Let’s talk cake pops, and how to make cake pops with the Babycakes Cake Pop maker!
Tips For Using The Babycakes Cake Pop Maker
When I make cakepops, more often than not I make them using the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker. I received this as a gift, and honestly my first thought was “gimmick”.
Well it turns out, it’s a great little machine and extremely useful. I LOVE the taste of cake pops made this way, compared to the cake and frosting method, and you can add a filling if you like.
Kohls often has it on sale and if you can catch it with a sale and a coupon, you can usually get a great price.
Getting Round Cake Pops
The question I get the most about the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker is how I get my cake pops round, with many people telling me that theirs come out flat or and odd shape. My immediate question is if they used a regular cake mix or a recipe from Babycakes.
They almost always reply that they used a regular cake mix.
Cake Pop Maker Recipes
Given that a regular mix still requires adding ingredients, measuring and mixing, it only takes a few more quick steps to make them from scratch using one of the Babycakes recipes. Making a recipe from scratch with the cake pop maker is still quicker than the original method of baking a cake, and then chopping it up and mixing it with frosting and shaping the balls by hand.
EDITED TO ADD: As of 2017, it looks like the recipes are no longer available on the website unfortunately. Never fear, I have a chocolate cake pop recipe at the end of this post, and you can find the VANILLA CAKE POP MAKER RECIPE here.
Babycakes has their instruction manual, with recipes (previously available on their website). I absolutely LOVE the vanilla cake pop recipe that is in the manual, and it’s my go to recipe for cake pops, it reminds me of pound cake. I’ve found each one that I’ve tried to be delicious and they work great with the machine. I am very excited that they have a brand new cookbook of cake pop recipes with 175 cake pop recipes. I can not wait to try them.
Cake Pop Mix Vs From Scratch Recipe
My take is that if you are going to use the machine, use one of their recipes. 
They’ve been developed for and tested in the Babycakes machine. The included instruction manual includes some great recipes.
I’m not saying cake mixes won’t work, I just think that it makes sense that you will get the best results following a recipe that was made specifically for this purpose. The Babycakes recipes seem to produce a much thicker batter, which certainly makes it easier to fill the wells of the machine.
The batter is so thick that put my batter into a Ziploc freezer bag and “pipe” it into the wells. I tried this with a cake mix and it was not fun, the cake mix was just too runny. I also saw a suggestion to use a Pancake Pen for the batter. This sounds like an excellent idea that I might have to try.
As of 2019, it appears that Babycakes no longer sells cake pop mixes. I’ve seen this cake pop mix on Amazon, but can’t speak to the results it produces.
Using A Cake Mix To Make Cake Pops
If you want to use a store bought mix, I recommend cutting back on the amount of liquid in the recipe. This is something that is likely going to be different with each brand and flavor, meaning there is no blanket “cut back x amount”. I would also recommend adding a bit more baking powder to the mix, even if just half a teaspoon.
Another fun thing about making your cake pops with the Babycakes machine is that you can easily add/inject a filling into the cake pops! We’ve only used frosting (because we love frosting) but I’m sure you could put lots of other yummy fillings in.
Also, check out this fantastic video from Ahh’s Cakes where she uses the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker and goes through every step – it’s about ten minutes long and very helpful. She appears to be using one of the Pancake Pens to dispense her batter.
The Babycakes Cakepop Maker might take a bit of practice (though I have to say my very first batch turned out quite nicely), but I really think it’s worth figuring it out, especially if you need to make large batches of cake pops. It also makes some delicious donut holes. There are other cake pop makers and pans, such as cake pop pans. I haven’t tried it, so can’t speak for how it works.
Make sure to check out this post for tips, advice, idea and resources for dipping and decorating your cake pops and thoughts on some common cake pop challenges such as getting the chocolate smooth, preventing the chocolate from cracking and getting the cake pops to stay on their sticks.
CHOCOLATE CAKE POP MAKER RECIPE
Babycakes Chocolate Cake Pops
Ingredients
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons cocoa
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ cup freshly brewed hot coffee
- Glaze or coating of choice
Instructions
- Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.
- Add buttermilk, vegetable oil, egg and vanilla. Using a mixer, blend until smooth.
- Add coffee and continue mixing until coffee is evenly incorporated into mixture.
- Fill each cooking reservoir with about 1 tablespoon of batter.
- Bake 4 to 5 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into a cake pop comes out clean.
- Allow to cool and glaze or coat, as desired.
- Makes about 3½ dozen cake pops
Notes
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Want a vanilla cake pop recipe for the
Babycakes cake pop maker? I’ve got one here!
Kim says
If you use regular cake mix, and they come out lopsided, just put a little more batter in the well, and place the flat/non-round side into it and bake again for the 3 minutes. It will make it a perfect ball.
annemette says
Do you know if you can make “Aebleskiver” in it? It’s a round little danish cake. It’s semilar to Pancake Puffs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86bleskiver)
Christi says
Annemette, I’m almost positive I recall someone saying that they did make them, and I believe they worked out well. Ah – here, on the Babycakes site! http://thebabycakesshop.com/tips-and-recipes/2011/03/ebelskivers-danish-pancake/
Christy says
I just wanted to leave a quick but great recipe for cake batter mix out the box:
Ingredients:
• 1 box cake mix (any flavor u desire)
• eggs according to the cake mix box
• milk substituted for the water
• 1 box instant pudding suitable to flavor of cake mix
•••• Mix all ingredients. Batter comes out thick & cake balls are perfect : )
Katt says
Do you add the oil as noted on the box?
Christi says
Yes. 🙂
katy says
What did you use to “fill” the cake pops with?
Christi says
Katy, I used buttercream frosting. 🙂
Do {Piggy Bank Parties} says
I use a regular cake mix every time and fill my wells using a small cookie scoop. It’s the perfect size and makes completely round balls every time.
Jody says
Your website is such a wonderful inspiration. I’m just starting and no where near the quality of your info. So thanks, for the inspiration.
With that said, I love my Baby Cakes pop maker. I got it on sale at Kohls for $19.99 with a 30 % coupon! Woo hoo! You have to try Brownies ( I used the Duncan Hines box mix with miniature peanut butter cups) but they have others or you could make your own of course. But they are delicious even without icing. Super quick treat.
Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray (soon to be Rachel Cooks) says
What a great guide! Thanks for the link 🙂
Sue @ Cakeballs, cookies and more says
so cute, I sort of want one, I know a few people that think the cake balls I make are too sweet with all the frosting, so this is a great alternative.
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
I have a babycakes maker, too! A couple of them 🙂 I haven’t played around with it as much as I thought I would (between Xmas baking season and Valentine’s Day and 2 bdays in our house…I’ve had a full calling card of other desserts…ha!)
I totally agree with your logic that if you’re going to buy it, use their recipes b/c they work specifically for the machine. The cake mix method works, but not as good as their recipes.
Love that you’re injecting them with frosting!
Lynsey @MoscatoMom says
Hey there! What a fantastic post!! I am totally in love with my Babycakes Maker and have made all KINDS of “pops” in mine – from Pancake Pops to CornDog Pops – I think they are a MUST for all moms as you can make TONS of things in them!
As for the “getting the pops round” – I have found that either the Babycakes Recipes – which are all fantastic – OR Pillsbury box cake mix works well. When I make “decorated” pops I use the Funfetti cake mix and just use a bit less water than it calls for, and they always turn out perfect 🙂