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!
Kay Pea says
I do not have a cake pop maker, but I used this recipe in my cake pop pans and was THRILLED with how beautiful they turned out! Super easy, too! I can’t wait to try the vanilla ones. Thank you for sharing!
Theresa L Pollard says
Excellent amount of detail regarding the pitfalls and successes of making cake pops! I have to make a bunch of these for my daughter’s upcoming bridal shower, and was looking for just this type of information.
Christi says
So glad it was helpful, Theresa!
Jacqueline Garrett says
Can i use oil instead of shortening to thin the candy melts ?
Christi says
I haven’t tried it so I can’t speak to the results, but if you’ve had success doing so in the past then it would probably work fine.
Lindsey says
What is everyone’s go to frosting or glaze to coat the outside of cake pop? Recipe if needed please and thank you.
Joann says
Can u use regular flour
Judy says
Why are my cake pops sticking?
Christi says
Hi Judy, can you elaborate a bit so I can help you figure it out?
The Radiant Gorgeous And Beautiful Miss Isabella says
I want to make this isn’t recipe but is the coffe optional? I don’t have any with me currently.
Pam says
I bought a Babycakes Model cp-12 at a garage sale; plugged it in to make sure it works; it heated up quickly but started. Smoking; burning smell; what do you think?
Christi says
Hi Pam, I’m not sure. Maybe it’s that initial burning off? Do you think they had used it?
Angel says
I just bought this machine and had a major fail, the cake pops weren’t rising enough, they were flat they were overdone on one side and on the other they were much lighter. So I came online searching for an answer. Found it here! I used a cake mix from a box. It makes sense it wouldn’t work with store box mix because those aren’t made for cake pop making. I will try one of the recipes from the manual and give it another shot! Also how do you put the batter in so neatly? Mine was running everywhere!! Maybe another problem using the box mix.
Viv says
I like to put just a dab of batter in the wells, place (eg.) a half maraschino cherry there and fill to 1 Tbsp. worth in a funfetti batter then bake, or a quarter of a peppermint patty with a chocolate batter or a small piece of stick pepperoni with a corndog or hushpuppy batter. A squeeze bottle really helps with this but the results are great. A little finicky but worth it. I’m just beginning to explore this neat little machine…found at a local thrift store for $2! Only thing missing was the wee fork but a thin bamboo skewer works just as well.