Okay, I think you guys will love this. But hate that I don’t have better pictures to show you. This is for anyone who wanted to make the Cupcake Pops but didn’t feel up to the task. They are based on the Red Velvet Cake Balls I’ve made before. These Cupcake Bites are just as cute and don’t need a cookie cutter to shape. But you will need a candy mold. They are easy to find though. As a matter of fact, here’s a link.
So instead of lollipop sticks, you can package them in little boxes and wrap with ribbon.
So, if you’re a first-time cake baller/cupcake popper, you may want to start with a cake mix and ready-made frosting. (These proportions work right for me everytime.) Then, you can try with your favorite cake and frosting recipe once you see how the proportions and texture should come out. Here’s what you do:
Easy Cupcake Bites
1 box cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)
1 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.)
1 package chocolate bark (or candy melts for cupcake bottom)
Colored Candy Melts (for cupcake top)
Candy Cup Mold
Sprinkles and m&ms for decoration
- After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl. (The texture should be fine/fluffy)
- Using the back of a large spoon, mix thoroughly with 1 can cream cheese frosting. (It may be easier to use fingers to mix together, but be warned it will get messy.)
- Roll mixture into quarter size balls (make sure they are smaller in diameter than that of your candy mold) and lay on wax paper covered cookie sheet.
- Chill in the freezer for a few minutes, until they are slightly firm, not frozen.
- Melt chocolate bark and candy melts in microwave per directions on package.
- Using a spoon or squeeze bottle, fill each mold cavity with a small amount of chocolate. Sorry, I didn’t think to measure how much. But as soon as you fill the cavity, go ahead and place one of your rolled balls into it. Carefully push it down until the force causes the chocolate to push up and fill in around the sides of the ball. You may have to experiment with a couple to get the right amount. Stop pushing once the chocolate reaches the top edge.
- Place the mold tray filled with cupcakes in the freezer for just a few minutes to let the chocolate set. Remove and then gently pull up on the cake ball top to release from candy mold.
- Now, holding the bottom of the cupcake, dip the top in another color of melted chocolate.
- Decorate.
- And, probably impress your friends and family.
Makes about 50. Store in an airtight container and they will last for several days.
Can these be stored in the freezer for a week or two?
I made these with a friend on Friday. I am making them for Easter!! Cannot wait-I am obsessed with these :)
I made some Red, White & Blue Cupcake Bites. You can check them out here – http://chengand3kids.blogspot.com/2013/06/red-white-blue-oreo-cupcake-bites.html . Thank you for all these wonderful ideas Bakerella! You’re the best!
These are too cute! I just made these for a bake sale at work, they didn’t come out perfectly round lol. Used a smaller sized cup mold (do have the size you have, well, deeper I guess lol)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wickedryoki/8463602118/
Where did you get the candy molds?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
I’m totally going to make these for my birthday party. Where do you get the candy molds? Can you get them from Joan?
Cool
OMG SOOOOOO ADORBS
I´m just trying to make the mini cupcake bites without the molding and use a cookie cutter instead. They are in the freezer right now ^^ Thank you very much for the idea!!
Greetings from Vienna (Austria)
P.S.: They are ment to be a birthday present and i hope my friend will like them as much as i do ;)
When i saw the bottoms of these, i thought why not use recces pb cups? So, thats what i might do.
i love your art so much trade wiyh meeeeeeeeeeeee ?
These are so inspiring. I am going to make some cake bites this weekend!
I luved making these, it was fun, my son Corbin tried to help. I don’t like the color of purple I ended using with, but I’m definatly making these again. It was easy and tons of fun. I’ve been having fun making all of your cake pops, please check out mine at http://ChocolateJen.blogspot.com (I need followers)
anything i can use instead of cream chesse i dont eat so much dairy and either does my family
Your site got me totally obsessed and in love with cake pops!
I’ve had my own cakepop adventures and they turn out better each time! I tried the mini cupcake bites too…AMAZING!
Check out my blog post about them:
http://daintygirl.ca/cake-pops-are-dainty-too/
You inspire me :)
Nicole aka Dainty Girl
I just found this post (I know it is several years old). They are so adorable! My daughter and I made some the other night and although they weren’t nearly as pretty as yours, they still tasted yummy! Quick question for you-when we dipped the tops in the melted white it was warm enough to melt the edge of the chocolate bottom and therefore got chocolate in our white topping. Any recommendations on how to avoid this? Thanks!
I am getting ready to make these as favors for my sisters baby shower. Since I have a MILLION things to do right before the shower I was wondering if you had tried freezing these and how they turned out as they thawed. I would like to make them a week ahead and then pop them in the freezer until the day of the shower…then putting them in the gift boxes for our guests. Do you have experience /thoughts/ tips on this?
