Perfect School Bus Yellow Vanilla Cake Pops
These bright and cheerful vanilla cake pops are a quick and easy back-to-school treat, featuring moist cake, creamy coating, and a nostalgic vanilla flavor with a fun school bus yellow color.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 24 cake pops 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box vanilla cake mix (about 15.25 oz / 432 g)
- Water, oil, and eggs as called for on the cake mix box (usually about 1 cup water, 1/3 cup oil, and 3 large eggs)
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
- 12 oz (340 g) yellow candy melts or white chocolate melting wafers
- Yellow gel food coloring (optional, just a drop)
- Sprinkles or edible markers for decorating (optional)
- Cake pop sticks or sturdy lollipop sticks
- Styrofoam block or cake pop stand for drying
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare the vanilla cake mix according to package instructions using water, oil, and eggs. Pour batter into a greased 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) pan and bake for 28-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool completely on a wire rack (about 1 hour).
- Once cooled, crumble the cake into a large mixing bowl using your hands or a fork until fine crumbs form but not powdery.
- Add 8 oz (225 g) softened cream cheese to the cake crumbs. Mix with an electric mixer or hands until the mixture is moist and sticks together when pressed. Adjust cream cheese or crumbs if too dry or wet.
- Roll the mixture into 1-inch (2.5 cm) balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or freezer for 15 minutes to help hold shape.
- Melt 12 oz (340 g) yellow candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Add a drop of yellow gel food coloring for a deeper yellow if desired.
- Dip the tip of each cake pop stick into the melted candy and insert halfway into each cake ball to secure the ball on the stick.
- Hold the stick and dip each cake pop into the candy melts, tapping off excess coating gently. Rotate to coat evenly. Place dipped pops upright in a styrofoam block or cake pop stand to dry. Let set at room temperature for 15-20 minutes.
- Decorate with edible markers or sprinkles before the coating fully hardens if desired.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
Chill cake balls well before dipping to prevent falling off sticks. Use short microwave bursts and stir candy melts often to avoid overheating. Tap off excess coating gently instead of shaking to prevent cracks. Powder hands with sugar to prevent sticking when rolling. For dairy-free, substitute cream cheese with coconut cream or vegan cream cheese. For gluten-free, use gluten-free cake mix.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cake pop (approxim
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 4
Keywords: cake pops, vanilla cake pops, school bus yellow, back to school treats, easy cake pops, kid-friendly dessert, candy melts, cream cheese cake pops