In this post: Want a no-bake, easy-to-make, fun dessert? Try these no-bake cake pops / no-bake cake balls! Made with just a handful of ingredients and a microwave!
These no-bake cake pops/balls are simple yet so pretty that everyone will think you spent hours in the kitchen. Decorate these sweet treats to be perfect for any occasion: holidays, birthday parties, kids’ classroom parties, and more! You can leave the sticks in for no-bake cake pops or leave them out for no-bake cake balls.
What are Cake Pops?
Cake pops are a dessert made of cake mixed with icing formed into the shape of a ball and placed on a stick (resembling a lollipop). These balls are then covered in melted chocolate and other edible decorations. Cake pops reached the height of their popularity in the early 2010s due to their presence on Starbucks®’ dessert menu.
What are Cake Balls?
Cake balls are pretty much the same as cake pops, but they have no sticks. Many people make and decorate them as snowmen, Santa, and other Christmas-related things for the holidays.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This no-bake cake pops recipe:
- is quick and easy to make
- doesn’t require fancy equipment or hard-to-find ingredients
- is adaptable to any dietary restrictions or allergies
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Mountain Dew: makes for an extra moist and fluffy cake texture.
- White cake mix: use your favorite cake mix; I created this recipe using white cake mix, so I listed that in the ingredients.
- Vanilla icing: more icing ideas are below!
- Mini chocolate chips: these work better than regular-sized because they are lighter and melt faster.
- Cookie crumbs: used for a yummy decoration.
- Candy wafers: melted to coat the cake pops.
Substitutions & Variations
- You can use any cake mix you want: chocolate, vanilla, devil’s food, red velvet, yellow cake mix, etc. That includes gluten-free cake mixes!
- Mix food coloring in with white cake mix to make colored cake pops.
- Try different icing: buttercream, chocolate, cream cheese, or royal (dairy-free!) icing.
- Feel free to use any decorations you want (ideas below).
- You can use white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, mint chocolate chips, or even vegan chocolate chips!
How to Make No-Bake Cake Pops
- Place your cake mix and Mountain Dew into a mixing bowl. Mix until blended and smooth.
- Pour the batter into a parchment paper-lined, microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 10 minutes (some microwaves may be slightly different, play around with the time if you need to).
- Poke a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is done.
- Next, place a large spoonful of frosting into the bowl with the cake. The more frosting you use, the moister your pops will be (less cake-like consistency).
- If you choose to add chocolate chips, put a handful or two in the bowl. Same concept as the frosting: less is more. The goal of the chocolate chips is to add a chocolatey taste.
- Break up your cake and blend the ingredients using a fork.
- Once all ingredients are well-blended, use your hands to roll a small amount of batter into a firm ball. Continue this process until all the batter is gone. If you’re going to use sticks, place them in the top of each ball.
- Now lay plastic wrap or foil over your cake pops, and refrigerate for 2-3 hours, until firm.
- Once the cake pops are done in the refrigerator, place your candy melts into a microwave-safe bowl and melt according to the instructions on the bag (usually at 15-second intervals, until fully melted).
- Now dip each cake pop into your melted chocolate and place it on a plate for cooling.
- After you dip each one, add cookie crumbs, or mini chocolate chips. Once all cake balls are dipped, place them in the fridge until the chocolate is hardened.
- Drizzle chocolate over your pops. Place them back in the fridge to harden the second layer.
Decorating Ideas
There is only one rule when it comes to decorating these no-bake cake pops: have fun! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Add various sprinkles – try all the funky shapes: dinosaurs, flowers, hearts, Christmas-themed, animals, etc.
- Top with fresh fruit such as strawberries, raspberries, pineapples, blackberries, or whatever you prefer!
- Buy your favorite chocolate bar and use pieces of it to decorate your cake pop.
- Try shaping fondant and icing into fun shapes like flowers, Christmas trees, plants, and animals.
