These chocolaty Gluten Free Cake Pops are a delicious kid-friendly treat that can be made and decorated for holidays, bake sales, or any occasion! Grab some lollipop sticks and a few simple ingredients because you are going to love making this easy cake pop recipe!
Jump to:
Have you tried making gluten free cake pops yet? They are a fun dessert and super cute and fancy!!
I also include a dairy-free cake pop option so everyone can enjoy this recipe! You can use any flavor of cake to make chocolate cake pops, vanilla cake pops, or even gluten free churro cake pops! This homemade cake pop recipe can be enjoyed all year long! You can also use a store-bought gluten free cake mix to make these cake pops.
This cake pop recipe makes a fun project to do with young kids because there are easy steps! You can also make these gluten free cake pops without frosting if you prefer. Just substitute softened cream cheese for the frosting.
If you are baking a cake, you can check out my Gluten Free Baking Tips and my Gluten Free Cake Troubleshooting Guide if you need further help.
What are cake pops?
Cake pops are sort of cake balls and can be linked back to lovely donut holes. Donut holes are usually glazed or covered in delicious chocolate. They are a tasty breakfast treat we have loved for years. They started the idea and helped it spread.
The main purpose of cake pops is to use up a stale or extra cake! The good news is that cake pops are denser and sweeter than the original cake. They are perfect for kid’s parties, birthdays, holidays, special treats, or just a little snack for yourself.
Making cake balls is perfect for those who like to play with their food! I also have a fun gluten free cake pop web story for more tips.
Why This Recipe Is Great:
- Portability: Cake pops are small, bite-sized treats that can be easily carried around, wrapped up as gifts, and frozen and stored so you have them on hand when you want them. They're perfect for parties, holidays, gatherings, or even as a treat on the go.
- Versatility: Gluten free cake pops can be made in a variety of flavors, and colors. Whether you prefer chocolate, vanilla, or something more exotic like carrot cake or lemon, there's a cake pop flavor for everyone!
- Taste: Cake pops are essentially small balls of cake that are coated in a layer of frosting and candy coating. This results in a delicious, moist, and flavorful treat that's hard to resist.
- Presentation: Gluten free cake pops can be decorated to match any theme or occasion. Whether you want to create a bouquet of flower cake pops for a bridal shower or decorate them with sprinkles for a kids' party, there are endless possibilities for customization.
- Easy to find ingredients: All you need is gluten free cake, frosting, and chocolate! Using leftover cake or cupcakes is also great!
Ingredients Needed:
- Gluten Free Cake - Use any of my gluten free cake recipes or gluten free cupcake recipes to make cake pops. You can also use a boxed cake mix.
- Frosting - Homemade or store-bought.
- Chocolate Melting Wafers - I like Ghirardelli best. Note that Wilton and other brands of candy chocolate are made on shared equipment with wheat.
- Sprinkles - Check this list to be sure your sprinkles are gluten free.
Tools For Cake Pops:
- Mixing Bowls
- Lollipop Sticks
- Cake Pop Kit with Wrappers, etc.
Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:
Step 1: Add cake to a large
Step 2: Add the frosting to the smooshed cake. Mix well so that you have a pasty cake-like mixture.
Step 3: Roll chunks of cake batter into balls and place them on a baking dish lined with wax paper.
Step 4: Melt some chocolate in a microwave safe dish and dip a lollipop stick into the chocolate. Quickly push the chocolate-dipped lollipop stick into a cake ball and allow it to set. Repeat until every pop has a stick.
Step 5: Refrigerate the gluten free cake balls with the sticks for 30-45 minutes to solidify the sticks. This will keep the sticks attached to the cake balls when you dip them into the melted chocolate.
Step 6: Add your chocolate melting wafers to a small microwave safe dish. Be sure the dish is deep enough to dip the cake balls in. Melt the chocolate in 10 second increments.
You can use milk, dark, white, or any chocolate flavor you like. If you want colored cake pops, use colored melting wafers that you can find at most grocery stores or add a few drops of food coloring.
