Starbucks Copycat Birthday Cake Pops Recipe
Recreate the fun and festive Starbucks Copycat Birthday Cake Pops with this easy recipe featuring a moist vanilla cake base blended with creamy vanilla buttercream, shaped into pops, and adorned with sprinkles for a delightful treat perfect for any celebration.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 20 cake pops 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 1 box (13.25 oz) store-bought vanilla cake mix
- ⅓ cup neutral oil (vegetable, avocado, canola, etc.)
- 1 cup milk or water
- 4 large eggs
Vanilla Buttercream
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon milk (add more if needed)
Instructions
- Prepare the Cake Batter: In a large bowl, combine the vanilla cake mix, neutral oil, milk or water, and eggs. Mix thoroughly until the batter is smooth and uniform.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into a greased or lined cake pan and bake according to the instructions on the cake mix box, usually around 25–30 minutes at 350°F (175°C), until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely.
- Make the Vanilla Buttercream: In a separate bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and milk. Mix until smooth and adjust milk quantity to achieve a spreadable consistency.
- Crumble the Cake: Once cooled, crumble the cake into a fine texture using your hands or a food processor.
- Combine Cake and Buttercream: Add a few spoonfuls of the vanilla buttercream to the crumbled cake and mix thoroughly until the mixture holds together easily when formed into balls.
- Shape the Cake Pops: Roll the cake and buttercream mixture into small, evenly sized balls, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter.
- Chill the Cake Pops: Place the shaped cake balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up.
- Decorate: Once firm, insert lollipop sticks into each cake ball and dip them into melted candy melts or chocolate coating. Immediately decorate with sprinkles or colored sugar before the coating hardens.
- Set the Cake Pops: Stand the cake pops upright in a styrofoam block or stand and allow the coating to fully set at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Use a neutral oil to avoid overpowering flavors in the cake.
- Ensure the cake is completely cooled before crumbling to prevent a greasy mixture.
- Adjust the amount of buttercream added to the crumbled cake to achieve the right consistency for shaping.
- For best results, chill the cake pops before dipping.
- Store cake pops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Keywords: Starbucks copycat, birthday cake pops, vanilla cake pops, party dessert, cake balls, festive treats
