Cake Pops — Ad-Free Recipe, Ingredients First

Cake pops are baked cake crushed and bound with just enough frosting to hold a ball, so do not add so much that they turn greasy. Chill the balls firm before dipping and let the melted chocolate cool slightly, or a hot coating cracks off the cold cake.

Vegetarian

Contains dairy · eggs · gluten

Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy, and a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.

Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free flour blend (check the other labels too).

The Ingredients — and where to get them

Cook for 24 pops

Flour

Builds the cake you crumble; any tender vanilla or chocolate cake works.

1 1/2 cups

Source it →

Sugar

Sweetens the cake base.

1 cup

Source it →

Butter

For the cake and the small amount of frosting that binds the crumbs.

3/4 cup

Source it →

Eggs

Two eggs bind the cake batter.

2 eggs

Source it →

Chocolate

Melted as the dipping coating; candy melts also work.

12 oz

Source it →

Vanilla extract

Flavors the cake and the binding frosting.

2 tsp

Source it →

Powdered sugar

Beaten with a little butter into the small amount of frosting that binds the crumbs.

1 cup

Local / market

The Rundown

Greedometer ●●●●● A fair little treat

A reasonable little indulgence.

EffortSome doing

Cook it with

Air fryerSheet pan

The Method

Bake the cakeBake a simple vanilla cake at 350F for 22-25 min until a skewer comes out clean, then cool fully.
Crumble and bindCrush the cake to fine crumbs and mix in just 2-3 tbsp frosting until it holds together when pressed.
Roll and chillRoll into 1-inch balls and chill 1 hour until firm so they keep their shape when dipped.
DipMelt the chocolate, dip a stick tip in and push it into each ball, then dip the whole ball and let the excess drip off.
SetStand the pops upright in a block of foam and let the coating set at room temperature.

The Toolkit

Baking pan · Lollipop sticks · Foam block · Melting pot · Cookie scoop · Mixing bowls

Straight Answers

Can you make Cake Pops in an air fryer? — Yes

Yes — bake it in a small pan or dish that fits the basket, at about 25°F below the recipe temperature. Air fryers run hot and fast, so check it early; no flipping needed.

Can you freeze Cake Pops? — Yes

Yes — freeze it well-wrapped, then reheat or toast straight from frozen. Frost or glaze after thawing.

Can you make Cake Pops ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — bake it a day or two ahead; it keeps well-wrapped at room temperature and freezes cleanly. Add any frosting or glaze close to serving.

Is Cake Pops gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free flour blend (check the other labels too).

Is Cake Pops vegan? — Vegetarian, not vegan

It’s vegetarian but not vegan as written — it has dairy and egg. Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy, and a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.

Community Notes

Cooked it? Changed something that worked? Leave a note for the next person — first-name basis, no account.

Loading notes…

More American recipes

Glazed Donuts Cinnamon Sugar Donuts Corned Beef Hash Denver Omelet Eggs Florentine Bagel with Lox

All American recipes → · Browse all 1433 →

Some ingredient and tool links are affiliate links — if you buy through one, 5best2buy may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never costs the maker anything, and it never decides who we recommend. The list is the list.
© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.526

Cake Pops, and where to source it