Disclaimer: Our editors have used AI to create or enhance parts of this article and some images. All content has been fact-checked by our team to ensure accuracy.
Here’s my go-to recipe for birthday cake popsicles, complete with colorful sprinkles, creamy vanilla cake mixture, and a smooth white chocolate coating that hardens perfectly every time.
These popsicles have become my kids’ favorite summer birthday treat, and I always make extra because they disappear so quickly. Plus, they’re way easier to serve at parties than traditional cake – no plates or forks needed!
Why You’ll Love These Birthday Cake Popsicles
- Fun party treat – These popsicles are perfect for birthday celebrations, bringing smiles to kids and adults alike with their festive appearance and sweet cake flavor.
- Make-ahead friendly – You can prepare these treats days before your event and store them in the freezer, making party planning so much easier.
- Basic ingredients – Starting with a box cake mix means you don’t need any fancy ingredients – just grab a few simple items from your local grocery store.
- Customizable design – Switch up the candy melt colors and sprinkles to match any party theme or holiday celebration you’re planning.
What Kind of Candy Melts Should I Use?
While the recipe calls for light pink candy melts, you’ve got plenty of options when it comes to coating your cake popsicles. Candy melts come in dozens of colors and can be found in most craft stores or baking supply shops – they’re basically like chocolate but specially made for easy melting and coating. If you can’t find light pink, you can actually buy white candy melts and add a few drops of oil-based food coloring to create your desired shade. Just make sure you’re using candy melts and not regular chocolate chips, since candy melts are specifically designed to set properly at room temperature and won’t get as messy when you’re eating the popsicles. When working with them, melt them slowly in 30-second intervals in the microwave, stirring between each round to avoid overheating.
Options for Substitutions
Want to switch things up with these fun popsicles? Here are some easy swaps you can try:
- Vanilla cake mix: Any flavor cake mix works great here! Try chocolate, strawberry, or funfetti for different taste variations. You can also use homemade cake – just make sure it’s not too moist as this can make forming the balls tricky.
- Light pink candy melts: Feel free to use any color of candy melts, or try white chocolate chips mixed with food coloring. If using chocolate chips, add 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil to thin the coating and make it easier to dip.
- White sprinkle decorations: The sky’s the limit here! Try colored sprinkles, crushed cookies, chopped nuts, or even shredded coconut. Just make sure to add them quickly before the coating sets.
- Vanilla flavoring: Switch this up with almond extract, butter extract, or any other flavoring that matches your cake choice. Just remember that almond extract is stronger, so start with ¼ teaspoon.
- Lollipop sticks: Cake pop sticks or paper straws can work too. Just avoid wooden popsicle sticks as they’re too wide and might crack your treats.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making
The biggest challenge when making cake popsicles is getting the right consistency in your cake mixture – crumbling your cake too finely can make it difficult to form stable balls, while chunks that are too large won’t hold together well.
Temperature control is crucial when working with candy melts – overheating them can lead to thick, lumpy coating that won’t give you that smooth finish, so heat them in 30-second intervals, stirring between each round.
A common mistake is rushing to dip the pops before they’re properly chilled – make sure your cake balls are thoroughly frozen (at least 2 hours) before dipping them in the melted candy coating, otherwise they might fall off the sticks.
To prevent cracking, let your dipped popsicles come to room temperature naturally rather than placing them in the refrigerator, and always insert the sticks about halfway into the cake balls for the most secure hold.
What to Serve With Birthday Cake Popsicles?
These sweet birthday cake popsicles are perfect for parties and go great with other fun party snacks and treats! I like to serve them alongside a bowl of fresh berries or fruit to balance out the sweetness – strawberries and raspberries work especially well with the vanilla and pink candy coating. Since these are already pretty rich, keep the accompaniments simple with some cold milk or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you’re going all out. For a complete party spread, arrange them on a dessert table with some salty snacks like pretzels or potato chips to give guests options between sweet and savory bites.
Storage Instructions
Keep Cool: These birthday cake popsicles need to stay cold to maintain their shape. Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge, where they’ll stay fresh for up to 5 days. I like to place a piece of wax paper between layers to prevent them from sticking together.
Freeze: Want to make these treats last longer? Pop them in the freezer! Place them in a freezer-safe container with wax paper between layers, and they’ll keep for up to 2 months. They’re actually really good eaten straight from the freezer on a hot day!
Make Ahead: These popsicles are perfect for making ahead of time for parties. You can prepare them up to a week before your event – just keep them in the freezer until about 30 minutes before serving. The candy coating helps them hold up really well!
| Preparation Time | 20-30 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 25-40 minutes |
| Total Time | 45-70 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Medium |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 1800-2200
- Protein: 10-15 g
- Fat: 50-70 g
- Carbohydrates: 300-350 g
Ingredients
- 1 box of vanilla cake mix (along with its additional required ingredients)
- 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
- 12 oz light pink candy melts
- White sprinkle decorations
- 24 lollipop sticks
Step 1: Prepare the Cake Mixture
Begin by preparing and baking the cake mix according to the boxed directions.
Be careful not to overcook the cake, as this can make it difficult to form into balls later.
Once baked, immediately transfer the hot cake to the bowl of a stand mixer.
Step 2: Form the Cake Dough
While the cake is still warm, add in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract.
Using the paddle attachment on the stand mixer, mix on low speed until the mixture forms a dough that can easily be pressed together into a ball.
Step 3: Shape and Chill the Cake Balls
Portion out the dough and press each portion into a ball shape in the palm of your hands or with a cake pop press.
Place these cake balls onto a cookie sheet and put them into the freezer to chill and firm up.
Step 4: Prepare the Candy Coating and Insert Sticks
Melt the colormelts according to package instructions.
Once melted, remove the cake balls from the freezer.
Dip each lollipop stick into the melted candy coating and press the stick into the center of each cake ball.
This helps secure the stick so the cake pop won’t fall off later.
Place the cake balls back in the fridge or freezer to allow the sticks and candy coating to set quickly.
Step 5: Coat and Decorate the Cake Pops
Once the candy coating on the sticks is set, pour the remaining melted colormelt into a tall, skinny jar or glass.
Dip each chilled cake pop, one by one, into the melted candy coating, ensuring it is fully covered.
Gently shake the cake pop to remove any excess chocolate.
Stand the cake pops upright using a cardboard box or foam block to allow the coating to set, and optionally add sprinkles for decoration.
Step 6: Set and Serve
Allow the candy coating to fully set while the cake pops remain upright.
Once set, you can serve them immediately or package them individually in treat bags with ribbons for a special touch.
Enjoy your cake pops!
Store them at room temperature for up to 3 days.