Graduation Cake Pops Gold (Printer-Friendly)

Festive cake pops in school colors finished with shimmering gold sprinkles, perfect for celebrations.

# What You Need:

→ Cake

01 - 1 box vanilla or chocolate cake mix with required ingredients

→ Frosting

02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
03 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
04 - 1 tablespoon milk
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - Pinch of salt

→ Coating and Decoration

07 - 16 ounces candy melts in two school colors
08 - 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening or coconut oil
09 - Gold sprinkles or edible gold glitter
10 - 24 lollipop sticks
11 - Styrofoam block for drying

# How to Cook:

01 - Prepare cake mix according to package instructions. Allow to cool completely before proceeding.
02 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, then add milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Continue beating until smooth and fluffy.
03 - Crumble cooled cake into a large bowl. Gradually mix in frosting in small amounts until mixture holds together without becoming overly moist.
04 - Roll mixture into 24 evenly sized balls, approximately 1 tablespoon each. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or freeze for 30 minutes.
05 - Melt small amount of candy melts. Dip end of each lollipop stick into melted candy, then insert halfway into each cake ball for secure placement.
06 - Melt candy melts in separate bowls according to package instructions. Stir in vegetable shortening if desired for smoother consistency. Dip each cake pop into chosen school color, gently tapping off excess coating.
07 - While coating remains wet, immediately apply gold sprinkles or edible gold glitter. Place cake pops upright in Styrofoam block to set completely.
08 - Allow coating to harden completely before serving or packaging for optimal presentation.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're foolproof enough for a first-timer but look impressive enough to feel like you spent hours in the kitchen.
  • You get to customize them entirely around someone's school, team, or favorite colors, making each batch feel one-of-a-kind.
  • The gold sprinkles catch light beautifully in photos, which means they'll shine in every graduation party picture.
02 -
  • Cold cake balls are essential—room temperature ones will crack and lose their coating as you dip, so don't skip the chill time no matter how impatient you feel.
  • The shortening or coconut oil actually transforms candy melts from thick and temperamental to silky and forgiving, so use it even though it seems like an extra step.
03 -
  • If your candy melts seize or become thick, don't panic—stir in tiny amounts of shortening until they smooth out, and avoid getting any water in the mixture which will cause graininess.
  • The wooden spoon test is real: dip a spoon into your melted candy to check the consistency before committing to your cake pops, and adjust the coating thickness based on how much sticks to the spoon.
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