# What You Need:
→ Cake
01 - 1 box vanilla cake mix
02 - Eggs, oil, and water as required by cake mix instructions
→ Frosting
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
04 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
05 - 2 tablespoons whole milk
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Coating
07 - 12 ounces white candy melts or white chocolate
08 - Blue gel food coloring, oil-based
09 - 2 tablespoons coconut oil or vegetable shortening, optional for thinning
→ Decoration
10 - 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
11 - 1 to 2 teaspoons vodka or clear extract for speckling
12 - Edible gold or silver luster dust, optional
→ Assembly
13 - 24 lollipop sticks
14 - Styrofoam block or cake pop stand
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven and bake the vanilla cake according to package or recipe instructions. Allow the cake to cool completely before proceeding.
02 - In a medium bowl, cream the softened butter. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until the mixture reaches a smooth consistency.
03 - Crumble the cooled cake into fine crumbs in a large bowl. Add frosting incrementally, mixing with your hands until the mixture holds together without being overly sticky. You may not need all the frosting.
04 - Roll the mixture into 24 evenly sized balls, approximately 1 tablespoon each. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes to firm up.
05 - Melt the white candy melts or white chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over simmering water or in the microwave using 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Tint with blue gel food coloring to achieve a robin's egg blue shade. Add coconut oil or shortening to thin if needed.
06 - Dip the tip of each lollipop stick into the melted coating, then insert it halfway into a cake ball. Repeat for all balls and refrigerate for 10 minutes to secure the sticks.
07 - Fully dip each cake pop into the blue coating, allowing excess to drip off. Stand upright in a Styrofoam block or cake pop stand to set.
08 - Mix cocoa powder with vodka or extract to form a thin paste. Dip a clean brush into the mixture and gently flick it over the cake pops to create speckles. Optionally add luster dust for additional shine.
09 - Allow cake pops to set completely at room temperature before serving.
