Pink Vanilla Cake Pops
I love Starbucks cake pops, so I recently made it my mission to recreate these sweet treats at home! They’re pretty, they’re pink, they’re a huge hit with my little girl, and I hope that you’ll love them just as much as I do. We’re using boxed cake mix and ready-made frosting here to keep things super simple and easy, so they’re a fun project to try with kids at the weekend, and they’re perfect served with a hot cup of coffee when you’re craving something a little indulgent but you can’t head out to your local coffee shop.
Why You’ll Love These Pink Vanilla Cake Pops
- They’re just so easy! Even if you’ve never baked a cake before in your life, I promise that you can make these. Boxed cake mix is a hack that I often use when I don’t have the time or energy to think about making a cake from scratch, and no one will ever know unless you tell them! Of course, if you have a favorite cake recipe that you want to use as the base, that’s totally fine too
- They look super cute and impressive. I love them as a casual weekend treat, but they’re also a great choice for birthday parties, gender reveal parties (use blue candy melts instead if you like!), and any celebration when you want a fun dessert option
- No special equipment is required. You don’t need a cake pop maker for this recipe! Just some sticks and your ingredients
Ingredients
- Box of classic cake mix, plus additional ingredients as directed on the packaging – this will typically be eggs, oil, and water, depending on the brand you choose!
- Vanilla frostingÂ
- Pink candy melts
- White sprinkles
Step-by-Step Instructions
Please note: You’ll find a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post, complete with ingredients, measurements, and your detailed instructions! I’ve also included this breakdown of the steps for reference, with pictures to help guide you through the process.Â
- Prepare the Cake: Bake the cake, according to the instructions on the box. Allow to cool completely.
- Make the Cake Pops: Once the cake is completely cooled, crumble it into fine crumbs using your hands or a food processor. Add the vanilla frosting to the cake crumbs and mix until the mixture is well combined and holds together when pressed.
- Shape the Cake Pops: Using your hands, scoop out small portions of the cake mixture and roll them into balls. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze the cake balls for about 15-20 minutes, or until they are firm.
- Coat the Cake Pops: Melt the pink candy melts according to the package instructions, either in a microwave or using a double boiler. Dip the tip of a cake pop stick into the melted candy, then insert it into a cake ball (about halfway through). This helps secure the stick in the cake ball. Dip the entire cake ball into the melted candy, turning it to coat evenly. Allow any excess coating to drip off.
- Decorate and Set: While the coating is still wet, sprinkle the white sprinkles over the top for decoration.
Ideas for Variations & Substitutes
You can very easily take the basics of this recipe and adapt it according to your tastes!
Instead of a classic cake mixture, you could use chocolate, lemon, strawberry, or red velvet.
You can also substitute the candy melts for any color or flavor that you choose, and change up the colors of the sprinkles or replace them with chocolate shavings.
Pink Vanilla Cake Pops
Ingredients
- 1 box classic cake mix (plus additional ingredients as directed on the box)
- 1/4 cup vanilla frosting
- 12 oz pink candy melts
- White sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare the cake according to box instructions, and allow to cool completely after baking.
- Make the Cake Pops: Once the cake is completely cooled, crumble it into fine crumbs using your hands or a food processor. Add the vanilla frosting to the cake crumbs and mix until the mixture is well combined and holds together when pressed.
- Shape the Cake Pops: Using your hands, scoop out small portions of the cake mixture and roll them into balls. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze the cake balls for about 15-20 minutes, or until they are firm.
- Coat the Cake Pops: Melt the pink candy melts according to the package instructions, either in a microwave or using a double boiler. Dip the tip of a cake pop stick into the melted candy, then insert it into a cake ball (about halfway through). This helps secure the stick in the cake ball. Dip the entire cake ball into the melted candy, turning it to coat evenly. Allow any excess coating to drip off.
- Decorate and Set: While the coating is still wet, sprinkle the white sprinkles over the top for decoration. Place the cake pop upright in a styrofoam block or cake pop stand to set. Repeat with the remaining cake balls. Allow the cake pops to set completely at room temperature or in the fridge.
- Once set, the cake pops are ready to be enjoyed! Store any leftovers in an airtight container.
