One of the questions I get asked most often is how I make my cake pops so soft and easy to work with.
The answer surprises a lot of people because I don’t use frosting in my cake pop dough.
Ingredients
- 1 box moist cake mix (any flavor)
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup sour cream(up to 1 cup if needed)
- 1 cup water
Directions
- Preheat oven according to the cake mix directions.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the eggs, sour cream, and water.
- Add the cake mix and mix until you no longer see dry flour.
- You can use a hand mixer or stand mixer. Personally, I prefer a hand mixer because it’s quick and easy.
- Bake for 20–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Turning the Cake into Dough
Once baked, you have two options:
Option 1
Allow the cake to cool completely before processing.
Option 2 (My Favorite)
Place the entire cake into the bowl of a stand mixer while it’s still warm.
Turn the mixer on low for 2–3 minutes.
The cake will begin breaking apart and should come together into a soft dough ball or very close to one.
If the dough still feels warm, allow it to cool slightly before shaping.
Shaping
I like to roll my dough to approximately ½-inch thickness.
Using my Daisy Makes Popper cutter, I cut multiple rounds at the same time for consistent sizing.
Place the shapes onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and allow them to rest for at least one hour before dipping. Store them in an airtight container while letting them rest.
Dipping
Dip each cake pop into:
- Chocolate melting wafers
- Almond bark
- White chocolate wafers
- Colored candy melts
Allow coating to set completely before packaging or serving.
Flavor Combination Ideas
Strawberry Shortcake
- Strawberry cake mix
- White chocolate coating
- Crushed Golden Oreos
Cookies & Cream
- White cake mix
- White chocolate coating
- Crushed Oreo topping
Birthday Cake
- Vanilla cake mix
- White coating
- Rainbow sprinkles
Chocolate Lover
- Chocolate cake mix
- Milk chocolate coating
- Mini chocolate chips
Lemon Sunshine
- Lemon cake mix
- White coating
- Crushed vanilla or lemon wafers
Strawberry Cheesecake
- Strawberry cake mix
- White coating
- Graham cracker crumbs or yum crumbs strawberry shortcake crumbs
Red Velvet
- Red velvet cake mix
- White chocolate coating
- White sprinkles
Fun Topping Ideas
Cereal Toppings
- Fruity Pebbles
- Cocoa Pebbles
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch
- Lucky Charms Marshmallows
- Crushed Frosted Flakes
Cookie Toppings
- Golden Oreos
- Oreos
- Biscoff Cookies
- Vanilla Wafers
Chocolate Mold Toppers
These are some of my favorites because they instantly elevate a simple cake pop:
- Strawberries
- Lemons
- Cherries
- Flowers
- Seashells
- Hearts
- Pumpkins
- Snowflakes
- Christmas Trees
Simply make your chocolate pieces ahead of time using silicone molds and attach them while the coating is still wet.
Shop My Favorite Baking & Decorating Tools
Over the years, I’ve tested a lot of baking and cookie decorating supplies. Some have become favorites that I reach for again and again, whether I’m making sugar cookies, cake pops, royal icing, or everyday treats for my family.
To make things easier, I’ve gathered many of my favorite tools, supplies, and kitchen essentials in one place. These are products I personally use, love, or would happily recommend to a fellow baker.
Disclosure
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I may earn a small commission if you shop through my links, at no additional cost to you.
I only recommend products that I personally use, love, or believe would be helpful to my readers. Thank you for supporting Junie Bird and helping me continue to share recipes, tutorials, and sweet ideas. 🤎
Final Thoughts
I love this recipe because it’s simple, dependable, and easy to customize for any season or theme.
Whether you’re making a dozen for your family or preparing treats for a market, this method creates a soft, delicious cake pop dough without needing any frosting.
Happy Baking!
Amy 🤎
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