These copycat Starbucks Cake Pops taste just like the pink birthday cake pops at the coffee shop, with moist vanilla cake, creamy frosting, pink candy coating, and white sprinkles. One box of cake mix makes about 24 cake pops for just $8.43 total, or $0.35 each, making them a fun and budget-friendly treat for birthday parties and celebrations.
My kids have always loved helping in the kitchen, and cake pops are one of those treats where everyone can join in. Rolling the cake balls and adding the sprinkles makes it a fun activity, especially when we’re getting ready for a celebration.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
- Perfect for birthday parties. Cake pops make a great treat or party favor.
- Tastes like the real thing. Vanilla cake, vanilla frosting, and pink coating — the same combo as the Starbucks birthday cake pop.
- About 24 pops for the price of a few. One cake mix makes a whole batch (see the cost breakdown below).
After 14 years of developing recipes, I’ve learned that the texture of cake pops makes all the difference. Using just enough frosting to bind the crumbs keeps the centers soft without making them mushy, and chilling before dipping helps them stay securely on the sticks.
The kids also like Starbucks Lemon Cake Pops Recipe, Starbucks Marshmallow Dream Bar and Starbucks Lemon Loaf Recipe.
Homemade vs. Starbucks: What You Save
Here’s what one batch of 24 cake pops costs at my grocery store:
- Cake mix (plus eggs and oil): $2.02
- Vanilla frosting (you only use 3 tablespoons): $0.33
- Pink candy melts: $4.97
- Lollipop sticks and sprinkles: $1.11
- Total: about $8.43, or 35 cents per cake pop.
At about $3.25 each at Starbucks, 24 cake pops would cost $78.00, so making them at home saves about $69.57 for a birthday party.
Ingredients
- Vanilla or white cake mix: This gives you the classic Starbucks birthday cake pop flavor. Plus, the eggs, oil, and water on the box. (Try Homemade Cake Mix.)
- Vanilla Frosting. I used store bought frosting but homemade frosting is great too.
- Pink Candy Melts. Candy melts are easier to melt, and they have a smooth appearance.
- White Sprinkles. White nonpareils will resemble Starbucks the closest.
How to Make Starbucks Cake Pops
Step 1. First, make the cake mix following the box instructions in a large mixing bowl.
Step 2. Pour the batter into a greased 9×13 pan and bake according to the box.
Step 3. After you remove from the oven, let it cool until it is room temperature. Then remove from the pan. Trim off the browned outer edges (they’re drier and make the pops crumbly) and save them for snacking.
Step 4. Then crumble the cake into a large bowl.
Step 5. Next, add the frosting to the crumbled cake. Stir everything together in the mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on low speed. The mixture should hold together like play dough when you squeeze it. Add frosting a little at a time. Too much makes the pops heavy, and they’ll slide off the sticks
Step 6. Finally, take the cake mixture and roll into 1-inch balls, about 1 tablespoon each.
Step 7. Next, place each cake ball on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 8. You will need a small microwave-safe bowl to put the pink candy melts in. Microwave in intervals until it is completely melted.
Step 9. Dip each cake pop stick into the melted candy. Then place them into the cake balls about halfway through the balls. Don’t skip dipping the stick first. The candy acts like glue. Finally, place in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 10. Remove the cake pops from the freezer and dip into the melted candy melts.
Step 11. As you dip the cake pops, make sure that the candy covers the entire cake pop. Dip straight down and lift straight up, then gently tap the stick on the edge of the cup and slowly turn it so the extra coating drips off and the shell stays smooth. Put the vanilla cake pops in a block of Styrofoam block or cake pop stand.
Step 12. Also, add the sprinkles right away before the candy dries. After they dry, you can serve or place in cellophane if doing so.
Pro Tips
- Crumble the cake really fine. You don’t want any large chunks. The finer it is the smoother it will be to mix the cake crumbs with the icing.
- Cookie Scoop. I used a cookie scoop to ensure that each one is approximately the same size. This saves a bunch of time making the balls and really helps them to be uniform.
