I love making fun sweet treats with my kids, but I never have time to bake. (and I have no idea HOW to bake.. that is probably the bigger issue) When it comes to food projects with the kids, I take advantage of shortcuts to help us get to the “fun” part as quickly as possible. (Buying pre-assembled gingerbread houses, already baked cookies for decorating or to use for making ice cream sandwiches… you get the idea)
My kids love Starbucks cake pops. Who can blame them? I wanted to try to make them at home, but the whole no baking thing quickly came into play. So I came up with a super easy shortcut to make 5-minute cake pops. That’s it. Start to finish in just 5 minutes. The secret? Doughnut holes. Boom.
You will need:
- Doughnut Holes
- Chocolate Chips
- Coconut Oil
- Decorations
- Straws or Lollipop Sticks
First, melt your chocolate. I like to use a small drinking glass, since that makes dipping the cake pop much easier. I put chocolate chips in the microwave for about 30 seconds-1 minute until the chips are melted. Then I add a half a teaspoon or so of coconut oil to make it shiny, smooth and super easy to work with.
I like using straws for my cake pops since I think they look so pretty. Cut your straws in half and dip one end in the chocolate. Then stick it in the doughnut hole and let it set in the fridge for a few minutes. If you don’t do this your doughnut hole will fall off the straw while you are trying to coat it with chocolate. Which is fine if you want cake balls, but we’re going for cake pops here.
I use an empty egg crate to hold up my cake pops while they are setting. Just poke a small hole with a knife into the egg crate and you have a perfect tray for your cake pops to set in. Once they set, just start dunking them in chocolate! I dunk them all the
way in, take them out, and swirl them in a circle for a minutes while
the excess drips off.
Then I have the kids decorate them while I am still holding them, or after I set them into the egg crate. Pop them in the fridge and you are DONE.
 |
| Chillin’ in my fridge. In an egg crate. |
The chocolate should set in less than an hour. These are SO good and I get tons of compliments every time I serve them. (These are amazing made with Dunkin Donuts red velvet munchkins!)
 |
I made these Valentine’s themed, but you can make your cake pops to fit any theme you would like. Use colored chocolate, different colored straws, sprinkles… anything you would normally come up with for a cake pop. There you go, 5-minute cake pops.
 |
 |
If you are looking for another quick and easy treat that could work for Valentine’s Day, be sure to check out my chocolate covered red velvet Oreos! What are your favorite baking shortcuts? I am always looking for new ones!
These are brilliant!!! My kids would love these!! And they're so cute too!
Thank you! I love a good short cut!
This is so smart! I used to make cake pops for my kids at school, but they took FOREVER! I'll have to try this sometime.
You will never go back.. these are SO easy!
That is so clever! What a great idea and they turned out super cute! Love it. Off to pin…
They taste so good too! Best shortcut ever!
What a smart idea! The real cake pops are such a pain to make. Honestly I think donut holes taste better too. Pinning & sharing.
They do taste better! (well.. better than anything I can cook anyway!!)
This is genius! I love making cake pops but they can be so time consuming. This is a great way to speed up the process, and who doesn't love doughnut holes? Pinning this for sure!
I hate to bake.. but I love to decorate! This is the best of both worlds! 🙂
Oh my gosh. This is so smart! I'm going to have to use this idea for a wedding favor post!!
Thank you! It is really so easy.. you will never go back to the old way! 😉
This is brilliant! I have to make these for my 5 year old!
Awesome sauce! Where was this post a few weeks ago when I was looking for the mold to make them?!?!?!? Lol!!!!!!
GENIUS!!! I love it…this is something I can def do!!
this is SO cute!!
Pure genius.
When I saw this post, I immediately was curious as to how it really could only take 5 minutes to make these and the doughnut treats blew my mind! Why have I never thought of this before?! Genius!
Kate | The Organized Dream
This is happening….immediately!
FIVE minutes? You are my hero!!!
This is my style of baking! You're seriously a genius:)
This is such a great idea! I made cake pops once and they took forever… this looks way easier 🙂
BRILLIANT. Best mom baking hack ever! Well done!
This is awesome! I LOVE the egg cart idea! Can't wait to try it!
All I can say is GENIUS! This is seriously so smart! I love how simple and pretty it is! I'm definitely trying this. Thanks for sharing!
Oh my, these are so adorable! And easy to make – I think I'm gonna make them for Valentines day – just perfect! 😀
Yes!!! This is the best baking hack I've ever read! Pinning/sharing!
Okay, how have I never thought of this before. This is brilliant!!!!
what a great idea! i never thought about getting the donut bites for cake pops
Yes, please. I am so doing this! Pinned for late. Sammie loves cake pops.
Haha your kids look so cute! And, I loved the pops!
totally my style! easy, good. i may even use this idea for my sons baseball bday party next month – i'm formulating ideas as we speak!
omg– LOVE THIS. Looks uber easy
These are amazing!! And so many helpful little hacks here!
This is great, and seems easy enough. I like that you'er staring from donut holes and just embellishing more 🙂
That is a very clever idea. Love it!
These look so fun! Looks like your kiddos enjoyed them!
Daily Opulence | http://www.dailyopulence.com
Oh my gosh how simple!!!! I love cake pops, I think they are adorable and such a nice treat! This makes it so much easier than how they are usually made!!! Great post!
Danielle Greco – AccordingtoD.com
Love This! It looks easy, fun and kid friendly. All my favorite things.
Omg such a clever idea!!! My daughter would love to make these!
Such a great idea! And so simple. They look so pretty and shiny! I have to make these for Valentine's Day.
Oh my gosh Pop-Ems! I was wondering how they were 5 minute cake pops! What an ingenious idea! I love it! Gonna have to try this one out with my son. He's a sucker for cake pops – but then again, what kid isn't? 😉
OMG. I wondered how this was made. One of my husband's co-workers whipped some up for our daughter's 2nd birthday. They all loved it.
This is genius! My daughter, also, loves the cake pops at Starbucks. This is a great substitute. We'll be making these for sure!