If there’s one thing my granddaughter Emmy loves, it’s a Starbucks cake pop. She gets so excited when she sees them, especially the pink ones—they're her absolute favorite! Inspired by her love for these sweet treats, I decided to try making them at home. Not only are they adorable, but they’re also surprisingly easy to whip up!

Ingredients For 6 Cake Pops

• 2 cups crumbled yellow or vanilla cake (baked and cooled—use a portion of a box mix or homemade cake!)
• 2 tablespoons vanilla frosting
• 4 oz candy melts (pink for the classic Starbucks look!)
• 6 cake pop sticks
• Pink sanding sugar (optional, but it adds that Starbucks sparkle!)

Directions

1. Crumble the Cake
Start by crumbling about 2 cups of baked and cooled cake into a large bowl. If you’re using a box mix, you can bake the entire cake, then save the rest for future cake pops or other desserts.

2. Mix with Frosting
Add 2 tablespoons of vanilla frosting to the crumbled cake and mix until the texture resembles dough. The mixture should be moist enough to hold its shape when rolled into a ball.

3. Form the Cake Balls
Scoop out portions of the mixture and roll them into 6 evenly sized balls (about 2 inches in diameter). Place them on a parchment-lined plate or tray. Freeze for 20 minutes to firm up.

4. Insert the Sticks
Melt 1 tablespoon of candy melts according to the package instructions. Dip about ½ inch of the end of each stick into the melted candy, then insert it into the center of a cake ball. This helps the stick stay secure. Once all the sticks are in, chill the cake pops in the freezer for another 20 minutes.

5. Coat with Candy Melts
Melt the remaining candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring until smooth. Dip each cake pop into the melted candy, gently tapping off the excess. If you’re feeling fancy, sprinkle some pink sanding sugar on top before the candy sets.

6. Let Them Set
Place the coated cake pops upright (a block of styrofoam works great for this!) and refrigerate for 20 minutes or until the candy coating is completely set.

Why I Love This Recipe

Not only does this recipe let you enjoy the joy of cake pops without committing to a massive batch, but it’s also perfect for customizing. You can save the rest of the cake for later and switch up the colors or sprinkles for special occasions.

And if you’re making these for a little one like Emmy, get them involved! Rolling the cake balls or adding sprinkles is a fun way to make the process even sweeter.

Enjoy these mini Starbucks dupes—they’re as delightful to make as they are to eat! Let me know how yours turn out in the comments below!