Calling all mermaids: Looking for the perfect sweet treat for an under-the-sea celebration? Look no further than these adorable (and delicious!) mermaid cake pops.

The Perfect Mermaid Treat

We don’t really need an excuse for baking… or parties… or eating anything that involves sprinkles. However, for any party with a mermaid theme, this recipe is at the top of our must-make list!

Four colorful mermaid cake pops covered in sprinkles and pink icing sitting on white plate

How to Make Mermaid Cake Pops

For our cake pop base, we like to use this Easy Cake Pop Recipe by I Heart Naptime. Her recipe makes 20 pops, and they’re quick and simple to make — even with the help of a little mermaid (or two).

Here is a copy of her recipe, with our modifications in italics:

Equipment & Ingredients

20 cake pop sticks
15 ounce box white cake mix
20 ounces white chocolate melting wafers, I prefer Ghiradelli
1 stick salted butter , softened
2-2 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon heavy cream or milk
Pink (or preferred “mermaid color”) food coloring
Mermaid sprinkles (we used these)

Instructions

Make Cake

Cook according to package directions in a 9×13″ pan, and set aside to cool.

Buttercream Frosting

In a medium bowl, whip the butter. Add in 1 cup of powdered sugar. Mix until combined. Add the vanilla and additional powdered sugar, a little at a time. Add 1 Tablespoon of heavy cream or milk to make the frosting thick and creamy. It should hold a point.

cake pops rolled into balls on baking sheet — This is what your cake pops should look like once you’ve added in the frosting and rolled them into balls.

Make Cake Pops

In a large bowl, crumble the prepared cake into fine crumbs (make sure it has cooled completely before crumbling). Add 2 spoonfuls of buttercream frosting to the cake. Combine with your hands or a spoon. Gradually add more frosting until the cake holds together if squeezed. You don’t want it too crumbly or it won’t hold together.
Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop out 1 scoop of cake mixture. Roll into a ball and place onto a plate. Repeat until all the cake mixture has been formed into balls. Freeze balls for about 10 minutes.

cake pops sitting on wood serving tray next to bowl of melted white chocolate — Once your sticks are in and your chocolate is melted, it’s time to add the chocolate coating!

Dip in Chocolate

Right before they are ready to be taken out of the freezer, melt the white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Begin by heating for 30 seconds and then stirring. While stirring add a couple of drops of your preferred color food coloring. (We chose pink.)
Dip each cake ball.
Once coated in chocolate, gently tap the stick on the side of the melting dish to let the excess drip off. You can also spin or twirl the cake pop to remove the excess.
Before the chocolate starts to harden, add sprinkles, jimmies or other decorations. If decorating with more chocolate, let the chocolate covering harden on the cake pop. Then, using a spoon or fork, drizzle with the additional melted chocolate.
Push the cake pop stick into a styrofoam block or use a glass filled with rice to hold them upright. The chocolate will be set in about an hour.
Store for 3-4 days in an airtight container in a cool place.

hand holding single mermaid theme cake pop showing colorful mermaid sprinkles — Cake pop dipped in chocolate and rolled in sprinkles.

If you make these mermaid cake pops — or any finned treat — we’d love to see it! Be sure to tag @saltsyco in all of your sea-themed social adventures!