Starbucks cake pops are a popular treat. These bite-sized, spherical cake truffles on a stick combine crumbled cake with icing or frosting, shaping the mixture into a ball that is dipped in chocolate or other coatings. If you’re a fan of these tasty treats, you might be wondering how they’re made and how you can recreate them in your own kitchen. Here’s a breakdown of how Starbucks cake pops are made and a simple guide to making them at home.
What are Cake Pops?
Cake pops are bite-sized spherical cake truffles on a stick. These treats are made by combining crumbled cake with icing or frosting and shaping the mixture into a ball that is dipped in chocolate or other coatings. Starbucks launched cake pops on the menu in 2010 when they acquired the San Francisco bakery La Boulange, known for their desserts including cake pops. Starbucks sells over 400 million cake pops every year. They have become one of the most popular food items at Starbucks.
Where Does Starbucks Get Their Cake Pops?
When Starbucks first added cake pops to their menu after acquiring La Boulange in 2010, all the cake pops sold at Starbucks were initially supplied by the La Boulange bakery. As demand grew, Starbucks needed other sources to produce enough cake pops to supply their thousands of stores across the world.
Here are the main production sources for Starbucks cake pops today:
- La Boulange Bakery The La Boulange bakery in San Francisco still bakes cake pops daily and supplies them to Starbucks stores in the Bay Area. This is where the original Starbucks cake pop recipes were perfected before broader distribution.
- Dawn Food Products Bakeries Starbucks has contracted much of their cake pop production to Dawn Food Products, a commercial bakery with locations across America. Dawn bakes high volumes of cake pops for Starbucks in centers such as Jackson, Michigan and Hillsboro, Oregon using the company’s recipes and standards.
- In-Store Baking Some cake pops sold at Starbucks are baked fresh daily within stores, especially for locations with on-site bakeries. But this represents a small portion of total cake pops – most come pre-made from Dawn or La Boulange.
How Cake Pops Are Made and Sold In-Store
While most cake pops are mass-produced at dedicated bakeries, a small portion are made fresh daily within Starbucks locations. Here is an overview of the in-house cake pop preparation process:
Baking the Cake
Each cake pop flavor starts with a moist cake base. For example, chocolate cake pops begin by baking a batch of decadent chocolate cake in-store. Starbucks uses mixers and pans to make cake batters from scratch.
Crumbling the Cake
Once baked and cooled, the cake is hand-crumbled into a large bowl. It needs to become fine, evenly sized crumbs that will bind together. Cakes may be crumbled by squeezing through fingers or using a utensil.
Mixing the Batter
The crumbled cake is mixed with frosting, usually a cream cheese or buttercream style. This binds the cake crumbs together into a thick, moldable cake pop batter, with a dough-like consistency.
Rolling Into Balls
Employees use ice cream scoops or spoons to portion out cake pop batter, rolling it into even balls between their palms. The balls should remain compact and round without cracking.
Dipping in Coating
Cake pop balls are dipped into a thin coating such as melted chocolate or yogurt. Some coatings are sprinkled with decorations like crushed peppermint. The coating hardens around the ball.
Inserting the Sticks
Wooden sticks are inserted about halfway through each cake ball while the coating is still soft. This creates a cake pop on a stick handle for holding and eating.
Decorating
Additional decorations like drizzled caramel or colorful sprinkles can be added on top of the coating in a final garnish for visual appeal.
Chilling and Displaying
Finished cake pops are chilled in a refrigerator or freezer to set. Then they are displayed in refrigerated cases until purchase.
The entire cake pop making process from raw ingredients to completed treats takes 2-3 hours in-store. It is labor intensive but results in fresh, homemade cake pops for that location.
Make Your Own Starbucks Cake Pops at Home
You can easily make your own Starbucks-style cake pops at home. Here’s a simple recipe to guide you:
Ingredients:
- 1 box of cake mix (any flavor)
- Ingredients listed on the cake mix box (typically eggs, oil, and water)
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Candy melts or white chocolate
- Lollipop sticks
- Sprinkles or other toppings (optional)
Instructions:
- Bake the Cake:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare the cake mix according to the boxed directions.
- Pour the batter into a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Crumble the Cake:
- Allow the cake to cool completely.
- Remove the cake from the pan and crumble it into a large mixing bowl. Remove the brown outside layer from the cake and throw away.
- Make the Cake Pop Mixture:
- Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract to the crumbled cake.
- Mix until a dough forms that can be pressed together into a ball. The mixture should be moist enough to hold its shape. If it’s too dry, add a small amount of frosting.
- Shape the Cake Pops:
- Portion out the dough and press into a ball in the palm of your hands or with a cake pop press. A cookie scoop helps ensure that each one is approximately the same size.
- Place the cake balls on a cookie sheet and then into the freezer to chill.
- Melt the Coating:
- Melt the candy melts or white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, then stir. Continue to heat in 30-second intervals until melted and smooth.
- Assemble the Cake Pops:
- Remove the cake balls from the freezer.
- Dip each lollipop stick into the candy melt and then press the stick into the center of each cake ball. This helps the cake pop stay on the stick.
- Return to the fridge or freezer to help speed up the process of the stick and chocolate setting.
- Dip and Decorate:
- Pour the remaining melted candy melt into a tall, skinny jar or glass.
- Dip the cake pops one by one in the candy melt and gently shake the cake pop to remove any excess melted chocolate.
- Tip right side up and add sprinkles, if desired.
- Set and Serve:
- Allow the candy melt to set while the cake pop is right side up. You can poke holes into a cardboard box or foam block to help them stand up straight to dry, if desired.
- Serve as is or package up individually in bags with ribbon if desired. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Conclusion
Making Starbucks-style cake pops at home is a fun and rewarding experience. With simple ingredients and a bit of time, you can create these delightful treats for yourself, your family, and your friends. Enjoy the process and savor every bite of your homemade cake pops!