You can make Starbucks Birthday Cake Pops from scratch at a fraction of the price! My cake pop recipe is so easy, and it tastes like Starbucks! My entire family loves this recipe, and I make it in bulk so my grandkids can have a birthday cake pop anytime!
Create a drying station. You can make a stand by poking small holes in a styrofoam block or cardboard box. You can purchase a stand on Amazon. You can also dry the cake pops on the baking sheet.
Step Two: Prepare the Crumbs
Start with a baked cake. Break the cake into scaps using your hands or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.
Add two tablespoons of frosting to the crumbs and mix well until the mixture binds together.
Step Three: Shape the Cake Balls
Take a tablespoon of cake scapes and roll into a golf-sized ball. You can use your hands or a cake pop press. Repeat until all the balls have been formed.
Place the baking sheet with the cake balls in the freezer for 30.
Step Four: Set the Sticks
Melt two tablespoons of candy coating in a microwave-safe bowl. To microwave, lower the power level to 50% and melt it in 20-second bursts. Stir between bursts. Continue to microwave until the candy is 80% melted. It is important to note that the candy can go from melted to burned in seconds!Note: If creating a custom color, melt the entire batch now to ensure color consistency.
Dip the stick into the melted chocolate or coating and insert it into the center of the ball. Place the cake pop on the prepared baking sheet, with the stick straight up.
Repeat for all the cake pops. Refrigerate for one hour.
Step Five: Set the Outside Coating
Melt the remaining coating in a large bowl or container. The goal here is to use a container where you can submerge the cake pop. I recommend using one that is narrow and deep. I like to use a measuring cup that is one or two cups in size.
Remove 2-3 cake pops from the refrigerator at a time. Dip each one into the melted candy coating. Move the cake pop from front to back and side to side, creating an even coat.
Lift the cake pop out of the coating at a 45-degree angle and allow the excess coating to drip off. Gently tap on the edge of the measuring cup or container to remove any excess coating.
Step Six: Add Sprinkles and Dry
While the coating is still wet, scatter the sprinkles on top. I do this over a teacup, so it is less messy.
Place the cake pops upright in the drying station. If you do not have a drying station, lay them flat on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let the coating harden entirely before eating.
Notes
Less is More with Frosting: Use just two tablespoons of frosting per cake. Any more and your cake pops will turn greasy.
Freeze the Cake Balls: Freezing the cake balls helps them hold their shape and stay on the stick while dipping.
Microwave Candy Melts Carefully: Microwave candy melts in 20-second bursts at 50% power, stirring in between, until 80% melted. The heat will finish melting the rest.
Set Up Three Stations: Organize your counter into dipping, sprinkling, and drying stations. Work on one cake pop at a time, or the sprinkles won’t stick.
Refrigerator - Store in the refrigerator for up to seven days.
Freezer -Place cake pops on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until solid for about an hour. Then, transfer them to an airtight container and freeze them for up to four weeks. To thaw, let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.