How to Make Cake Pops Without Candy Melts: Easy Alternatives
Moist cake on the inside, crunchy shell on the outside – who doesn’t love cake pops? But did you know that there’s a way to make cake pops without using candy melts? While most cake pop recipes feature candy melts for the outer layer, we’ll share with you how to make cake pops without candy melts so you can make them more often! Let’s start!
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What are Cake Pops?
Before we dive into this homemade cake pop recipe, let’s cover some basics.
Cake pops are basically bite-sized cakes on a stick, similar to lollipops, but oh-so-much better.
They are typically made by creating cake balls from crumbled cake mixed with frosting, then dipped in melted chocolate or candy melts, and decorated with sprinkles or other decorations. We’ll use a boxed cake mix in this recipe, but cake pops are honestly the perfect way to use old leftover cakes too!
In this post, we’re going to show you how to make cake pops using white chocolate and almond bark as alternatives to candy melts, which makes the process a bit more straightforward since the ingredients are easier to find in your local grocery stores.
Read This First: Substitutes for Candy Melts
No candy melts? No problem! You can still create delicious cake pops by using these alternative coatings.
- Almond bark is a popular substitute for candy melts, often available in chocolate and vanilla flavors. It’s made from vegetable fats and provides a similar texture to chocolate.
- Compound chocolate, which contains cocoa butter for a more authentic chocolate taste.
- White chocolate has cocoa butter in the ingredients, which helps create that smooth, creamy texture.
- Chocolate chips. Add a 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil and melt them down. This thin-it-out trick will make it easier to apply and prevent it from turning grainy.
The No-Candy-Melt Cake Pop Recipe Ingredients:
To create these homemade cake pops, you will need the following ingredients:
- 1 box cake mix (vanilla cake, chocolate cake, or red velvet cake)
- For a unique twist, consider using crushed Oreos instead of cake.
- Frosting (I recommend vanilla buttercream frosting, or cream cheese frosting for red velvet cakes)
- Your choice of candy melt substitutes (almond bark, compound chocolate, white chocolate, or chocolate chips)
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil, to smoothen out (if needed)
- Lollipop sticks
- Sprinkles, edible glitter, or colorful frosting (to decorate)
How to Make Cake Pop Without Candy Melts:
- Bake your Cake: Start by baking your cake according to the instructions on the box cake mix. You could also use a homemade cake batter if you prefer. Once done, let your cake cool to room temperature.
- Crumble the Cake: In a large bowl, crumble your cooled cake into fine cake crumbs. You can use a hand or standing mixer to help with the crumbling process. This is where you start making your cake into cake pops!
- Add Frosting: To your crumbled cake, add in your frosting. Start small and slowly add more until your cake mixture is moist enough to roll into balls. Remember, it’s always easier to add more frosting than to try and get rid of excess! I find that a 1:4 ratio works great (1 part frosting to 4 parts cake crumbs).
- Roll your Cake Balls: Using a cookie scoop or your hands, roll your cake mixture into small cake balls. I find that using a small ice cream scoop or spoon helps to measure out even portions.
- Chill the Cake Balls: Place them on a lined baking sheet and chill them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or into the freezer for about 15-20 minutes to help the cake balls firm up. For a litmus test on whether they’re ready for dipping, insert a toothpick. If it comes out clean, you’re good to go!
- Prepare your Coating: While your cake balls are chilling, melt your candy melt alternative in the microwave or double boiler.
- Dip your Cake Balls: Dip a lollipop stick into your melted chocolate and then into a cake ball, pushing about halfway in. This will act as a “glue” to help keep the cake on the stick. Then, fully dip the cake ball into the melted chocolate, making sure it’s completely covered.
- Decorate: After dipping, add your decorations like sprinkles. Be creative with your flavors and decorations, the sky is the limit!
- Let them Dry: Insert the lollipop sticks into a styrofoam block to hold them or place them on parchment paper to dry.
- Storage: Once dry, cake pops can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve. They’re perfect to bring to a birthday party, baby shower, and more!
Voila! Now you know how to make cake pops without candy melts. Remember, making cake pops is supposed to be fun, so don’t stress too much about making them look perfect. The most important thing is that they taste delicious!
Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Cake Pops:
Here are a few extra tips to help perfect your cake pop-making skills:
- Make sure your cake is completely cool before you start to crumble it.
- Don’t add too much frosting, or your cake balls might fall apart. Start small!
- Make sure to chill your cake balls before dipping them in the melted chocolate to firm them up.
- Experiment with different cake and frosting flavors for unique combinations.
