why make this recipe

Starbucks Copycat Birthday Cake Pops bring the joy of a celebratory treat right to your kitchen. These delightful bites are perfect for parties, special occasions, or simply when you crave something sweet. With their rich cake inside, creamy frosting, and colorful candy coating, they are not only fun to make but also a feast for the eyes. Plus, they’re easy to customize with your favorite sprinkles or toppings, ensuring everyone finds a flavor they love.

how to make Starbucks Copycat Birthday Cake Pops

Ingredients:

1- 13.25 oz any store-bought box of vanilla cake mix
⅓ cup neutral oil (vegetable, avocado, canola, etc.)
1 cup milk or water
4 large eggs
¼ cup unsalted butter (softened)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch salt
1 tsp milk (add more if needed)
12 oz candy melts
white nonpareils or sprinkles

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 325-350℉ (162-175℃). Check the cake box instructions to get the right temperature based on your baking pan size.
In a large bowl, mix all cake ingredients. Pour the batter into a greased or lined pan and place it into the oven. Check the cake by inserting a toothpick into the center, 2-4 minutes before the timer goes off. Make sure it comes out clean but do not overbake.
Once baked, transfer the hot cake immediately into a large mixing bowl. Crumble the cake on low speed using a paddle attachment until no large crumbs remain. Alternatively, you can use a handheld mixer or crumble the cake by hand if it’s slightly cooled.
For the buttercream, combine the powdered sugar, softened butter, vanilla extract, pinch of salt, and milk in a small bowl. Stir well until smooth. It’s fine if there are small lumps. Add this buttercream to the crumbled cake and mix until well blended.
Roll the cake mixture into balls about 1¼-inch (3cm) in diameter, weighing around 30g each. Place the cake pops in the freezer for 15 minutes, then let them sit at room temperature for 10 minutes while you melt the candy melts.
Melt a small portion of pink candy melts in the microwave according to the package instructions. Heat in 15-30 second increments and stir until the mixture is smooth. Dip the tip of a lollipop stick into the melted candy and insert it halfway into each cake ball. Repeat for all cake balls, and chill them in the freezer again for 15 minutes.
After freezing, let the cake pops sit at room temperature for 10 minutes. Melt the remaining candy melts until they reach your desired thin consistency. Dip each cake pop into the melted candy until it’s completely submerged up to the stick to help keep it from falling off.
Hold the stick with one hand and tap the cake pop gently with your other hand to let any excess candy melt drip off. Ensure it has an even coating and avoid dunking it again to prevent extra weight.
Quickly decorate the wet pops with sprinkles or nonpareils. Place them in a styrofoam block to keep them upright until the candy coating sets. Repeat the process until all cake pops are dipped and decorated.

how to serve Starbucks Copycat Birthday Cake Pops

These cake pops are great for serving at parties, school events, or simply enjoying at home. You can serve them on a beautiful platter for special occasions or stick them inside a jar for a fun display. They make excellent bite-sized treats that everyone will love!

how to store Starbucks Copycat Birthday Cake Pops

Store your cake pops in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If you live in a warm climate, keep them in the refrigerator to maintain their freshness. If you want to freeze them for a longer period, place them in a freezer-safe container. They can last up to two months in the freezer; just thaw them in the fridge before serving.

tips to make Starbucks Copycat Birthday Cake Pops

Ensure the cake is fully cooled before crumbling, as this helps blend the buttercream smoothly.
Don’t skip the chilling steps, as they help the cake pops keep their shape during dipping.
Experiment with different colors of candy melts and toppings to suit the occasion or personal taste.

variation

You can switch up the flavor of the cake mix to chocolate, red velvet, or any other favorite flavor. For added variety, consider adding mix-ins like chocolate chips or nuts to the cake batter, or create different frosting flavors to give your cake pops a unique twist.

FAQs

1. Can I use homemade cake instead of cake mix?
Yes, you can use a homemade cake, just make sure to follow the same crumbling and mixing steps.

2. Can I make these in advance?
Absolutely! These cake pops can be made a few days in advance and stored properly until you’re ready to serve.

3. How do I prevent the candy melt from cracking?
Make sure your cake pops are at room temperature before dipping. Applying a thin layer of melted candy melts can also help prevent cracking.

Starbucks Copycat Birthday Cake Pops