Graduation Cake Pops Gold (Printable View)

Festive cake balls dipped in school colors and adorned with shimmering gold sprinkles.

# What You’ll Need:

→ For the Cake

01 - 1 box vanilla or chocolate cake mix with required ingredients (eggs, oil, water as listed on package)

→ For the 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

→ For the 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 Make It:

01 - Prepare the 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. Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup frosting gradually, mixing until the texture holds together without excess moisture.
04 - Roll mixture into 24 evenly sized balls, approximately 1 tablespoon each. Arrange on parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or freeze for 30 minutes.
05 - Melt a small amount of candy melts. Dip the end of each lollipop stick into melted candy and insert halfway into each cake ball to ensure secure attachment.
06 - Melt candy melts in separate bowls according to package directions. Stir in vegetable shortening for smoother consistency if desired. Dip each cake pop into chosen school color, tapping gently to remove excess coating.
07 - While coating remains wet, apply gold sprinkles or edible gold glitter. Insert sticks upright into Styrofoam block to set.
08 - Allow coating to harden completely before serving or packaging.

# Best Practices:

01 -
  • Completely customizable with your school's unique colors
  • Makes 24 servings, perfect for graduation parties and celebrations
  • Fun to make and even more fun to display and share
  • Requires only basic baking skills and common ingredients
  • Can be made ahead and stored for easy party planning
  • The golden sprinkles add an elegant, celebratory touch
02 -
  • Use a cookie scoop to ensure all cake balls are uniform in size for even coating
  • Adding vegetable shortening to candy melts creates a thinner, smoother coating that's easier to work with
  • If cake balls crack during dipping, they may be too cold—let them sit at room temperature for 5 minutes
  • Apply sprinkles immediately after dipping, before the coating sets
  • Store finished pops in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week
  • For extra flair, tie small ribbons in school colors around each stick near the base of the pop
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