Description
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with these adorable and delicious Heart-Shaped Cake Pops. Made from moist vanilla cake and creamy frosting, these cake pops are molded into festive heart shapes, dipped in colorful candy coating, and decorated with sprinkles and edible glitter for a perfect romantic treat.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 1 box vanilla cake mix
- Ingredients as listed on the box (typically oil, water, and eggs)
For the Frosting:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1–2 tbsp milk
- OR 1 cup store-bought frosting
For the Cake Pops:
- 1 baked and cooled cake
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup frosting
- Heart-shaped silicone mold
- Lollipop sticks
For the Candy Coating:
- Candy melts (red, white, pink)
- 1–2 tsp vegetable shortening (optional, for thinning)
Optional Decorations:
- Heart-shaped sprinkles
- Edible glitter
- Colored sugar
- White chocolate drizzle
Instructions
- Bake and Cool the Cake: Prepare the vanilla cake mix according to the package instructions. Once baked, allow the cake to cool completely to ensure it is firm enough to crumble and form into pops later without crumbling excessively.
- Crumble the Cake: Using clean hands or a fork, crumble the cooled cake into a large mixing bowl. Add 1/3 cup of frosting and mix until the mixture forms a soft dough-like consistency. If the mixture is too dry to hold together when pressed, add more frosting a tablespoon at a time but avoid making it sticky.
- Shape Using the Silicone Heart Mold: Firmly press the cake-frosting mixture into the heart-shaped silicone molds, smoothing the surfaces flat. Dip the tip of each lollipop stick into melted candy coating to help it adhere, then insert the stick into the base of each heart-shaped cake mixture in the mold. Freeze the filled molds for at least 1 hour to let the shapes set firmly.
- Melt the Candy Coating: Place candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring thoroughly between intervals until fully melted and smooth. If the coating is too thick for dipping, add 1 teaspoon of vegetable shortening and stir well to thin it out.
- Dip the Cake Pops: Remove the set cake pops from the molds carefully. Dip each heart-shaped pop into the melted candy coating, covering it entirely, then gently tap off excess coating. Stand the dipped pops upright in a styrofoam block or cake pop stand to dry and harden the coating.
- Decorate: While the coating is still wet, apply your choice of optional decorations such as heart-shaped sprinkles, edible glitter, colored sugar, or drizzle with melted white chocolate for contrast. Allow the decorated cake pops to set at room temperature or chill in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes until the coating is fully firm.
Notes
- You can use store-bought frosting to save time or make your own for a fresher flavor.
- Ensure the cake is completely cooled before crumbling to avoid a mushy texture.
- Vegetable shortening helps thin candy melts for easier dipping but is optional.
- Refrigerate cake pops after decorating if you want them firm quickly.
- Use silicone molds for easy removal and consistent shapes.