Want to make more fun desserts? Check out our other recipes on the blog for more inspiration! And don’t forget to share how your cake pops turn out!
Serving and Storage
When you’re ready to serve, place these treats on a stylish platter, or get creative with a fun DIY stand.
And when party time is over, storage is a piece of cake (pop!). Room temperature storage works well for up to 5-7 days. Store them in an airtight container, preferably with a layer of parchment paper or paper towel between them.
Need longer storage? Freeze your cake pops in a plastic bag or container for up to two months. Just make sure to take them out a couple of hours before serving to let them thaw. Your guests won’t even know they’ve been frozen.
That’s it! Hassle-free serving and storage for your next cake pop extravaganza. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use as a substitute for candy melts?
There are several substitutes for candy melts you can use when making cake pops. You can try using regular chocolate, almond bark, or white chocolate.
Explore different options to find the perfect coating for your cake pops.
Can I use regular chocolate for coating cake pops?
Absolutely! Regular chocolate can be used for coating cake pops. Just melt the chocolate, add coconut oil, dip the cake pops, and let them set until the coating hardens.
Make sure to use quality chocolate that melts and sets well.
How can I make cake pops with frosting?
Making cake pops with frosting is as easy as combining crumbled cake with frosting, rolling the mixture into balls, and refrigerating until they’re firm. Once firm, you can dip them in your choice of coating, like melted chocolate or other alternatives.
Is there a way to use chocolate chips instead of candy melts?
Yes, you can melt chocolate chips and use them as a coating for your cake pops. Make sure to melt the chocolate chips with a bit of coconnut oil gently and consistently to avoid scorching or seizing the chocolate.
How do I make cake pop coating without candy melts?
Creating cake pop coating without candy melts is simple. You can use options like regular chocolate, almond bark, or even create your own healthy candy coating with ingredients like almond flour, coconut oil, and natural sweeteners.
Can I use store-bought frosting for cake pops?
Definitely! Store-bought frosting works well for cake pops. Mix it with the crumbled cake and follow the same steps as you would with a homemade frosting. Just make sure the frosting isn’t too heavy, or the cake pop mixture may become too soft.
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How to Make Cake Pops Without Candy Melts
Ingredients
- 1 box cake mix (vanilla cake, chocolate cake, or red velvet cake)
- For a unique twist , consider using crushed Oreos instead of cake.
- Frosting (I recommend vanilla buttercream frosting, or cream cheese frosting for red velvet cakes)
- Your choice of candy melt substitutes (almond bark, compound chocolate, white chocolate, or chocolate chips)
- 1 tbsp coconut oil , to smoothen out (if needed)
- Lollipop sticks
- Sprinkles , edible glitter, or colorful frosting (to decorate)
Instructions
- Bake your Cake: Start by baking your cake according to the instructions on the box cake mix. You could also use a homemade cake batter if you prefer. Once done, let your cake cool to room temperature.
- Crumble the Cake: In a large bowl, crumble your cooled cake into fine cake crumbs. You can use a hand or standing mixer tohelp with the crumbling process. This is where you start making your cake into cake pops!
- Add Frosting: To your crumbled cake, add in your frosting. Start small and slowly add more until your cake mixture is moist enough to roll into balls. Remember, it’s always easier to add more frosting than to try and get rid of excess! I find that a 1:4 ratio works great (1 part frosting to 4 parts cake crumbs).
- Roll your Cake Balls: Using a cookie scoop or your hands, roll your cake mixture into small cake balls. I find that using a small ice cream scoop or spoon helps to measure out even portions.
- Chill the Cake Balls: Place them on a lined baking sheet and chill them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or into the freezer for about 15-20 minutes to help the cake balls firm up. For a litmus test on whether they’re ready for dipping, insert a toothpick. If it comes out clean, you’re good to go!
- Prepare your Coating: While your cake balls are chilling, melt your candy melt alternative in the microwave or double boiler.
- Dip your Cake Balls: Dip a lollipop stick into your melted chocolate and then into a cake ball, pushing about halfway in. This will act as a “glue” to help keep the cake on the stick. Then, fully dip the cake ball into the melted chocolate, making sure it’s completely covered.
- Decorate: After dipping, add your decorations like sprinkles. Be creative with your flavors and decorations, the sky is the limit!
- Let them Dry: Insert the lollipop sticks into a styrofoam block to hold them or place them on parchment paper to dry.
- Storage: Once dry, cake pops can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve. They’re perfect to bring to a birthday party, baby shower, and more!
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