St. Patrick’s Day Cake Pops are the perfect St. Patrick’s Day treat. They are colorful, delicious and easy to make with simple ingredients.

St Patrick's Day Cake Pops in a Styrofoam block.
Want to save this recipe?

This fun to eat cake pops recipe is the perfect treat to serve your kids this St Patrick’s Day. The addition of white sprinkles transforms them into a four-leaf clover for an extra fun touch.

It is such a fun cake recipe and just as easy to make as St. Patrick’s Day Lime Jell-O Poke Cake and St. Patrick’s Day Rice Krispie Treats. We have been making fun and easy treats for years and the kids love it!

I also like to make Guinness Brownies and St. Patrick’s Day Chocolate Covered Oreos. We also make Starbucks Cake Pops Recipe year-round.

Why We Love This Recipe

It’s so easy to turn your favorite cake mix into a festive treat. Just add green food coloring then crumble into pieces. Mix with the frosting to form into balls.

The kids will love to help dip the cake balls into green candy melts for a delicious treat idea.

Ingredients

Ingredients needed - boxed cake mix, green food coloring, cream cheese frosting, cake pop sticks, green candy melts, white heart sprinkles
  • Classic Boxed Cake Mix. I use a white cake mix so it’s easy to use green food coloring, but you can use any flavor you like.
  • Green Gel Food Coloring. Gel food coloring is best as it does not add extra liquid and looks vibrant.
  • Cream Cheese Frosting. You can use store bought or Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe.
  • Cake Pop Sticks or Lollipop Sticks. Find these at your local craft store in the baking section.
  • Green Candy Melts. I like Wilton’s.
  • White Heart Sprinkles. You need these to form the shamrock design on the cake pops.

Get the entire recipe list at the bottom of the page.

Variations

  • Change Candy – You can easily use any candy hearts instead of sprinkles if you prefer to make the shamrock design on the front of the cake pop. You can even add a gold coin to the cake pop.
  • Cake Mix – You can change the cake mix to what you prefer. White cake mix is our favorite as the green food coloring looks the best. Feel free to make the cake from scratch.
  • Melting Chocolate – We used candy melts but you can easily use white chocolate chips and mix with green food coloring.

How to Make Shamrock Cake Pops

Cake baked and cooling in pan.

Step 1. First, prepare the cake batter based on the package instructions with a hand mixer.  Dye the batter a bright green color.  Bake in the oven according to box instructions. Then let the cake cool. Remove the brown outside layer from the cake and throw it away.  Crumble up the remaining cake into a large bowl.

Cake balls on baking sheet.

Step 2. Add the tablespoons frosting to your cake crumbs. Stir everything together until well combined using a spoon. The dough should be firm, or it won’t hold its ball shape. Shape each portion into about 24-36 cake balls (depending on their size) and place on a lined cookie sheet. You can use the palm of your hand or a cookie scoop.

Stick dipped into melted candy.

Step 3. Put the green candy melts in a small microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds until fully melted. Dip the end of the cookie stick into the green melted candy and then place them into the cake balls about halfway through the balls.  Then place in the freezer for 10-15 minutes on a sheet pan.

Cake pops dipped in candy coating.

Step 4. After the cake pops have been in the freezer, dip each cake pop into the melted candy melts or melted chocolate. Tap the stick on the side of the bowl to allow the excess melted candy to drip back into the bowl so it has a smooth finish.

Sprinkles added to each cake pop.

Step 5. Before the candy melts dry, add 3 white sprinkles to each cake pop to form a shape of a clover on the front of the cake pop. These decorations look so festive.

Cake pops ready to enjoy.

Step 6. Continue until all the cake pops have been covered and decorated.  Once all the green cake pops are dry, they are ready to serve and enjoy. 

Pro Tips

  • Cake Pop Stick – Before sticking the stick into the cake pops, dip end of the stick into the melted candy.
  • Melt Candy – Melt candy in intervals until completely melted in a medium bowl.
  • Freeze Cake Pops – After making the cake balls, allow them to freeze for at least 15 minutes. This allows for the cake pop to dip into the chocolate easily.
  • Cake Pops on a sheet – Place the prepared cake pops on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Styrofoam blocks. Insert the cake pops into one of these so they dry upright without messing up the coating.
  • Coating. I like to use candy melts because it is so smooth for dipping. However, you can use white chocolate or milk chocolate if you prefer. When using coating chocolate, you will need to think it. Dipping chocolate is easier when you add vegetable oil or coconut oil.

Storage

Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container. The shelf life is about 1 week if stored properly in the refrigerator.

St Patrick's Day Cake Pops

More St. Patrick’s Day Desserts

Impress the kiddos with this festive dessert. Don’t forget to come back and leave a star rating and comment.

St. Patrick’s Day Cake Pops

5 from 2 votes
St. Patrick's Day Cake Pops are the perfect St. Patrick's Day treat. They are colorful, delicious and easy to make with simple ingredients.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Freeze 10 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 24
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 126

Ingredients

  • 1 box classic cake mix ( and ingredients called for on box to make the cake)
  • Green Gel Food Coloring
  • 3 Tbsp Cream Cheese Frosting I used pre-made
  • 24-36 Cake Pop Sticks or Lollipop Sticks
  • 12 oz Green Candy Melts
  • 36 White Heart Sprinkles
Want to save this?
Just enter your email and I’ll send it right to you, plus great new recipes weekly!

Instructions

  • Prepare the cake batter based on the package instructions.  Dye the batter a bright green color with the food coloring.  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 it 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 green 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 green melted candy and then place them into the cake balls about halfway through the balls.  Then place in the 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 re-melt the candy melt 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.  Before the candy melts dry, add 3 white sprinkles to each cake pop to form a shape of a clover on the front of the cake pop.
  • Continue until all the cake pops have been covered and decorated.  Once all the cake pops are dry, they are ready to serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 1 week. 
You can easily use any candy hearts instead of sprinkles if you prefer  to make the shamrock design on the front of the cake pop. 

Nutrition Facts

Calories 126kcal, Carbohydrates 23g, Protein 1g, Fat 3g, Saturated Fat 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g, Monounsaturated Fat 0.4g, Trans Fat 0.1g, Cholesterol 14mg, Sodium 165mg, Potassium 19mg, Fiber 0.2g, Sugar 14g, Vitamin A 20IU, Calcium 49mg, Iron 0.5mg

Pin This Now to Remember It Later

Pin Recipe

Try these other recipes

Share this recipe!

PinYummly

About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Desserts on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you create delicious desserts on a budget and do not require a ton of time. Together, we are going to make something sweet that the entire family will love!

5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave A Review

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating