Vanilla cake pops are the perfect bite-sized treat, soft, sweet, and endlessly customizable. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, throwing a baby shower, or just want something fun to make with kids, cake pops are a guaranteed hit.
At their core, cake pops are a clever way to repurpose cake into a portable dessert. You start by baking a simple vanilla cake, homemade or from a box, both work fine. Once cooled, crumble the cake into fine crumbs and mix it with a bit of vanilla frosting. The goal is a dough-like texture that holds together when pressed but isn’t overly wet.
Next, shape the mixture into small balls. A cookie scoop works great for even sizing. Chill them in the fridge or freezer for a bit so they firm up and hold their shape when dipped.
The candy coating is what makes cake pops visually irresistible. Melted candy melts or almond bark are ideal, and you can add a touch of vegetable oil to thin the mixture if needed. Dip the tip of each stick into the coating before inserting it into the cake ball, this helps anchor the stick. Then dip the entire pop into the coating, gently tap off the excess, and decorate while the coating is still wet.
Sprinkles, colored sugar, crushed cookies, or a drizzle of contrasting chocolate all work beautifully. Once decorated, stand them up in a foam block or cake pop stand to dry completely.
Cake pops are not only cute but also easy to make ahead. Store them in the fridge for several days or freeze them for longer. They’re perfect for wrapping up as party favors or arranging in a bouquet-like display for a dessert table.
These vanilla cake pops are a blank canvas for creativity. Add a few drops of food coloring to the coating to match your party theme or use festive decorations to match the season. However you serve them, they’re sure to bring smiles with every bite

Ingredients
- 1 box vanilla cake mix
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Sprinkles or decorations of your choice
Instructions
- Prepare the vanilla cake mix according to the directions on the box.
- Allow the cake to cool completely.
- Crumble the cooled cake into fine crumbs in a large bowl.
- Add the softened butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla extract to the cake crumbs and mix well.
- Form the mixture into small balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to firm up the cake pops.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Dip each cake pop into the glaze, allowing any excess to drip off.
- Decorate the cake pops with sprinkles or other decorations of your choice.
- Place the decorated cake pops back on the baking sheet and allow the glaze to set.
- Serve and enjoy!
Delicious but I used chocolate cake mix instead. I think it worked better! Just saying. 😜
Chocolate cake mix, huh? That’s interesting! I never thought of that. Might give it a try next time! 🍫
Not sure if chocolate would be better, but if it works for you, then that’s cool! Can’t be too chocolatey, right? 🤷♂️
I tried making these but ended up with a mess. The glaze didn’t set right and they just fell apart. Not sure what I did wrong.
I don’t know about these. The mix needs more flavor. Maybe try adding chocolate next time?
Love this recipe! Can’t believe how cute they turned out. Perfect for my daughter’s birthday!
These cake pops are super cute! I made them for my daughter’s birthday, and they were a hit! 5 stars!
Idk about this. Can’t believe people actually eat these. 😂
These cake pops are a hit at every party! So delicious!
I totally agree! These cake pops are always a crowd-pleaser. I made them for my kid’s birthday, and they disappeared in seconds!
They look good, but I don’t know if they are really that amazing. Maybe it’s just the sprinkles that make them look nice?
WAY TOO SWEET!!! My kids loved them but I couldn’t even finish one.
Delicious! I made these for a party and they were a hit! Will definitely make again.
Cake pop recipe? 🥳 What’s cake pops? Just cake on a stick?
OMG these are the best! I added chocolate sprinkles. Love it!
Chocolate sprinkles sound yummy! Can’t wait to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Yummy! My coworkers loved them and they make me happy 🙂 just be sure to let ‘em cool well before dipping!
My cake pops fell apart when I dipped them. Frustrating!
too sweet for me, I guess. Maybe less powdered sugar next time? Can’t be perfect for everyone I suppose.
I think it’s good to adjust the sweetness to your liking! You can totally use less sugar next time, or even try a different glaze. Gotta make it suit your taste!
Yummy! I just love the vanilla flavor, especially with the sweet glaze. Good stuff!
These cake pops are heavenly! I made them for my daughter’s birthday party and they disappeared in seconds. Highly recommend! 🍰
Cake pops? Sounds a bit too sweet for me. How can you mix butter, eggs, and cake mix? Seems tricky.
I’m so glad they turned out great for your daughter’s party! 🎉 Cake pops are such a fun treat! What kind of sprinkles did you use?
Yum! I added chocolate sprinkles instead. Turned out great!
Very yummy! My kids loved them. Easy to make!
What are you supposed to do with the extra 1/4 cup milk? Lost me there.
The extra 1/4 cup milk is for the glaze! Just mix it with the powdered sugar and vanilla in step 7.
Why does everyone love these? Never tried cake pops and not sure if I should. Are they worth it?
Glazed?! U mean covered in the frosting? LOL 😂
Yeah, that’s what they mean! Glazed or frosted, it’s all good 😋
I don’t know what went wrong, but mine came out super dry. Did I mix it too much?
It sounds like you might have over-mixed the batter or baked it too long, which can definitely lead to dryness. Make sure to follow the instructions closely next time! Good luck!
Simple and quick. I added chocolate sprinkles instead of normal ones. Yum!
Chocolate sprinkles? That sounds like a fun twist! Can’t wait to try that myself!
Quick is good, but are they really that tasty with choc sprinkles? I prefer the original ones.
Super easy recipe! My kids loved helping me decorate them. Will make again! 😊
Yum! So easy to make! I added some coconut flakes and it was divine! 😍
I didn’t have butter, so I used margarine, it still worked! Great recipe.
Quick and tasty! I used store-bought frosting instead of making the glaze, and it worked great. Will definitely make again!
I don’t understand the hype about cake pops. They’re just cakes on sticks! 🤔
These are fun to make! I put some extra sprinkles on top. My mom loved them! 😍
I dunno, my cake pops never turn out right. 🤔
That’s awesome! Extra sprinkles make everything better! 🌈
Mine turned out too dry. Did I bake them too long? I followed the recipe but something was off.
These were a hit at my party! Super easy and delicious. Thanks for sharing!
I tried this recipe but mine turned out too dry. Not sure what I did wrong.
Eh… they’re okay, not great though. I’ve had better cake pops.
These cake pops are amazing! So easy to make and everyone loved them!
Cake pops, eh? I don’t see the point. Just bake a cake. Seems like a lot of work.
I get your point, but cake pops are just so cute! They’re fun for parties and way easier to serve than slices of cake. Give it a try, you might like it!
Can you use low-fat milk? I didn’t have any regular milk and used almond milk instead. they still turned out ok, I think.
These look adorable! Can’t wait to try them out for my kids! Gonna add some chocolate sprinkles too. 🍫
I dunno if it’s just me, but I feel like these cake pops NEVER look like the picture. Sad face.
I totally get what you mean! Mine always turn out looking like blobs instead of pops. 😂
Delicious. Make sure you let them cool enough!
cake pop bad!!! I dont really know why it failed, but it was yucky and hard to eat. What’s up with that?
Too sweet for me. I’d cut down on the sugar next time.
They’re alright, I guess. But nothing special, just cake on a stick… Whatever.
I mean, they’re just a fun treat! Cake on a stick sounds pretty cool to me! 😄
I tried this recipe but the glaze didn’t harden. What did I do wrong? Should I have used more powdered sugar?
I tried making this and it turned into a big mess. What did I do wrong?
These cake pops are a hit! So easy to make and perfect for my daughter’s birthday party. Everyone loved them!
I followed the recipe step by step but they turned out messy. Hoped for better. 🤔