Step 7: Dip each pop into the melted chocolate and dust with your favorite sprinkles. Place the cake pops back on the wax paper and refrigerate for 45-60 minutes. Enjoy!!
🔑 Sandi says: Make sure your cake balls are at room temperature before dipping them into the melted chocolate to prevent cracking!
Here are my favorite Gluten Free Desserts for Valentine's Day. Cake pops are great for gift giving too!
Tips and Recipe FAQ:
You can definitely use store-bought frosting to make these gluten free cake pops. If you prefer homemade frosting, here is an awesome Gluten Free Frosting recipe.
If you dipped cold cake pop balls into hot melted chocolate, it will cause cracking. When your cake balls are dipped in chocolate and warm a bit after refrigeration, they expand a little, which will crack the chocolate.
Cake pops can be made in any size, but note that the larger they are, the heavier they are, and the higher the risk of them breaking off the stick.
Cake pops will last up to 4-5 days in the refrigerator. You can get them to last longer by freezing them. You can freeze the cake balls, then defrost them when you are ready to dip them in chocolate and eat them.
If you prefer a truffle-like cake ball, you can skip the sticks altogether!
Storage:
Store these cake pops in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep fresh for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the cake pops in a freezer safe bag. I recommend freezing the cake balls. Thaw, insert the sticks, and then dip and decorate them.
More Gluten Free Dessert Recipes:
- These Gluten Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies get rave reviews. They are so chocolaty!
- If you love fudge, my Minty Heart Fudge Bites are easy to make. You can use any shape cookie cutter to shape them for holidays.
- If you need a great dessert for a wedding or New Year's party, try my Mini Gluten Free Champagne Cupcakes.
- Gluten Free Cakesicles are a bigger but similar take on cake pops. They are also great for any holiday or party.
📖 Recipe
Easy Gluten Free Cake Pops Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten free chocolate cake baked
- ½ cup frosting
- 1 ½ cups dark chocolate
- sprinkles optional
Instructions
- Add the baked cake to a bowl and use your hands to smoosh it up.
- Add frosting and mix it in with your hands or a large spoon until it forms a ball.
- Use a small cookie scoop to break off small bits of cake pop dough and use your hands to roll it into balls. Place on wax paper.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of chocolate in a microwave safe dish for 15-20 secons.
- Dip a lollipop stick into the melted chocolate, then stick into each cake pop. This will help keep the stick in each cake pop.
- Refrigerate for 30-45 minutes.
- Remove the cake pops from the refrigerator. Melt the rest of your chocolate in a microwave-safe dish. I recommend doing this at 15-20 second intervals, stirring between each interval to prevent burning.
- Dip each cake pop into the melted chocolate. Cover with sprinkles if you like.
- Place in the refrigerator 1 hour until chilled.
Notes
- You can use any cake flavor to make these gluten free cake pops! I have 75+ cake recipes to choose from.
- Use any gluten free cake flavor recipe you like or use boxed gluten free cake mix.
- Feel free to use store-bought frosting, or make your own.
- Be sure you check to ensure that your sprinkles are gluten free.
- These cake pops will last up to 5 days in your refrigerator, or freeze them for up to 4 months.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
This post was updated from an older February 2018 post with more details and tips.
If you love the recipes you find on my blog, I would love for you to sign up for my newsletter (and get my free gluten free lemon dessert e-cookbook!)
Laurel Hazleton
How many does this recipe make
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Laurel, it depends how large you make the cake pops. I ended up with 15 medium sized cake pops.
Miranda
Really good
Natalie
Chocolate pops?! That sounds AMAZING! I have made gluten-free chocolate balls by hand like this recipe but never thought about making in into pops. What a very creative idea!!!
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you so much Natalie 🙂
Debra C.
What is it about cake pop that makes it more fun? Not sure but I know we all love them! I also love your gluten free delicious version - looks so amazing!!
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you so much Debra 🙂