Birthday Cake Pops That’ll Make You Say “Why Did I Ever Buy These?!”

Okay, so, have you ever had one of those days where you just wanna treat yourself but, like, you don’t wanna leave your house? Same! Honestly, I could live off cake pops. They’re so adorable and delicious! Anyway, ever wondered if you could make those Starbucks birthday cake pops at home? Spoiler alert: YOU CAN! 🎉

Main dish photo — *The finished dish — looks amazing, right?*

Okay, Let’s Talk Ingredients

Let’s go grocery shopping! So, first off, you need a box of vanilla cake mix—doesn’t matter which brand, just grab one. Then, you’ll need some neutral oil (like vegetable or canola, whatever you have). Next is milk—whole, almond, whatever floats your boat! You’ll need four large eggs, and don’t forget the butter—gotta love that soft unsalted butter. Oh, and powdered sugar for the frosting, obviously! A splash of vanilla extract, a pinch of salt (not too much, we ain’t trying to make it salty), and, of course, those cute candy melts. 🎨 And sprinkles! Can’t forget the sprinkles!

So Here’s Why I Make This Constantly

So, let me tell you a little story about the first time I made these. I was having a birthday party for my bestie (she’s obsessed with anything sweet) and thought, “What if I could impress her with some homemade cake pops?” Well, I didn’t just impress her; I ended up being declared the “Cake Pop Queen.” 😂 It was a total mess, though—sprinkles everywhere, chocolate on my hands, and I’m pretty sure I ate more than I actually decorated. But those cake pops? They vanished in minutes! Everyone was asking for the recipe, and I felt like a rockstar in my tiny kitchen.

Another beautiful angle of the dish — *Just as gorgeous from this angle too!*

The One Trick That Changes Everything

Here’s the secret sauce—literally. When you’re mixing the frosting into the crumbled cake, do it while the cake is still warm! It makes everything blend so much better and gives you that moist, dreamy texture. Like, I used to chill the cake first, which was a rookie mistake. Warm cake = way easier to mix.

Don’t Mess This Up (My Top Tips)

Okay, tip time! First, don’t overbake the cake. Seriously, start checking at 18 minutes, because nobody wants dry cake pops. Also, when dipping the pops, tap them gently to get the excess chocolate off. If you overload ’em, they’ll just fall right off the stick, and then you’re left with a sad, naked cake pop. Ugh.

How to Keep Them From Disappearing (Or, How to Store Them)

So, here’s what I do: once they’re all dipped and decorated, I stick those bad boys in the fridge (in a container, please—don’t just leave them out!). They can chill out in there for up to a week. But let’s be real, they’ll probably be gone way before that. Like, they’re that good.

If You Liked This, You’ll Probably Like These Too

If you’re into these cake pops, you might wanna try my chocolate chip cookie dough truffles or the no-bake cheesecake bites! Both are super easy and crazy delicious.

Alright, so are you gonna try making these cake pops, or what? I mean, you totally should! They’re way more fun than just eating a piece of cake. Plus, you’ll impress everyone—trust me! What’s your favorite part of baking? 🍰

Starbucks Copycat Birthday Cake Pops

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Indulge in the sweet joy of homemade Starbucks Copycat Birthday Cake Pops! These delightful treats combine moist vanilla cake with creamy buttercream, all coated in colorful candy melts. Perfect for parties or a fun snack, you’ll love how easy it is to recreate this café favorite right in your kitchen.

Author: XXXXX
Prep Time: 60 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: Approximately 30 servings 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

1 box (13.25 oz) vanilla cake mix
⅓ cup neutral oil (vegetable, avocado, canola)
1 cup milk or water
4 large eggs
¼ cup unsalted butter (softened)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
12 oz pink candy melts
White nonpareils or sprinkles

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325-350℉, as per cake box instructions.
In a large bowl, mix all cake ingredients until combined. Pour into a greased pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean (check 2-4 mins before specified time).
While still hot, crumble the baked cake in a mixing bowl using low speed until fine.
In a small bowl, combine buttercream ingredients and mix until smooth. Fold into crumbled cake until fully incorporated.
Roll mixture into 1¼-inch balls (about 30g each). Chill in the freezer for 15 minutes, then bring to room temperature.
Melt a small amount of pink candy melts; dip lollipop sticks into it and insert halfway into each cake ball. Freeze again for 15 minutes.
Melt remaining candy melts until smooth; dip each cake pop thoroughly and tap off excess.
Quickly decorate with sprinkles before placing upright in foam to dry.