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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