Hi Bakerella ,
I just wanna say ….. YOU ARE SO AWESOME !!!
I love all your cute ideas and I love baking like you do …. :) I hope to meet you one day and I hope you can visit Singapore.
You’re so Fabulous and Fantastic!!!
I know that the Cake Pops can be refrigerated, but don’t recall anything on whether or not they can be frozen AND for how long. Many Thx
I love these! I recently made some for my son’s birthday party. A little color change to coordinate with our theme and they were perfect! I recently posted about them and gave credit by linking to your post and wonderful directions.
http://bitsandpiecesofthebetterlife.blogspot.com/2011/10/mickey-mouse-birthday-party.html
These are adorable! Could you use peanut butter cups for the bottom instead of a chocolate mold for the bottom?
Do you have to use almond bark or candy melts for the chocolate base? Is there any reason you couldn’t use melted chocolate chips?
Thanks!
Bakerella,
You’re talent is AMAZING. I am going to attempt to make the cupcake bites alone with the cup cake pops to sale at my children’s swim meets. All proceeds will go directly to the team. I am very excited and hope I dont mess them up too bad when I give a go at it. Thank you so much for all the great information and the fabulous pictures!
Hey
Love your blog! reading it lots of times! And would love to finaly try something out by myselfe.
It’s just that I’m from germany and its hard for me to find all those things I need…
I tryed you red-vevet-cake as it just looks awsome but it turned out to be gray because I couldn’t find bakeable foot colouring…. anyway
Can you tell me where I can get this “candy mold”? I keep on finding some but with an clear border… May there is something around england? Cause I’ve got friends over there who could get me that stuff. I just don’t know where to find it or even how it is called… That makes me very sad… I think it won’t look that nice with an clear border…
Would be lovely if you can help me. :)
cheers an many greetings from lovely germany
can i uses something besides cream cheese
bakerella,
i love you!!
xx marijke
I made the little yellow chicks for Easter. They turned out perfect and were a Big Hit!!! Everyone loved them! Thank you for sharing your recipe, you are soooooo clever!
I was just surfing to find ideas for my daughters bday party..and I LOVE these lil cupcake bites! I cannot wait to make them. We made some of your cake pops at christmas time for goodie bags and they were a big hit! :) Thank you!
Hello Bakerella,
Do you need to refrigerate these since they have cream cheese in them?
Thanks,
Nicole
Could you use a mini PB cup for the bottom?
WOW! these look soo cute!!! they don’t look too hard to do either!!!
these are just adorable!!!! I’m baking these on friday and bringing them out to happy hour!
I live in Australia and we don’t have cream cheese frosting – what would you use in place of this? Would warm apricot jam work if it is only being used as a binding mechanism?
Thanks,
Nicole
bakerella you’re really awesome! these are soooo adorable!
do you mind tell me, other than candy coating what else can we use for the coating?
Here is a link to pictures of my attempt:
http://cake-factory.webs.com/cupcakebites.htm
Hope you like them! :)
Thanks!
Hi Bakerella,
I am a huge fan of all of your work!
I made these cupcake bites today and posted them on my website, maybe you could have a look?
They’re long not as good as yours, neither is the photography, but I am still proud of the result!
Thank you for giving me continuous inspiration!!
Hello – how would you ever price the balls and the pops if someone wanted to buy them? I have had people ask how much I would charge to make them.
okay first of all YOU ARE MY NEW IDOL!!!! your book is ordered and on its way to me :)
could i use regular betty crocker frosting? Cause here in Australia we dont have access to cream cheese frosting or candy melts etc. So could i replace the cream cheese frosting with plain old frosting? and could i replace the candy melts with white chocolate?
thanks :)
i am so excited to get my cake pops book
Bakerella,
A friend just sent me your link for cake bites and right now my inner baker girl is jumping for joy! I am a woman who is one with her Kitchen Aid and I CANNOT wait to try the puffins and cake bites. I’m just giddy! Thanks for all the awesome recipes and suggestions and I’m bookmarking you now!
Thanks! Alison
You are so clever! Everything you make is a feast for the eyes and the tummy too. A true artist.
I first had cake balls at a baby shower and fell instantly in love. Then I came to your site and was whisked off to heaven. I must have spent over 3 hours on your site the first time I discovered you. Much luck with your book and your further success.
I just wanted to know how can I make these cupcake pops mentioned above on a stick? I really love their shape, and the finished bottom.
I made these in pink for Breast Cancer Month…it was the most popular dessert on the table..thank you.
