My cake pops are made completely from-scratch–no box mixes or canned icings here! These are surprisingly easy to make and perfect for parties. Recipe includes a how-to video!
Cake Pops From Scratch
Nearly everyone has made or enjoyed cake pops using a boxed cake mix and icing, but have you ever made them from-scratch? Years ago (before I had the blog), when I first wanted to try out this sweeping internet sensation I was a little frustrated that all of the versions that I could find required store-bought cake mix and icing. It was many years before I finally decided to experiment with a from-scratch version of this popular recipe, and let me just say that it’s been a total game. changer. !
Unlike the semi-homemade version, these 100% homemade cake pops are sweet without being too sweet. They taste like real cake (not chemicals!), and you can easily eat two, three, or four at a time…not that I’ve done that or anything.
My recipe uses one layer of classic yellow cake and just a few tablespoons of buttercream rolled up into fudgy balls. The texture is like a very, very moist cake, similar to a truffle or Oreo ball, and it contrasts so nicely against the smooth, snappy chocolate exterior.
Angie Dudley of Bakerella shared the original cake pops recipe back in 2008 and they took the internet (and Pinterest) by storm. Since then, they’ve only continued to grow in popularity, and for good reason! They’re cute, fun and even though the instructions are a bit lengthy, they’re honestly very easy to make. Plus they’re so much fun to make with kids!
Why try my recipe:
- 100% from-scratch!
- Doubles easily to make a lot of pops (great for parties!).
- Simple–make the cake, crumble it up, add the icing, roll, and dip!
- Can be made in advance or frozen.
- Includes a detailed video + in-process photos so you know exactly how yours should look.
What You Need
I know there are quite a few ingredients up there, so I’ll just point out the important ones:
- Butter. We’ll be using a combination of melted butter and oil in the cake (this adds flavor and moisture) along with softened butter in the frosting. I recommend using unsalted butter for both.
- Cake flour. I find that cake flour works best here, but if you don’t have any on hand, all-purpose flour will work too. You will need less flour if you use all-purpose; instructions for substituting are in the recipe notes below.
- Sour cream. If you’ve been following along, you already know that I’ve been sneaking sour cream into my cakes and cupcakes lately for the best possible flavor and texture. It makes for such a tender crumb and works equally well in these cake pops.
- Melting wafers/almond bark. You can use white chocolate or dark chocolate; I like to use both! Note that you’ll have a bit of leftover chocolate when you’re done; this is necessary so you can dip the pops smoothly (and not ruin them by scraping against the bottom of the glass/bowl). You could also skip the wafers or bark and instead use tempered chocolate or follow my instructions on how to melt chocolate chips in the microwave — just note that you may need to thin the chocolate with a bit of coconut oil or shortening and, if not tempered, you may end up with some white streaks in your chocolate.
- Sprinkles. These are optional, but they look so pretty! You could also decorate your pops with a chocolate drizzle or cake crumbs (more on this below!).
SAM’S TIP: I love to dip my cake pops in chocolate and then immediately roll them through my crushed cake batter crumbs. Doing this adds SUCH a nice texture and added flavor, and it makes them pretty too! The first pop in this post is rolled in those crumbles, if you’re looking for a visual.
Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!
How to Make Cake Pops
There are quite a few steps, but nothing overly complicated or difficult. Let’s break it down step by step.
Make the Cake
- Combine dry ingredients – Whisk together the dry ingredients and sugar in a large bowl, then add the melted butter and oil. Stir until well combined.
- Add wet ingredients – Stir in the sour cream, eggs, and vanilla, then add the milk and stir until smooth.
- Bake – Pour the batter into a greased/floured/lined baking pan and bake at 350F for 32-35 minutes. Use a toothpick to test for doneness.
- Cool completely – Let the cake cool in its pan for 10 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.
Making the Frosting
- Combine butter and sugar – Beat the butter until creamy, then gradually stir in the powdered sugar.
- Add the flavorings – Stir in the vanilla, salt, and just 1 tablespoon of cream until smooth. If needed, add the additional cream.
