From classic chocolate and pastel pink to seasonal favorites like unicorn, peppermint brownie and earth cake, Starbucks cake pops come in an array of flavors for any occasion and taste preference.
Their biggest drawback? The price tag. While they may be worth the occasional splurge, shelling out a couple of bucks for a single bite of cake may seem unreasonable to some.
The good news is that you can make dozens of cake pops at home (along with these other clever copycat Starbucks recipes). The few simple ingredients you’ll need from the baking aisle for a few dozen homemade cake pops will cost less than half a dozen cake pops from your local coffee shop!
This recipe is the perfect weekend baking project for kids or a group of friends. The flavor options are endless (some of our favorite flavor ideas are below), and everyone will have a blast rolling, dipping and decorating to their heart’s content.
Copycat Starbucks Cake Pop Ingredients
- Cake mix of your choice
- Prepared frosting of your choice
- Lollipop sticks
- Dark chocolate, milk chocolate or white/pink candy coating, coarsely chopped
- Optional toppings: Crushed peppermint candies, finely chopped cashews, unsweetened coconut, assorted sprinkles, finely chopped crystallized ginger, crushed gingersnap cookies, melted caramels and coarse sea salt
Directions
Step 1: Bake the cake
Prepare and bake the cake mix in a greased 13×9-inch baking pan according to the package directions. Let cool for five minutes in the pan, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 2: Combine the cake and frosting
Crumble the cake into a large bowl. Add the frosting to the bowl, and use a rubber spatula to evenly distribute the frosting into the crumbled cake.
Step 3: Shape and freeze
Shape the cake mixture into balls about 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Place on baking sheets and insert the cake pop sticks. Freeze for at least two hours or refrigerate for at least three hours, until the cake balls are firm.
Editor’s Tip: Use a cookie scoop to portion and roll the cake mixture into uniform, equal-sized balls. Opt for sticks specifically packaged for cake pops or candy-making. Dip the tip of each stick into melted candy coating before inserting it into the cake ball. The candy coating will harden and act like edible glue to prevent your cake ball from sliding off the stick once it is chilled.
Step 4: Dip, decorate and set
Once the cake balls are firm, melt the candy coating in the microwave according to the package directions. Dip each cake ball in the coating, allowing any excess to drip off.
Then roll, sprinkle or drizzle with toppings of your choice. Insert the cake pops into a foam block or acrylic cake pop stand for easy drying. Let stand until set.
Copycat Starbucks Cake Pop Variations
Our favorite part about this homemade copycat Starbucks cake pops recipe (and the Starbucks secret menu, for that matter) is the limitless potential for creative flavor combinations.
- Try red velvet: Mix a red velvet cake mix and cream cheese frosting to dip in white candy coating. Finish with red sprinkles.
- Refresh with lemon poppy seed: Use a lemon cake mix and vanilla frosting, then dip in white candy coating and add poppy seed sprinkles.
- Mix up mint chocolate: Try a devil’s food cake mix and peppermint frosting mixture dipped in melted dark chocolate and rolled in crushed thin mint cookies or Andes candies.
- Aim for cinnamon roll: Combine a spice cake mix and cream cheese frosting, dip in white candy coating and dust with cinnamon.
- Attempt chocolate raspberry: Use this top-rated raspberry truffle cake pop recipe as a guide.
Can you store copycat Starbucks cake pops?
For the best results, we recommend storing cake pops in the refrigerator or freezer, either wrapped individually in storage wrap or in an airtight container. For all our best storage tips, don’t miss this guide on how to store cake pops.
How long do copycat Starbucks cake pops last?
In the fridge, Starbucks cake pops will last for about one week. In the freezer, you can expect them to stay fresh for several months.
Copycat Starbucks Cake Pop Tips
Can you use homemade cake and frosting instead of store-bought?
Absolutely! Feel free to swap in a favorite homemade cake or frosting recipe if you prefer. Any flavor of cake will work. When it comes to frosting, American buttercream or cream cheese frosting works well for homemade cake pops.
Can you use leftover cake in this recipe?
Certainly. Making cake pops is a great way to use up any cake scraps left after leveling a layer cake (if you haven’t already munched on them).
Why do the cake pop sticks keep falling out?
A few factors can cause the sticks to fall out of your homemade cake pops. First, check your cake mixture’s consistency. Make sure your cake mixture isn’t crumbly, since a dry cake pop mixture will not adhere well to the sticks. If your mixture doesn’t hold its shape easily while shaping into balls, consider adding a few extra tablespoons frosting until the desired consistency is reached.
Also, not chilling your cake pops in the refrigerator or the freezer before dipping them into the candy coating is a common mistake. This step is crucial and helps set the cake balls and bond them to the sticks so they don’t fall out while dipping or decorating.
Finally, cake pop sticks should be inserted roughly halfway into each ball. If you don’t insert them far enough, the sticks will be prone to falling out. Conversely, inserting the sticks too far can also cause cake pops to split in half if you’re not careful. Handle the cake pops with care until you find the sweet spot.