- Use multiple cake pops/balls to make the shape of animals, people, plants, snowmen, etc.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these no-bake cake pops alongside savory snacks like:
- Chips or chip mixes
- Instant Pot® popcorn
- Salted nuts
- Loaded baked potato slices
- Pretzels
Serve these no-bake cake balls with delicious sweet drinks like:
FAQs
What is the difference between a cake pop and a cake ball?
The biggest difference between the two is that cake pops are usually on a stick (like lollipops) whereas cake balls are not. Cake pops are also more popular and often easier to decorate (dipping the cake in chocolate is a lot easier with the stick!).
Are truffles and cake pops the same thing?
Truffles are desserts made of either ganache or chocolate mixed with cream which is then coated with chocolate and decorated (similar to cake pops). But cake pops are made of cake batter, not ganache, so truffles and cake pops are two different things.
How to make round cake balls?
Scoop each ball with an ice cream scoop (so they end up the same size). Take that spoonful of dough in your hands and roll it with gentle pressure. Lightly press down the areas that stick out too much.
Do I need a cake pop stand?
Not at all! A cake stand is useful for displaying the cake pops, but it’s not required. There are plenty of other ways you can display your cake pops if you want to!
How do you keep cake pops from falling apart?
First, make sure you add enough frosting to the mixture to help hold the cake together. Second, refrigerate the balls until they are thoroughly cold (hint: at least 2 hours – but 3 or 4 is better). Finally, be gentle with the cake balls when dipping them in the melted chocolate.
Should you refrigerate cake pops before dipping them?
Refrigerating the cake pops will help them solidify and hold together while you’re dipping them. If you don’t refrigerate the cake pops, they will probably fall apart when you try to dip them.
Why are my cake balls sweating?
Like any cold item in a warm environment, the chilled cake balls will sweat at room temperature! To prevent this, store the cake pops in the fridge until you’re ready to serve them.
How long do cake balls stay fresh?
When stored in an airtight container in the fridge, the cake balls will last for 4-7 days. And in the freezer, the cake balls will last up to 2 months.
More Easy Dessert Recipes You’ll Love
No-Bake Cake Pops / Cake Balls
These no-bake cake pops/cake balls are the perfect dessert for any occasion!
Ingredients
- 12 oz. of Mountain Dew or 1 Can
- 1 Box of White Cake Mix
- 1 Container of Vanilla Icing
- Mini Chocolate Chips, optional
- Cookie Crumbs, optional
- 2 Large Bags of Candy Melts
Instructions
- Place your cake mix and Mountain Dew into a mixing bowl. Mix until blended and smooth.
- Pour the batter into a parchment paper-lined, microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 10 minutes (some microwaves may be slightly different, play around with the time if you need to).
- Poke a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is done.
- Next, place a large spoonful of frosting into the bowl with the cake. The more frosting you use, the moister your pops will be (less cake-like consistency).
- If you choose to add chocolate chips, put a handful or two in the bowl. Same concept as the frosting: less is more. The goal of the chocolate chips is to add a chocolatey taste.
- Break up your cake and blend the ingredients using a fork.
- Once all ingredients are well-blended, use your hands to roll a small amount of batter into a firm ball. Continue this process until all the batter is gone. If you’re going to use sticks, place them in the top of each ball.
- Now lay plastic wrap or foil over your cake pops, and refrigerate for 2-3 hours, until firm.
- Once the cake pops are done in the refrigerator, place your candy melts into a microwave-safe bowl and melt according to the instructions on the bag (usually at 15-second intervals, until fully melted).
- Now dip each cake pop into your melted chocolate and place it on a plate for cooling.
- After you dip each one, add cookie crumbs, or mini chocolate chips. Once all cake balls are dipped, place them in the fridge until the chocolate is hardened.
- Drizzle chocolate over your pops. Place them back in the fridge to harden the second layer.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 101Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 31mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 1gSugar: 13gProtein: 1g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily via Nutrifox.
Have you ever made cake balls or cake pops? Did you know it could be so easy?