Rolling the Cake Pops
- Crumble the cake – Once completely cooled, crumble the cake into a large bowl. Don’t overdo it, you’ll break it up further after you add the frosting, so just focus on breaking it into smallish bits.
- Stir in the frosting – Add the frosting and stir with a mixer until the mixture is mostly combined.
- Texture check – Check to make sure the dough clings together when pinched between your fingers.
- Roll into balls – Roll 1.5 tablespoon scoops into smooth balls and place on a wax paper lined baking sheet. Freeze for 30 minutes.
SAM’S TIP: Freeze your cake balls for 30 minutes, then remove them. Freezing too long can cause the chocolate to crack when you add it. Alternatively you can refrigerate the pops for several hours or overnight; just be sure to cover them tightly before refrigerating so they don’t dry out.
How to Assemble and Dip
- Melt the chocolate – Melt your chocolate and remove your cake balls from the freezer. Dip the end of one stick in chocolate.
- Add your stick – Pierce the dipped end of the stick halfway into a cake ball.
- Dip – Dip the cake pop in your melted chocolate (make sure to coat the entire cake ball). Let the excess chocolate drip back into the glass/bowl.
- Let harden – Pierce the stick end of your cake pop into an upside down egg carton. Add sprinkles while the chocolate is still soft.
SAM’S TIP FOR EASY DIPPING: I typically melt my chocolate in a large bowl and then pour it into a more narrow dish (like a 1-cup measuring cup or a drinking glass) to make dipping easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
These can be made up to 10 days in advance if stored in the fridge. If stored at room temperature, they can be made up to 3 days in advance.
No, but they will last longer in the fridge. I actually prefer mine cold out of the fridge because their texture is a bit fudgier when stored this way.
Yes! You can store your pops in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 9 months. To thaw, simply let your pops sit in the fridge overnight.
Feel free to get creative with these! Use a colored candy coating, add different extracts to your frosting, use funky sprinkles, etc.
Enjoy!
Let’s bake together! I’ll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe and video below! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook
Cake Pops
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 ½ cups (168 g) cake flour
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ heaping teaspoon salt
- 6 Tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter melted
- ¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable, canola, or olive oil
- ½ cup (113 g) sour cream
- 1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk room temperature preferred
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup whole milk
Frosting
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups (250 g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 1-2 Tablespoon heavy cream
Assembly
- 15 oz chocolate or white chocolate melting wafers or almond bark or temper 15 oz of chocolate
- Sprinkles for decorating, optional
Recommended Equipment
- Cake pop sticks
- Empty cardboard egg carton
- Skewer
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and lightly grease an 8” or 9” (20 or 23cm) round cake pan with baking spray. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together cake flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well-combined.1 ½ cups (168 g) cake flour, 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar, ¾ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ heaping teaspoon salt
- Add melted butter and oil and use a spoon or spatula to stir until completely combined.6 Tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, ¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable, canola, or olive oil
- Add sour cream, egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract and stir until well-combined.½ cup (113 g) sour cream, 1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add milk and stir until batter is smooth and uniform.¼ cup whole milk
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake on 350F for 32-35 minutes (begin checking at 28 minutes if using 9” pan) or until the top springs back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Allow cake to cool in pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a cooling rack to cool completely. Prepare frosting while cake cools.
Frosting
- Place butter in a mixing bowl and use an electric mixer to beat until creamy.½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter
- With mixer on low-speed, gradually stir in powdered sugar until combined.2 cups (250 g) powdered sugar
- Add vanilla, salt, and 1 tablespoon of cream and stir until well-incorporated and frosting is smooth. If frosting seems stiff and too thick, stir in remaining tablespoon of cream.1 teaspoon vanilla extract, Pinch of salt, 1-2 Tablespoon heavy cream
Assembly
- Use your hands to crumble cooled cake into a large bowl. Don’t mash it, just break it into small pieces.
- Add frosting to the bowl and, using your electric mixer, stir on low-speed until mixture is piecey and mostly combined and will cling together if you pinch it between your fingers. Mixture will not be smooth and it’s better to not overdo this step (see video or photos in blog post if a visual is helpful).
