These Valentine Cake Pops are the perfect cake pops for Valentine's Day or any day of the year! Making Valentine's Day cake pops is so easy - you can even skip the lollipop sticks and make Valentine cake balls! Read on for all my Valentines cake pop ideas, and tips to make your cake pop recipe perfect every time!
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And if you like these Valentine's cake pops, you'll love my Raspberry White Chocolate Cookies, my Rice Krispie Treats with Chocolate Chips, and my Cheesecake Mousse Cups!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Valentine Cake Pops Recipe
- What is the trick to cake pops?
- What is the difference between cake pops and cake balls?
- Valentine Cake Pops Ingredients
- Equipment
- How to Make Cake Pops
- Cake to Frosting Ratio for Cake Pops
- Valentine Cake Pops Ideas
- Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Top Tip
- Related
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love This Valentine Cake Pops Recipe
Cake pops are always a hit, and it's easy to see why! They're simple to make, handheld and portable thanks to the lollipop stick, easily customizable to different flavors and colors, and SO good!
If you like easy chocolate-covered recipes like my Christmas Oreos or celebration recipes like my White Forest Cake, you'll LOVE these! They're so easy and so much fun -- the perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day!
What is the trick to cake pops?
My #1 trick is to wrap your cake in foil or plastic wrap just after it's baked, while it's still warm. This prevents steam from escaping and seals in moisture, so that when you mix your cake up it sticks together even better! See below for my full step-by-step cake pop recipe!
What is the difference between cake pops and cake balls?
The truth is, they're exactly the same! They're both a delicious treat made with cake crumbs and candy coating. A cake pop is just a cake ball that's made with a cake pop stick, so that it's easy to enjoy on the go! Cake pops are easier for celebrations and to give as Valentines because you don't need a plate or anything to put them on! But they're both the perfect treat for cake lovers!
Valentine Cake Pops Ingredients
This Valentine cake pops recipe is so simple and it's always a big hit! Here's what you'll need:
- cake mix - to make these Valentine's day cake pops super easy, we're using a boxed cake mix. I used strawberry for the yummy flavor and pink color (like in my Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies), but you can use any flavor box cake mix that you like! You'll need a 15.25-ounce box of cake mix, or if you prefer you can use a homemade cake recipe that makes two 9-inch layers like my Passionfruit Cake or my Matilda Cake! If you use a cake mix, you'll also need the eggs, oil, and any other ingredients needed to prepare it according to package directions.
- canned frosting - I used canned cream cheese frosting, but any frosting you like works for this sweet treat recipe.
- vanilla melting wafers - I love the Ghirardelli vanilla melting wafers because they aren't too thick when they're melted, so you get that nice glossy chocolate coating on your Valentine cake pops!
- sprinkles - I used this sweet sprinkles Valentine's mix from Target, but you can use any festive Valentine's sprinkles you like on these easy cake pops!
Equipment
To make these cake pops for Valentine's day, you'll need some cake pop sticks, as well as a #40 cookie scoop to scoop out even amounts. I used this cake pop making kit because it also includes wrappers, cute little ties, an acrylic cake pop stand, and a cake pop press -- I didn't use the press, but it should help to give you more evenly shaped Valentine's cake balls.
I also recommend using a hand mixer with a large mixing bowl, or a stand mixer to mix up your cake and frosting mixture to the perfect texture.
How to Make Cake Pops
The recipe card below will give you detailed step-by-step instructions for making these Valentine's day cake pop recipe, as well as full ingredient measurements and a recipe video! But here's a quick look at how you'll make this recipe!
Prepare cake batter and bake cake according to package directions and cool completely wrapped in foil. Cut baked cake into large cubes and add to a large bowl or stand mixer to crumble cake.
Add a little room temperature frosting at a time until the mixture reaches a Play-Doh consistency.
Scoop out 1-2 tablespoon portions and roll into balls in the palm of your hand.
Melt your melting wafers in 30-second intervals in a microwave-safe bowl and dip the tip of cake pop sticks into melted chocolate, then into each cake ball. Chill 30 minutes.
Dip cake pops into melted candy melts and let excess chocolate drip off.
Top with sprinkles, let cool on a piece of parchment paper or stood up in a styrofoam block, and enjoy!
Hint: Make sure to chill your cake pops once you add the sticks to let them solidify so that they don't fall off the stick while you're dipping them!