I first heard about this site a month ago – wasn’t aware of it in the UK – such an inspiration – now I need to source the products.
Thanks for the tutorial! Just made these for my birthday and everyone was so impressed… but I used peanut butter cake instead of red velvet – yumm!
Bakerella,
Could you tell us what brand of mold you used? It would be so helpful
What brand of cake mix do you use for the chocolate cupcake bites?
Made these twice in the past 2 weeks- once for a family BBQ and once for July 4th with red, white & blue sprinkles and yummy!! They def get much easier the second time you make them!
these are amazing! i have been searching and searching for perfect bday ideas for my daughter. I belive Ive found it!
I made these with orange, purple and yellow as the “frosting” for the first time for my daughter’s 3rd Tea Party Birthday on June 5th. I absolutely LOVED the experience and the outcome – they were beautiful to look at and beyond delicious to eat! Thank you so much for your creative gift and for terrific directions. I follow recipe directions to the letter so following yours was heaven sent and so very enjoyable as much as I was freightened doing something totally new. Thank you!
I just made these for a friends birthday this week. I used brownies instead (AMY – I didn’t use frosting and the balls held their shape nicely!).
I need to work on my dipping technique for the tops of them, but my 2 yr old daughter wants them for her “princess tea party” birthday in a few weeks.
Bakerella, question for you. Have you ever tried making these cupcake bites from brownies? I’m wondering if you’d need to add the frosting because brownies are so moist to begin with. Let me know your thoughts if you’ve got a free minute.
my mold was not as deep so mine were getting stuck in the chocolate and not as evenly coated. but still pretty darn cute :) you are fab!!
Love, love, love these bites! What size candy mold did you use? The small or the medium cups?
Oh my goodness EVEN better idea than using the cookie cutter to make these ‘cupcake bites…well both are absolutely adorable…but as I’m trying to make things as easy for me as possible -these would be great!!!
Love love your site too! :)
SOOOO in love with your blog! I’ve been looking for an occasion to use the cupcake pops and now my oldest’s birthday is coming up – perfect timing. He’s having a Super Mario Bros. party, so I’m turning the pops into the red and green turtle shells from the game – he’s so excited! Thanks a ton!!!
What awesome cake and sweets ideas. I can’t wait to try some of them
OMG, thank you for posting this new updated (easier!) way of making the cupcake bites. SOOOO much easier and they tend to look a lot better too! My family loves them! I thank you so much for posting all of these wonderful creations…I love making them! You are a baking genius
I’ve made a box of Duncan Hines chocolate cake (13×9) and I have a 16oz can of cream cheese frosting. I’ve mixed it, but it is really mushy and there appears to be more frosting than cake. When I look at your picture, it looks brown and cake-like, where as mine is more white in colour and frosting like. Is this alright?.
These are so cute! I am fairly challanged when it comes to baking…haha but I stumbled across your blog a few days ago and just think these are so adorable! I’m gonna give these a whirl, but I just have a question before I start. I notice that you use cream cheese frosting for the recipe, but would any flavor work or does the cream cheese tend to work better for some reason? Just curious! Thanks so much!! Wish me luck…
Just wanted to let you know that my son is using your cupcake bites for a math project (doubling a recipe). We have made two batches and flavored them with peppermint and cherry. The balls aren’t perfectly round but he has done most of the work. He has chosen his two school colors to cover the top. We have decided to dip the tops and they look very homemade but they are delicious.
Thank You!
I wil SOOO make this especially beacuse I’m going to buy a similar mold for the graduation candy caps. i feel like i over-use the word ‘cute’ ever since finding this blog. everthing is SO darn CUTEE!!!!!
I made these thinking they’d be easier than the lollipops — and I must say, I liked the lollipop ones better. Cuter — and I thought just as much work, and the tops were harder to dip on these.
I also made it with the oreo truffle mix, and I totally liked Bakerella’s cake ones better too.
Still amazing, just a preference.
I’m going to make the lollipops for a princess party in June — maybe into magic wands? Any thoughts.
Such a wonderful, delicious idea. My daughter and I spent the weekend making these and they were a huge hit with our family and my coworkers. Not only were they cute as heck, they’re so good! Thank you for making me look like a creative baking genius (though I made sure that you ended up with the credit!)!!
If i made these and shipped them to the east coast from California do you think they’d still survive?
My cousin and I made these today–with the help of my kitten, Schrodinger, of course,–and, although not quite as aesthetically perfect as your’s, the recipe worked as promised! We used green and white candy melts for St. Pat’s day!
so..I stumbled upon this website this evening and I am in LOVE. Oh the baking I am going to do (or at least have a blast attempting) starting tonight!!!!
