Make This Easy 4th of July Cake Pops Recipe
These 4th of July cake pops will have everyone grabbing one and telling you how tasty they were. And only you will know just how easy they were to put together.
These patriotic cake pops are full of flavor and are themed to perfection without being fussy. Let’s make this red, white, and blue dessert!
Be sure to check out my American Flag Mason Jar Craft for more patriotic fun. It’s perfect for flatware or napkins during a cook out.
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July 4th Cake Pops
Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots, I am a baker more than I am a cook. Cakes, cookies, pies – you name it, I’m a sucker for a baked good. Mmm, cake.
But honestly, I’m not going to put a cake together if it’s going to sit outside at a cookout, especially in the heat of the summer. Quick and easy desserts like cake pops are my baked tasty treat of choice during this time.
These easy red, white, and blue themed treats would be excellent for a 4th of July get-together, but honestly, I make them year-round. When you have a family carry-in dinner, a BBQ with friends, or just a simple treat to enjoy at home to use up a boxed cake mix, you cannot go wrong with the humble cake pop.
RELATED READING: Yummy Firecracker Brownie Bites
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RELATED READING: Easy Independence Snack: Popcorn
Candy Melts or Baking Chocolate for Cake Pops?
Another question I am asked a lot is whether to use baking chocolate or candy melts when making cake pops. My preference is candy melts because they are literally made for this purpose and they are colored beautifully. As long as they are not over-heated, the color, consistency, and flavor are wonderful for cake pops.
How Do I Make Candy Melts Shiny?
To make candy melts shiny like melted chocolate, you will need to add shortening but don’t worry – it doesn’t change the taste. Add a small amount of shortening (between 1 teaspoon and 1 tablespoon) to a full package of candy melts to increase the shine. Melt slowly, stirring to incorporate fully.
If you would like to use baking chocolate for cake pop coating, you must add a thinning agent and shortening is recommended most (never add water). General consensus is one should add one tablespoon of shortening for each cup of chocolate and follow this melting chocolate guidance.
RELATED READING: Easy Marshmallow Pops for Any Occasion (Kids Can Make Them)
Tips For Making Cake Pops for Any Occasion
- You can use store bought cake mix or a homemade cake recipe for this patriotic dessert.
- Change up the type of cake mix to change up the flavor of the cake pops but stick with a less oily or moist cake recipe. The frosting will add enough moisture to even a stale cake.
- I recommend baking the cake the day before and leaving it out. Honestly the drier a cake is, the better form you’ll get when mixed with frosting.
- If you choose to bake the same day as you decorate, do not add the frosting until the cooked cake has cooled. If the cake crumbles are too hot, it’s going to be a gooey mess that sticks to your hands and fingers.
- Keep in mind the quintessential rule for working with candy melts or chocolate: avoid overheating! You can scorch and seize the chocolate, so always err on the side of caution and pull the chocolate from the heat as soon as it’s melted.
- For a wonderful and yummy presentation, add a cake pop to a small scoop of vanilla ice cream in a sundae glass.
RELATED READING: Candy Flag Cupcakes Recipe
How to Dry Cake Pops After Coating – Cake Pop Drying Options
One of the most fun email chains I’ve had going with other baker friends was years ago when the cake pop craze hit suburbia. We were all answering tons of emails each week about how people can set up a drying station for cake pops! Here are some ideas:
- Place cling wrap over the top of cups. Poke sticks into the wrap.
- Cover floral foam or Styrofoam® with foil or wrap. Poke sticks into the wrap.
- Pierce holes into a closed cardboard box, making sure the holes are just slightly smaller than the width of the sticks. Press dipped cake pops into the holes gently.
- Cross two baking racks and secure. Place sticks in the small squares.
- Invert a colander and balance the sticks in the holes. This is risky, friends, I’ve had many a “cake pop down!” moment using this, so keep a watch.
How to Make Cake Pops for Beginners
Below is the written and printable tutorial for this Independence Day dessert idea. If you have questions, please use the comments section and I’ll get back to you.