Cake to Frosting Ratio for Cake Pops
Don't add too much frosting! If you're using a 15.25-ounce cake mix for this cake pop recipe, you should only need about 1-2 tablespoons of frosting if you wrap your cake while it's still warm.
Valentine Cake Pops Ideas
I make these cake pops for Valentines day with strawberry cake mix -- I love the flavor and the bright pink color. But you can use any type of cake mix you like! These Valentines cake pops would be great with vanilla cake mix, red velvet cake mix, or chocolate! You can also add food coloring to the melting wafers to change up the colors! Pink, red, or purple would look great!
Storage
Store your cake pops in the fridge in an airtight container, or in the cute little wrappers that come with this cake pop making kit.
You can also freeze this Valentines cake pops recipe, well wrapped, for up to two months.
Frequently Asked Questions
I think it depends on how you prepare them, but assuming that you're using the same cake base for each, then cupcakes might actually be cheaper, since you don't need candy melts.
Yes! If you have time, you can prepare your cake a day ahead of time and wrap it in foil while it's still warm. This allows the cake to cool completely and traps in the steam to add moisture to your cake pops. If you prep the cake this way, you'll only need a tablespoon or two of frosting.
If you don't have cake pop sticks, you can use cocktail straws or even Pocky biscuit sticks to make your Valentine cake pops! And of course, you can always skip the sticks altogether and just make Valentines cake balls!
You can definitely use candy melts like the Wilton Candy Melts I pictured above, but in my experience they need a little shortening to thin out the texture and cover the cake pops smoothly. I prefer using Ghirardelli vanilla melting wafers because they melt perfectly as-is!
Top Tip
Make sure you don't add too much frosting into your cake mixture! Just a spoonful at a time, and stop when the mixture gets that Play-Doh texture.
Related
Looking for other recipes like these Valentine's cake pops? Try these:
If you try this recipe, I would love it if you could leave a star review rating and comment below! It’s so wonderful hearing your feedback! And don’t forget to share your creations with me by tagging @chenee_today on Instagram!
📖 Recipe
Equipment you may need
- #40 cookie scoop
- cake pop sticks
- cake pop holder
Ingredients
- 1 15.25-ounce box strawberry cake mix - prepared according to package directions with ingredients as needed (or use any cake mix flavor you like)
- 1-2 tablespoon (30 ml) canned frosting - I used cream cheese
- 2 10-ounce packages Ghirardelli White Melting Wafers - or whatever color or variety of candy melts you like
- Valentine's day sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare cake mix in a 9x13 pan according to package directions. When it is finished baking, cover immediately with foil while it is still warm, then once it has cooled a bit wrap the whole pan in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge until fully cooled.1 15.25-ounce box strawberry cake mix
- When cooled, cut cake into large chunks and add to the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl. Mix with a stand mixer or hand mixer until cake is crumbled and begins to stick to itself, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add one tablespoon of frosting and continue to mix until cake reaches a texture similar to Play-Doh. If needed, add a second tablespoon of frosting, but be careful not to add too much.1-2 tablespoon canned frosting
- Use a cookie scoop to scoop out even portions of the cake mixture, rolling them into balls and setting them aside.
- Melt one package of melting wafers in the microwave according to package directions. Stir until smooth.2 10-ounce packages Ghirardelli White Melting Wafers
- Dip the top of each cake pop stick into the melted candy and then press the tip into the center of each cake ball. Place on a plate and return the cake balls and sticks to the fridge to firm up for at least 30 minutes.
- Once firm, re-melt the candy and dip each cake ball into the melted candy, rolling to coat evenly. Let excess candy drip off and then add sprinkles, or whatever decorations you like. Continue with remaining melting wafers.Valentine's day sprinkles
- Place decorated cake pops into a cake pop holder to allow them to stay upright while they cool and harden. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Heather says
Should I freeze these dipped or not dipped?
Thanks!
Chenée Lewis says
I haven't frozen these, but I would suggest not dipped so that the candy coating isn't affected by the freezing.
Ainea says
Obrigado por compartilhar esta receita!fzTenho um chá de cozinha pra festejar e certamente vou usar essa maravilhosa receita! Ameei!😍
Chenée Lewis says
Que maravilha! Obrigada!
Brenda says
These are so yummy! We just made them with vanilla cake mix, but we added some red food coloring to the candy melts to make them pink!
Chenée Lewis says
So glad you liked them Brenda!!