I have made these multiple times now and they are still my favorite thing to make for treats!!
Thank you so much Bakerella I love your site/blog!
I have all the stuff to make these for my baby’s 1st birthday this weekend. I hope mine will be as cute as yours!
It’s okay to use a different kind of cake, right? I bought white. Not a big red velvet fan. :)
And, can I freeze them for Saturday? Or would you wait until a few days closer?
Hi I love your stuff, and I’m wondering if I wanna make a chocolate one, do I also used cream cheese frosting?
i Like the frosting and the springls
woow.. I think Im in love :)
one question… cream cheese frosting? is that philadelphia? Im not sure, I live in Mexico, and i would like to buy it, but im not sure about it. please help!
thanks!
I just made these and I am in love with them, so cute!!! Just one question…..why cream cheese frosting? Can I use any type of frosting?
oh my goodness these are to die for!! thank u soooo much for the grand Idea!!! u are the best!!!
Ok I am about to try these out….wish me luck…you have the BEST website….I come here all the time….
After failed attempt on making cupcake pops, I ended up making these..lol XD Here’s a picture of mine :)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1037654&l=4134511b17&id=1336795557
The pink color is too pink (I only had white melts and red food coloring yesterday), next time I’ll buy the pink melts! :3
I just made the cupcake pops — whew — they are resting comfortably now.
Then I got to thinking — how on earth am I going to get 25 of these to my son’s school?? Any ideas on transporting them? And after they are dipped, would you store them at room temp, in the frige or ??? His party is Fri. am, I made them tonight (Monday)
Email me!
Thanks
These were a blast to make! While my hands were stained red for a bit in the beginning, it was worth it. I highly recommend getting 2 candy mold trays to speed up the process (which is what I plan to do next time), but for a first attempt, they came out adorable!
http://melgotserved.tumblr.com/post/374860194/red-velvet-cupcake-bites-inspired-by-bakerellas
Thanks Bakerella!
You are amazing! A girlfriend of mine put a link on facebook, and now I am hooked on your blog! I can’t wait to try some of your amazing masterpieces!!! :)
Kate – there’s a link to the mold in the post.
Rachel – several days is ok. one pound
I made cupcake bites for my daughter’s 1st Birthday. Her theme was lil’cupcake and the colors were pink and purple so I made the bites pink with purple sprinkles. I wrapped individual bags and tied pink ribbon with a tag that had the guest name and table # on it. Everyone just loved them! I’m now doing some V-day cupcake bites for my son’s pre-school class.
I just tried them and they worked perfectly!! I am so excited. I used different colors of chocolate for the “icing” pink, blue, white and brown. and different colored smarties for the tops. Thanks for the idea!
These bites look amazing!! How far in advance would recommend is “safe” to make them? Also, “one package chocolate bark or candy melts”…. what is the weight on that package? I’m going to buy online and want to make sure I get enough. Thanks!
I love this idea!! I have this saved in my favorites now and plan on making these for my son’s baptism! Thanks for the amazing favor idea!!
First of all, Bakerella, you are so very talented! I’m so glad there are creative people like you out there that come up with these ideas! I can duplicate, but I can’t dream up ideas like you have.
After making about 500 of these since last Christmas, I have one tip for those making these little buggars that might simplify things for them like it did for me…I bought the mold that you have the link to on this site, and instead of melting the candy melts in a bottle or bag, I started melting them directly in the mold. I use four (Wilton’s) candy melts per mold and microwave them in the tray for 1 min., 5 sec. (melting time may vary depending on your microwave).
This has eliminated waste (no more leftovers inside the bottle or bag), and each mold has the same amount of candy, making the cupcakes more uniform in size. Once I pull the mold out of the microwave, I stir each mold with a toothpick, tap it a few times to get the air bubbles out, and then stick the cakeball in the center.
Granted, I don’t know how long the mold will last with heating it up and then freezing it, but I’ve made 200+ so far using this method, and it is still going strong.
-Kara
Bakerella,
I’m soo exicted I found your blog! It feels like I got my first Christmas present with all your amazing recipes. Made my first batch of the cupcake bites the other day – they are a long ways off from your showcase bites, but I don’t mind practicing ’till I get it perfect. Any suggestions as to how to get a really nice round little top? Also, how deep a mold are you using for the bottoms? Thanks in advance for your answer…. Bake On!!!
is there any way to make these into a pop?
I have to say I am in awe! Thank you for making me think of cupcakes in a whole new way! I have to go preheat my oven! I don’t know what to make first!
