Easy Homemade Copycat Starbucks Cake Pops Recipe

This copycat Starbucks cake pops recipe combines soft, dense cake, with a rich, smooth white chocolate coating. Every bite of 'em is just as addicting as the last, and they're so, so easy to make. In fact, just 10 minutes of prep work is all you need to whip these up. Best of all though, these taste spot-on just like the cake pops from Starbucks.

The Best Starbucks Cake Pops Recipe

If you've ever gone to Starbucks just to get your hands on the cake pops, then you know how delicious they are. Honestly, I'd take the Starbucks cake pops over one of their drinks any day of the week. 

Well, with this copycat Starbucks cake pops recipe, you can recreate all of that vanilla cake magic at home! So say goodbye to waiting in that long Starbucks drive-thru line!

Now, I know I'm biased, but I think these cake balls might just be even better than the ones from Starbucks. The cake pops are made with the perfect combination of cake crumbs and powdered sugar to create a moist cake ball that just melts in your mouth. Then, those balls of cake are coated in a super rich white chocolate coating that takes them to a whole different level of deliciousness.

Gah, they're just so, so good!

They're also super easy to make too. The whole process of making these copycat Starbucks cake pops boils down to following just 5 simple steps. And, to make 'em, all you need are a few basic pantry staples.

Honestly, I love making these Starbucks birthday cake pops with the kids as an afterschool sweet treat, as a dessert when I'm hosting a celebration, or even as a party favor. Everyone always compliments me on the look of them, not to mention they always say they taste amazing too.

And for what it's worth, this is my favorite Starbucks copycat recipe, right up there with this Starbucks lemon loaf, Starbucks grilled cheese, and Starbucks overnight oats.

Ingredients

So, as I mentioned, the ingredients needed to make Starbucks cake pops are some pretty simple ones that you probably already have on hand! If not, a quick trip to the store is well worth it.

Anyway, here's what you'll need to make the cake pops:

• 1 Premade Packaged Cake (or cake made from a box)
• 1 ½ cups Powdered Sugar
• ½ cup Unsalted Butter
• ¼ cup Milk
• 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

And for the chocolate coating:

• 1 cup White Chocolate + 1 tsp. Red Food Coloring (or pink candy melts)
• White sprinkles
• 20-24 Cake Pop Sticks

Now, if you're grabbing a boxed cake mix, pick up a chocolate cake mix and Funfetti cake mix too. That way you can make these chocolate M&M cookies and Funfetti cookies next!

Ingredient Substitutions and Suggestions

So, there is a ton of wiggle room when it comes to the ingredient list above. For the cake mixture - that you'll use to create the cake balls - you can use a premade packaged cake from the store, or you can grab some cake mix and bake a cake in advance.

As for the flavor, I like using a classic vanilla cake, but you can use chocolate cake, red velvet cake, Funfetti cake, or really any kind that you want! Everything works great, it just depends on what you're in the mood for!

Then, the same goes for the melted chocolate coating. If you want a fun color like red, blue, or green, then you'll definitely want to use white chocolate and food coloring, or something like pink candy melts candy. But, if you want the coating to have more of a rich chocolatey flavor, then feel free to use milk chocolate or even dark chocolate! 

How To Make Starbucks Cake Pops

As I've mentioned a few times now, these copycat Starbucks cake pops are incredibly easy to make.

With that said though, you will need about two hours for your cake pops to firm up in the fridge before you can frost them. So, just keep that in mind so you can plan accordingly. 

Also, I know I briefly mentioned this earlier, but these homemade cake pops are really fun to make with kids. So you might want to recruit some helpers if you got some.

Anyway, with all that said, let's stop wasting time and jump into how to make cake pops!

Step 1: Create The Cake Mixture

Before we begin, you'll want to make sure that you have a premade cake from the store or an already baked cake from a box of cake mix.

Then, you'll want to grab a large mixing bowl and beat the butter and sugar in it with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. When that's looking good add in the vanilla extract and mix until it's well combined with the butter and sugar.

Now, crumble the baked cake with your hands into the bowl with the rest of the ingredients and mix everything with a rubber spatula until a somewhat dense doughy cake mixture forms.

Step 2: Make The Cake Balls

Now that the cake mixture is good to go, it's time to make the cake balls!

So, to do that you'll want to scoop out about 20 to 24 one-and-a-half tablespoon-sized balls from that doughy mixture. Then, after you scoop 'em out you can roll 'em in your hands to make sure they're smooth.

Now, when they're smooth, you'll want to add all of the cake balls to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Step 3: Refrigerate The Cake Balls

So, at this point you'll want to melt some of the white chocolate chips - or candy melts - (a small amount) in a microwave-safe bowl. Then, after you've got those melted, you'll want to take your cake pop sticks and dip the tips of each one in the melted chocolate.

Next, you'll want to insert all of the sticks into your cake pop balls, put them back on the baking sheet, and refrigerate them for about two hours until they're kind of firm. 

Step 4: Melt The Chocolate

Once the cake pops are stiff, it's time to coat them in chocolate!

Start by adding the rest of the white chocolate - or candy melts - in the bowl you used earlier, and microwave 'em in a few 30-second increments, stirring between each one - or until the chocolate has melted. 

Then, slowly add enough red food coloring - or the food coloring of your choice - and mix until the coloring combines totally into the chocolate.

By the way, if you're using pink melted candy melts instead, then you don't have to worry about adding red food coloring.

Step 5: Coat The Cake Balls 

Now that the melted chocolate is ready to go, you can dip each cake pop in it until it's well coated. Then, when it is, you'll want to immediately sprinkle the sprinkles on top of each pop.

Finally, to finish up, let all the cake pops sit at room temperature for a few minutes until the chocolate hardens. Then, serve these incredible copycat Starbucks cake pops to whoever is around - or maybe just yourself - and enjoy!

How To Store Cake Pops

So, this recipe for Starbucks cake pops will make about 20-24 pops. So there's a good chance you'll have some leftovers if you make 'em.

Luckily storing them is a breeze. To store your leftover cake pops I recommend taking the sticks out and then keeping them in an air-tight container or bag. Then, stored like this, you can keep the leftover cake pops at room temperature for a few days or in the fridge for up to a week.

By the way, if you want to keep these cake pops for even longer you can freeze them. Just store the pops in an airtight container - or freezer-safe bag - separated with parchment paper, so they don't stick to one another. Stored this way they will stay good for about a month.

Wrapping It Up

Well, that's how to make Starbucks cake pops at home in just a few simple and easy steps.

You honestly won't be able to tell the difference between these copycat Starbucks cake pops and the ones you'd get from the coffee shop. Yeah, they're that good! 

And what's great is adults and kids both love these equally. So, no matter what you make these for, these Starbucks cake pops are sure to be a hit!

Anyway, if you give these homemade cake pops a try, leave a comment below and let us know how it went.

By the way, if you love Starbucks, you have to give this mango dragonfruit refresher a try!

More Dessert Recipes

If you're looking for some more quick and easy recipes to curb your sweet tooth we have a ton on the blog to do that with.

Here are some of our favorites:

• Oreo Balls
• Small batch sugar cookies
• Peanut butter balls
• Mape fudge
• Starbucks banana bread recipe
• McDonald's Oreo McFlurry

Also, don't forget to follow us along on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram for more easy dessert recipes just like this one. We post new ones on them every single day.

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