Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Red Velvet Cake Pops are the perfect blend of elegance and fun. With their vibrant red color, soft cake interior, and smooth chocolate coating, they feel festive and indulgent while remaining easy to enjoy in just a few bites. These cake pops are ideal for parties, holidays, celebrations, or anytime you want a dessert that looks as good as it tastes.
What makes this recipe especially reliable is its texture. The cake is moist and tender, while the cream cheese frosting binds everything together without being overly sweet. I tested different ratios to ensure the cake pops hold their shape while staying soft inside. The chocolate coating adds a satisfying snap that contrasts beautifully with the rich red velvet center. Whether you are making them for gifting, entertaining, or simply treating yourself, these cake pops are guaranteed to impress.
Print
Red Velvet Cake Pops – Elegant, Bite-Sized, and Perfectly Indulgent
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cake pops
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Moist red velvet cake pops coated in smooth white chocolate, perfect for parties, holidays, or bite-sized desserts with a classic red velvet flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 box red velvet cake mix
- Ingredients required on cake mix box (eggs, oil, water)
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese frosting
- 24 oz white chocolate or candy melts
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil (for thinning chocolate, optional)
- Lollipop sticks
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Bake red velvet cake according to package instructions and allow to cool completely.
- Crumble cooled cake into fine crumbs in a large bowl.
- Mix in cream cheese frosting until a dough-like consistency forms.
- Roll mixture into 1-inch balls and place on a lined baking sheet.
- Chill cake balls for 30 minutes.
- Melt white chocolate or candy melts until smooth.
- Dip lollipop sticks into melted chocolate and insert into cake balls.
- Dip cake pops into melted chocolate, tapping off excess.
- Add sprinkles if desired.
- Let cake pops set upright or on parchment until firm.
Notes
- Chilling helps cake pops hold their shape.
- Use gel coloring to tint white chocolate if desired.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
(Tip: You can find the complete list of ingredients and their measurements in the recipe card below.)
Red velvet cake
Red velvet cake forms the base of the cake pops. Homemade or baked-from-mix both work well as long as the cake is moist.
Cream cheese frosting
Cream cheese frosting binds the cake crumbs and adds classic red velvet flavor.
White chocolate
White chocolate creates a smooth, sweet coating that highlights the red color of the cake.
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate
Optional chocolate varieties can be used for coating or drizzling.
Lollipop sticks
Lollipop sticks make the cake pops easy to handle and serve.
Vegetable oil or shortening
A small amount helps thin the chocolate coating for smooth dipping.
Sprinkles
Sprinkles add decoration and visual appeal.
Directions
Bake the red velvet cake according to recipe or package instructions. Allow it to cool completely. Once cooled, crumble the cake into fine crumbs using your hands or a fork.
Add cream cheese frosting to the cake crumbs a little at a time, mixing until the mixture holds together when pressed but is not overly sticky. Roll the mixture into evenly sized balls and place them on a lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
Melt the white chocolate gently, stirring until smooth. If needed, add a small amount of oil or shortening to thin the coating. Dip the tip of each lollipop stick into the melted chocolate, then insert it halfway into a cake ball. Chill briefly to set.
Dip each cake pop into the melted chocolate, turning gently to coat completely. Tap off excess coating and decorate with sprinkles if desired. Stand the cake pops upright in a foam block or place them upside down on parchment to set.
Equipment needed
Must-Have Tools to Get Rolling
Here’s what you’ll want to have on hand:
Silicone Spatula – Durable, heat-resistant silicone spatula perfect for mixing, scraping, and spreading. Gentle on non-stick cookware and easy to clean.
Large pot – You’ll need this to boil the whole cabbage head and soften the leaves.
large bowl –Spacious, durable large bowl ideal for mixing, serving, or food preparation. Made from sturdy material and easy to clean.
Sharp knife – For coring the cabbage and slicing out the thick stem in each leaf. A paring knife works best.
Mixing bowl – A big bowl makes it easier to combine your meat and rice filling evenly.
Cutting board – For prepping cabbage leaves and rolling them like a pro.
Full-Size Blender – is a powerful kitchen appliance for making smoothies, soups, and sauces in large batches.
3-in-1 Air Fryer – This versatile 3-in-1 air fryer offers Air Fry for healthier meals with less oil, Bake for bakery-quality desserts and treats, and Reheat to bring leftovers back to life with crispy, flavorful results
Servings and timing
This recipe makes approximately 24 cake pops. Preparation time is about 30 minutes, with chilling and decorating time of about 1 hour. Total time required is roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Storage/reheating
Store Red Velvet Cake Pops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. They can also be frozen for up to one month. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving. Reheating is not necessary.
Variations and Customizations
Red Velvet Cake Pops are easy to customize. For extra flavor, a small amount of vanilla extract can be added to the frosting mixture. You can also dip the cake pops in dark chocolate for a richer contrast.
Decorations can be adjusted for different occasions. Drizzle contrasting chocolate over the coating, use themed sprinkles, or dust lightly with cocoa powder. For a festive touch, tint the white chocolate coating with food coloring.
If you prefer a less sweet version, reduce the frosting slightly and use dark chocolate for coating. These small changes allow you to adapt the cake pops while keeping their classic red velvet charm.
FAQs
Why are my cake pops cracking?
The cake balls may be too cold or the coating too hot.
Can I use boxed cake mix?
Yes, boxed red velvet cake mix works very well.
How do I keep cake pops round?
Chill them well before dipping and avoid excess frosting.
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes, they store very well for several days.
What chocolate melts best?
Candy melts or good-quality white chocolate work best.
Do I need cream cheese frosting?
It is traditional, but vanilla frosting can be used.
Can I make them without sticks?
Yes, they can be served as cake truffles.
Why add oil to chocolate?
It helps achieve a smooth dipping consistency.
Are cake pops kid-friendly?
Yes, they are fun, sweet, and easy to eat.
Can I transport cake pops easily?
Yes, use a cake pop stand or foam block for stability.
Conclusion
Red Velvet Cake Pops are a beautiful, bite-sized dessert that delivers rich flavor, striking color, and elegant presentation. Easy to prepare and endlessly customizable, they are perfect for celebrations, gifting, or anytime you want a dessert that feels special. With their moist center and smooth coating, these cake pops are guaranteed to be a crowd favorite.
Hungry for more? Visit our website for full recipes and follow us on Pinterest for daily foodie inspo you’ll love to pin!