consistency for rolling cake balls.
- If you don’t have a cake pop stand, use a block of styrofoam to hold the sticks upright as the coating sets.
- You can customize the candy melt colors and sprinkles to personalize your cake pops for different occasions.
- Store cake pops in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerated for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes (including baking and chilling time)
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
