This recipe for Starbucks Copycat Birthday Cake Pops brings the iconic, sweet, and sprinkle-loaded treat right to your kitchen. It features a moist, tender vanilla cake mixed with creamy vanilla frosting, rolled into perfect little balls, and coated in a pretty pink candy shell. Finished with a shower of festive rainbow sprinkles, they taste just like the ones from your favorite coffee shop!
Perfect for birthday parties, celebrations, or just a fun baking project, these cake pops are surprisingly simple to make and always a huge hit. They are a delightful, bite-sized treat that will bring a smile to anyone’s face.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Tastes Just Like Starbucks: All the beloved flavor of the classic coffee shop treat, made fresh at home.
- Fun & Festive: The perfect colorful, bite-sized dessert for birthdays and celebrations.
- Easy to Make: A straightforward recipe that’s great for bakers of all skill levels.
- Perfect for Gifting: They look adorable packaged up in cellophane bags for party favors or gifts.
Ingredients
- 1 box Vanilla or Funfetti Cake Mix (plus ingredients called for on the box: eggs, oil, water)
- 1 (16 oz) container Vanilla Frosting (about 3/4 cup needed)
- 1 lb (16 oz) Pink Candy Melts
- 2 tablespoons Vegetable Shortening or Coconut Oil (optional, for thinning candy melts)
- Rainbow Sprinkles
- Lollipop Sticks (4-6 inches)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Bake the Cake: Prepare and bake the cake mix according to the package directions for a 9×13 inch pan. Let the cake cool completely.
- Crumble the Cake: Once cooled, crumble the entire cake into a large bowl until it resembles fine crumbs. You can use your hands or a food processor for this.
- Mix with Frosting: Add about 3/4 cup of the vanilla frosting to the cake crumbs. Mix with your hands until the mixture is well combined and holds together like dough. (You may not need the entire container of frosting).
- Roll into Balls: Roll the cake mixture into 1.5-inch balls and place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- Chill: Refrigerate the cake balls for at least 1 hour, or freeze for 30 minutes, until firm.
- Melt Candy Coating: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the pink candy melts according to package directions, usually in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth. If the coating seems too thick, stir in the vegetable shortening until smooth.
- Insert Sticks: Dip the tip of a lollipop stick about 1/2 inch into the melted candy coating, then insert it into the center of a chilled cake ball, going about halfway through. Let this set for a minute.
- Dip the Cake Pops: Hold the stick and dip the entire cake ball into the melted pink coating until fully submerged. Gently tap the stick against the side of the bowl to allow excess coating to drip off.
- Decorate and Dry: Before the coating sets, immediately sprinkle the cake pop with rainbow sprinkles. Stick the finished cake pop upright into a styrofoam block or a piece of cardboard with holes poked in it to dry completely. Repeat with all cake balls.
Tips & Variations
- Pro Tip: Don’t add too much frosting to the cake crumbs! The mixture should be moist enough to hold together, but not overly wet or greasy. Start with 1/2 cup and add more only if needed.
- Smooth Coating: If your candy melts are too thick for dipping, stir in a teaspoon of vegetable shortening or coconut oil at a time until it reaches a smoother, thinner consistency.
- Different Flavors: Try using chocolate cake mix and frosting with chocolate candy melts for a chocolate version.
- Prevent Cracking: Ensure your cake balls are chilled but not completely frozen hard. A drastic temperature difference between the cold cake ball and the warm coating can sometimes cause cracking.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How do I store cake pops?
- Once the coating is completely set, store the cake pops upright in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Why are my cake balls falling off the stick?
- Make sure you dip the tip of the stick into the melted candy before inserting it into the cake ball. This acts like glue. Also ensure the cake balls are properly chilled and firm.
- Where can I find candy melts?
- Candy melts are readily available in the baking aisle of most craft stores (like Michaels or Joann) and many large grocery stores.
Serving Suggestions
- These birthday cake pops are perfect for any celebration! Arrange them standing upright in a decorative stand or wrap them individually in small cellophane bags tied with ribbon for adorable party favors or gifts.
Birthday Cake Pop (Starbucks Copycat)
This Starbucks Birthday Cake Pop Copycat Recipe tastes just like the real thing — sweet, soft vanilla cake coated in creamy pink chocolate and topped with sprinkles! The perfect treat for birthdays, holidays, or anytime you want a bite-sized dessert. Easy to make with boxed cake mix and ready for dipping in less than 30 minutes!
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Prepare and bake the vanilla cake according to the package directions. Do not overbake; the cake should be soft and moist.
- While the cake is still warm, transfer it to the bowl of a stand mixer. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and mix on low speed with the paddle attachment until a dough forms that can be easily pressed together.
- Roll portions of dough into 1-inch balls using your hands or a cake pop press. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until firm.
- Melt a small amount of candy melts. Dip one end of each lollipop stick into the melted coating, then insert it halfway into each cake ball. Chill again briefly to set.
- Melt the remaining pink candy melts in a tall, narrow glass or jar. Dip each chilled cake pop into the melted coating, gently tapping to remove excess. Quickly top with white nonpareil sprinkles.
- Place cake pops upright in a foam block or stand to dry completely. Serve as is, or wrap individually for gifting.
Notes
Storage: Store cake pops at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to 1 week. You can also freeze for up to 2 months before dipping.
Pro Tip: Don’t overbake the cake — slightly underdone cake helps the texture stay moist for shaping.
Decoration Ideas: Change up the candy melt colors and sprinkles for different occasions!
Pro Tip: Don’t overbake the cake — slightly underdone cake helps the texture stay moist for shaping.
Decoration Ideas: Change up the candy melt colors and sprinkles for different occasions!