4th of July Cake Pops
Everyone will love enjoying these red, white, and blue cake pops for a 4th of July dessert!
Ingredients
- 1 cake box mix
- 3 eggs
- 1/3 cup of vegetable oil
- 1 cup of water
- 1 bag of white melting wafers (10 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or shortening
- 1/3 of a 12-oz container of cream cheese frosting or homemade
- patriotic sprinkles
- 6 inch lollipop sticks
Instructions
- Make the cake according to the directions on the back of the box. Cool completely and crumble. Add the cream cheese frosting and mix well.
- Use at least 1 tablespoon of the mix to form a ball. Add to a cookie sheet and repeat until the mix has been used up.
- Put the cake balls into the freezer for about 15 minutes and prepare a drying station (ideas below). Remove.
- Melt the wafers per the package instructions. Once the wafers are melted stir in the coconut oil or shortening and act quickly.
- Push a lollipop stick in the middle of each cake pop (I like to dip the end of the stick in chocolate before pressing it into the cake).
- Dip the cake balls into the chocolate and then add sprinkles quickly. You can roll, dip, or sprinkle on the decorations.
- Push the cake pop sticks down into the drying station. Let dry until hardened and serve.
Notes
Tips
- A very cold cake and a very hot chocolate can lead to the chocolate cracking or splitting, so follow the recipe timing as best you can.
- If you are creating party favors, dry the cake pops with the cake on a flat surface. Wrap the entire thing in cellophane or party bags and use the stick to tie on a tag, thank you note, or decorations.
Drying Station Ideas
- Place some cling wrap over the top of cups. Poke sticks into the wrap.
- Cover floral foam or Styrofoam® with foil or wrap. Poke sticks into the wrap.
- Pierce holes into a closed cardboard box, making sure the holes are just slightly smaller than the width of the sticks.
- Cross two baking racks and secure. Place sticks in the small squares.
- Invert a colander and balance the sticks in the holes.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
22Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 91Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 34mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 0gSugar: 5gProtein: 1g
All nutrition information is estimated. For accuracy, please calculate your exact brands and ingredients if accuracy is desired.
How to Store Cake Pops (Before or After Dipping)
Nearly every time I serve cake pops at parties or gatherings, they are all eaten or taken home with guests. In case you have some leftover cake pops OR want to know how long to prepare cake pops in advance, here is my best advice on how to store cake pops.
Whether you have already coated the cake pops or not, this recipe uses cream cheese frosting and should be refrigerated for storage.
- tear off a clean paper towel
- place it in an air tight container (zip top storage bag, glass storage container, etc.)
- put the dipped cake pops in the container
- put the container on the counter for two hours or in the refrigerator
Uncoated / un-dipped cake pops will usually last on the counter up to 2 weeks in an air tight container. The cake pops (uncoated) can be made and frozen up to 2 months in advance, as well.
More Delicious Desserts
- Make Firecracker Rice Krispies in Minutes – This is a fast treat that is loaded with yumminess and the kids love helping.
- 4th of July Popcorn Balls – If you’ve never had these, I’m about to blow your mind…
- These Patriotic Dipped Marshmallows are an Awesome Kid-Made July 4th Treat! – The kids will love helping create them!
Please Save or Share This
Your shares are how this site grows and I am sincerely grateful. Please save these cake pops for July 4th to an Independence Day pin board or share to a crafty group on Facebook.
Hey Sarah, I want to try this recipe to take to my doctors office. I have never used melting wafers. Is that the same as almond bark? Or is almond bark not suitable for these. Also, after dipping the cake pop into the icing does it run down the stick when you stick it into something to let it dry? After they dry can I pack them into a container together without messing them up? I guess I am asking does the icing harden? Sorry for all the questions. Thank you
I haven’t tried cake pops with almond bark but I’m pretty sure you can! As for the process, dip the cake pop, roll it around a bit before placing it into foam or wherever to set fully (the melts dry rather fast, not sure about the almond bark.
As for the storage, yes, the coating dries hard so they won’t melt onto each other. If you’re in a super hot environment, I would add parchment between the layers, but otherwise they are great to transport.