- Scoop dough by level 1 ½ Tablespoon and roll between your palms to make a smooth ball. Place on a wax paper lined baking sheet (don’t let the cake balls touch) and repeat until you have rolled all cake balls. Transfer to freezer and freeze for 30 minutes.
Dipping
- When cake pops are nearly finished chilling, prepare your chocolate by melting according to package directions.15 oz chocolate or white chocolate melting wafers or almond bark
- You’ll need a place for the chocolate on the cake pops to harden: flip two cardboard egg cartons upside down and use a skewer to pierce a hole in the center of each protruding cup. Check that your cake pop stick will fit snugly in the hole.
- Remove cake pops from freezer. Take a cake pop stick and dip the very end in chocolate, then insert this halfway into the cake pop.
- Turn the cake pop upside down and dip in chocolate until entire cake pop is covered. Lift from the cake pop and turn gently to allow the excess chocolate to drip back into the cup, then insert the stick into your egg carton holder. Space the cake pops far enough that they won’t touch and make sure to balance the egg carton (don’t place all on the same side or it will flip!).
- Immediately add sprinkles after dipping each one (the chocolate hardens quickly). Repeat until all cake pops have been dipped. Allow chocolate to harden before removing and enjoying or storing.Sprinkles
Notes
Flour
I recommend cake flour, but all-purpose may be substituted. You would need 1 ⅓ cup (168g).Storing
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the refrigerator for up to 10 days, or in the freezer for several months.Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Susan
I used a left over cake layer from the another recipe for my cake pops. Followed directions but cake was too soft after taking a bite fell off the stick wonder what ingredient would help hold together better?
Lena K.
First of all I want to wish you and your beautiful family Happy and Blessed Easter 🐣🐰🐇. I’m so glad that I got your email and I can’t wait to make them for Easter 🐣 Sunday. And I’ll keep you posted on it.
Sam
Thank you so much, Lena! Happy Easter! 🙂
Mary
I’m so glad I came across this recipe—can’t wait to try it! Then I saw your recipe for raspberry butter cream frosting and thought, that could make for delicious cake pops (with pink icing)! Do you think the flavored icing would be enough, or would the cake also need raspberry flavoring?
Sam
Hi Mary! Honestly, it’s so hard to say without trying it. I think for a bold raspberry flavor you’d probably want to flavor the cake too. 🙂
Trinity
These look delicious! I’m thinking to use a boxed cake mix and bake in a 9×13 pan (I would use your amazing cake recipe which I’ve made dozens of time, but unfortunately, I don’t have the time for 🙁). I just need to know if I would have enough buttercream frosting if I make the one you provided in the recipe using the exact measurements? And no changes would need to be made with the measurements, correct? Thank you!
Sam
Hi Trinity! This recipe is made with half of what your box cake mix will make so you would likely need to double the frosting recipe.
Shiloh
This looks great! Can you use a different flavor of cake, like your carrot cake? And is there a substitute for the heavy cream? Thanks!
Sam
Hi Shiloh! I haven’t tried using a different cake so I can’t say for sure if there would need to be any alterations, but I think the carrot cake could work. You can use milk instead of the heavy cream, but you will likely need a little bit less. 🙂
Correne
I’m so excited to try these cake pops! I do have a question. In your photo of ingredients you show both brown eggs and a white egg. Do you have a preference which egg to use when baking? I have noticed that brown eggs tend to make my cakes a bit lighter in texture. I haven’t tried using them in my cookies yet. Thank you Sam for all your great recipes!!
Sam
Hi Corenne! I hope you love the cake pops! I have found that there really isn’t a difference in the egg color. I use whatever I have on hand, which is why you see 2 different kinds in the ingredient shot. If you watch some of my videos you may even see the green and blue eggs my chickens lay. They all work the same. 🙂
Kim Bailey
I used your recipe to make cake pops from my friends 60th birthday party. As a small at home baker, I have tried so many other recipes and this one is hands down the BEST!! The flavor and texture were delicious!!! Everyone raved about them!! Thank you so much and this will be my ONLY go to recipe going forward💕
Sam
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Kim! 🙂