Thanks so much for the reply, Bakerella! As an FYI, I did end up melting down my chocolate bark with the little bits of peppermint throughout it into my pot of chocolate wafers on the stove top and it worked wonderfully. Gave the chocolate bottoms a nice little light peppermint crunch. :)
These got more attention than my daughter did, when I made them for her first birthday party! I was having trouble finding the right mold, so I also tried a silicone ice-cube tray that happened to have ridges along the side. It worked really well, and held up better than the candy mold I also ended up finding. The mold cracked after the constant pulling and refrigerating while the silicone held up nicely!
Baileysmom – really not sure. I haven’t seem peppermint bark. If you’re talking about mint flavored bark though , I think it would be fine.
I just discovered your blog via searching for “cake balls” on google…THIS IDEA IS BRILLIANT! I can’t wait to make these. Absolutely amazing.
I have been making these ever since I seen your post about them! I decorate cakes and always had leftover cake from leveling the tops off. I felt it was a shame to waste all that cake (and my husband tried to eat SOME of it lol) so I was really glad when I stumbled across this great idea! Well I honestly can’t say I’ve tried them because of food allergies (which is probably a good thing from what I hear! I think it would be “one for me, one for them” lol)
Anyways, everyone I made them for just loved them and I’ve been busy making them ever since. I did them as favours for my sister’s wedding this August (150 of them) and THEN came the big order…..a friend of mine wanted to try them as a fundraiser for a school she teaches at. Well 1678 cake truffles later, I’m finally done! It has been insane but it’s lots of fun too :) I’m looking forward to filling lots of orders for Christmas and making them oh so festive and fun!
Thanks again for all your great ideas!
-Stephanie
Love these! I have read and re-read the instructions as I am an amateur and want to make these to take to a Christmas Party. Probably not a good idea to make this my first attempt and want to take it somewhere, but so many of the comments have been SO helpful!
I have one question:
Could I mix regular chocolate/peppermint bark down and add that to the Mercken’s wafers for additional flavour? Would that combo mix together well?
Thanks, Bakerella for such inspiration!
Christina – the fridge will be fine.
I am making these for my son’s homecoming dance party. I want to make them ahead of time but live in a humid climate, Florida, should I store them in the fridge/freezer?
Katherine – You used the right amount. Don’t judge the taste until you cover with chocolate. Actually I think they are at their best on the second or third day.
Laura – not a lame question – use any flavor you like.
Like EVERY poster here, I am in love with your blog! I tried this recipe with box yellow cake and homemade dulce de leche, dipped in chocolate and it was amazing! I plan on experimenting with other flavors…if I can get people to stop asking for the yellow cake ones first! :-)
This may be a totally lame question… but does it have to be cream cheese frosting?
<3 ur ideas blow me away!
Love from little Kuwait in the middle east!
These are so cute. One question though- how much frosting do you use per 9×13 pan? I tried using about 3/4 of the can and it made my cake so wet, it tasted undercooked.
These are super cute, but if they’re gross it may not be worth it…mine were gross. :(
Does it work better with scratch made cake/frosting? I’m a scratch kind of girl, but as a test I used a mix and then prepared frosting. Is that the problem?
Beautiful! I did them and it was a success! Thanks a lot!
I think the chocolate coating works better. If you use regular chocolate, you'll want to try adding a litte shortening to make the chocolate easier to work with.
Hi! I am going to make these little cuties for my daughter's birthday party. Do I specifically need 'chocolate bark' or can I use chocolate chips melted or just a good chocolate melted? Thanks!
I made these in February using a cherry-chip cake and cherry frosting, then milk chocolate or dark chocolate to dip them in. The dark chocolate-cherry taste was divine – the cake mixture was quite sweet, so the dark was a great balance. They were a fun valentine's treat for my husband and parents!
My nine year old daughter and I made a batch of these today. They were nowhere near as beautiful as yours, but we had a great time and they taste great! Thanks for sharing your talents.
http://colorfulom.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-bow-to-bakerella.html
I know you’ve pretty much heard it all, but these are adorable! I made them to give out as favors at my daughter’s birthday party. Mine didn’t look as smooth as yours (is there a trick?, but they were still cute. Do you have a favorite flavor combo? I used white chocolate for the bottom, cherry chip cake mix, and pink melts. Thanks for sharing this idea! Your blog is inspiring!
I made some mini cupcake bites but didn’t have the candy mold so I winged it but they came out very delicious. Thanks for all your great ideas!
http://nolakaty.blogspot.com/2009/05/cupcake-bites-and-cake-pops.html
I love what you’ve done with your Cake Bites! I’ve shamelessly borrowed the idea and created my own version. I posted pictures @ my Flickr site: here