My sister is getting married on Saturday and I am making some cake pops for the wedding. I wanted to do a trial run before making the wedding cake pops. The ones for the wedding will have gray and white paper straws with a light green shell on the cake pop. Even though it seems like everyone out there already knows how to make cake pops and cake balls, I’ve had a hard time getting the cake pops to look good so I thought I would share how I did it.
I baked a white cake in a 9×13 inch pan and allowed it to cool completely. Then, I crumbled the entire cake into a large mixing bowl.
I mixed in 3/4 of a container of store bought vanilla frosting. Then, using a metal tablespoon I scooped the mixture pressing it firmly against the side of the bowl and slid it out of the spoon with my thumb.
I rolled the balls between the palms of my hands making sure to press the mixture firmly together. Every so often I had to wash my hands before continuing to make more balls. I put the cake balls on a wax paper covered pan and placed them in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.
Before starting to insert the paper straws, I cut them in half so they wouldn’t be so long. Then, I melted 1/4 cup of white chocolate chips in the microwave. I dipped the end of a paper straw in the melted chocolate and inserted it into the cake ball. Next, I place the cake balls in the freezer for 10 minutes to let the chocolate harden.
While the cake balls were in the freezer, I melted 2 cups of white chocolate chips with 2 tablespoons of shortening in a double boiler. Here is my fancy schmancy double boiler…a glass bowl over a pot of simmering water. No, there isn’t 2 cups of white chocolate chips in the bowl. I took this picture while dipping strawberries but wanted to show how I do it. When using this method, be sure that the water is simmering, not boiling and that it does not touch the bottom of the bowl. Once the white chocolate melted, I removed the bowl from the pot but I left the water simmering so that I could remelt the chocolate as needed.
I removed the cake pops from the freezer and coated them with the white chocolate. I used to think I had to dip the pops into the chocolate but instead I twirled the cake pops into the white chocolate making sure to cover it completely.
Still holding the cake pop horizontally, I allowed the excess white chocolate to drizzle off the cake pop. To speed it up a bit I used a gentle side-to-side shaking motion. I also tried gently tapping the arm that was holding cake pop with the hand from my other arm.
This is what happens if the cake pops are frozen before dipping them. The cake pop expands after being coated and cracks the shell. I had left a few of the cake pops in the freezer while coating the first bunch and I guess I didn’t let them thaw enough before coating them. Three of my cake pop shells cracked. While I still had melted white chocolate, I redipped 2 of the cake pops that I noticed had cracks. The third cracked cake pop escaped my notice.
I am pleased with how they turned out and hope the ones I make for the wedding turn out as well as these ones did. I will be using candy melts and don’t have a lot of experience with them. If I end up having issues, I will make them with white chocolate and drizzle the candy melts on top.
Have you had success making cake pops or cake balls?
Lisa says
Have you ever prepared cake pops with the paper straws in advance and frozen them? If so, do the paper straws get soggy? I wanted to make mine 5 days in advance. Should I just leave them in the fridge? Will they still get soggy there?
Tonia says
Hi Lisa,
You might be okay since the paper straws have a candy coating on them but I’m not sure. So, if you are really worried about it, I would suggest making the cake balls in advance, store them in the fridge and then add the straws and dip them the night before or the day that you need them. Also, it might work to make the cake pops with lollipop sticks and then the day that you need them put a paper straw over the lollipop stick. You could secure the straw by dipping the end in the same color candy coating that you used for the cake pops before slipping it over the lollipop stick. Best of luck and thanks for stopping by!
~Tonia
Sophia says
Do you ever have an issue with the cake going into the hole of the straw?
Tonia says
Yes, a little of the cake goes into the top of the straw but it isn’t an issue.
Brenda says
Where did you buy your paper straws from?
Tonia says
Hi Brenda,
I ordered them on Amazon! 🙂
~Tonia
Brenda says
I don’t suppose you remember what kind/brand? There are so many different ones on Amazon and I hear the word “paper” straw and get nervous it won’t hold the heaviness of a cake pop.
Donna says
TIP: I make these all the time. For better dipping into the chocolate, and getting rid of extra chocolate while dipping, I use an egg separator. Works like a charm.
Tonia says
Great idea! I will have to give that a try. Thanks Donna!
Melissa says
I just stumbled upon your site having seen a recipe link in my FB newsfeed….I’m now addicted and will be sure to put on 10lbs! Great site 🙂
Bonnie says
Is there a difference between Cake Balls & Cake Pops & if so -what is it?
Tonia says
Hi Bonnie,
The only difference is that cake pops are on a stick and cake balls are not. My personal opinion is that cake pops are easier to make because when you are dipping them, you have something to hold onto!
~Tonia
Hailey says
These look so great, I love the straws, so creative! Thank you for all of your helpful tips!
Anne @ Domesblissity says
They look great Tonia. Have a great time at the wedding. I’m sure the cake balls will be perfect.Anne xx
Lyuba @ Will Cook For Smiles says
I don’t know why, I am so afraid of cake balls. It seems so easy. But I just have not braved them yet 🙂 I will soon tho!
thepaintedapron.com says
Thanks so much for the detailed tutorial. I have wanted to try this for a while because it sounded so easy and you have carefully explained the pitfalls! Your results are very professional, I will try this with confidence now!
Rhonda says
Your cake pops look so good…
Holly @ abakershouse.com says
These are so pretty and I liked the step by step. What a nice idea for your sister’s wedding. Enjoy the happy occasion!!
Carrie @ My Favorite Finds says
Mine were a fail last year. I made some for my daughter’s birthday, and they were too much work for a bad result :). I was bummed, but I’ll probably leave them to the professionals next time! Yours look great, though!
2busy says
So cake balls aren’t baked? hmmmm looks like a fun idea!
Tonia L says
The cake balls themselves aren’t baked but in order to make the cake ball batter, you bake a 9×13 inch cake which is then crumbled and mixed with frosting. Does that make sense?