- Discard outer layer. Don’t forget to toss the outer layer of the cake before making the cake balls. It is usually dry and will make the cake balls crumble.
- Dip into candy coating. Try not to swirl the cake pop in the chocolate. For best results, dip straight down into the candy melts. You can pour the melted candy into a tall glass to make holding the cake pop down easier to do.
- Add sprinkles right away. They will not stick if you don’t put them on right away.
- Don’t freeze too long. Do not keep the cake pops in the freezer longer than 15 minutes or you will have trouble with the coating. Super cold cake balls make the warm coating set before you can add sprinkles, and the temperature change can crack the shell as the pops warm up.
Variations
Coating. You can use white almond bark or white chocolate instead of the candy melts for the outside coating if you prefer. Use food coloring to dye it pink prior to dipping the cake pops in the mixture. If using melted chocolate, you will need to add shortening or vegetable oil or coconut oil to the mixture. Chocolate fans might like chocolate candy melts.
Cake flavors: chocolate cake mix, strawberry, red velvet cake and lemon. I have even made red velvet cake pops with this recipe or Brownie Cake Pops.
Frosting; chocolate, Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting, strawberry and more. Just use what you love.
Sprinkles- holiday sprinkles, birthday and more. We love to make these for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, birthdays and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are best stored at room temperature inside an airtight container. They will keep up to 5 days at room temperature.
You can store them in the fridge up to a week. Just make sure to individually wrap each cake pop in plastic wrap. Then place inside an airtight container.
If you live in a hot climate or it is just very warm in your house, I would recommend refrigerating the cake pops. Too much heat will cause the cake pops to melt and lose their pretty appearance.
Yes you can freeze cake pops! Learn how to Freeze Cake Pops so you can have these Starbucks cake pops anytime you want!
Around $3 to $4 each depending on your location, so a dozen for a party adds up fast.
About 24 one-inch cake pops, or up to 36 if you roll them smaller.
Cracks usually mean the cake balls were too cold. Let them sit a few minutes after the freezer. Pops fall off when there’s too much frosting in the cake mixture or the stick wasn’t dipped in candy first. Skip the sticks and make Vanilla Cake Balls.
More Copycat Dessert Recipes
I’m so excited for you to try this new Starbucks Copycats recipe. Please come back and leave a comment once you make them.
Starbucks Cake Pops
Ingredients
- 1 box vanilla or white cake mix
- 3 Tbsp Vanilla Frosting I used pre-made
- 24-36 Cake Pop Sticks or Lollipop Sticks
- 12 oz Pink Candy Melts
- White Sprinkles
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Make cake and bake according to box instructions. Then let the cake cool at room temperature.
- Remove the cake from the pan. Remove the brown outside layer from the cake and throw away. Crumble up the remaining cake into a large bowl.
- Add the frosting to your crumbled cake and stir everything together until well combined.
- Shape mixture into about 24-36 cake balls (depending on their size) and place on a lined cookie sheet. I used a cookie scoop to ensure that each one is approximately the same size.
- Put the pink candy melts in a small microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds, then stir. Then continue to heat in 30 second intervals stirring between each one until the candy melts are fully melted and creamy.
- Dip each cake pop stick into the pink melted candy and then place them into the cake balls about halfway through the balls. Then place in freezer for 10-15 minutes.
- After the cake pops have been in the freezer. Dip each cake pop into the melted candy melts (you may need to remelt if it has solidified some). Make sure that the candy covers the cake pop completely. Allow the excess melted candy to drip off back into the bowl.
- Then place the stick of cake pops in a block of styrofoam while the candy dries and solidifies. Add the sprinkles immediately before the candy dries.
- Continue until all the cake pops have been covered. Once all the cake pops are dry, they are ready to serve and enjoy!
I am looking forward to trying these for St Pats Day. But throw the cut cake away??? oh my NO 😉
Hahahaha! You can definitely save it Angela! I hope you enjoy these cake pops!