# What You Need:
→ Cake
01 - 1 box (15 oz) vanilla or chocolate cake mix, plus box ingredients (eggs, oil, water)
02 - or 1 homemade 9-inch cake, fully cooled
→ Frosting
03 - 1/2 cup cream cheese frosting or buttercream frosting
→ Coating & Decoration
04 - 12 oz candy melts in school colors, or white chocolate with food coloring
05 - 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening (optional, for thinning chocolate)
06 - Sprinkles, edible glitter, or colored sugar in coordinating colors
07 - 24 lollipop sticks
08 - 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
09 - Fondant in school colors (optional, for cap decorations)
# Directions:
01 - Prepare the cake according to box or homemade recipe directions, then cool completely.
02 - Crumble the cooled cake into fine crumbs in a large mixing bowl.
03 - Add frosting gradually, mixing until the mixture binds and holds together when pressed.
04 - Portion and roll mixture into 24 even balls, approximately 1 tablespoon each.
05 - Arrange balls on a lined baking sheet. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or freeze for 20 minutes.
06 - Melt candy melts or chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl using 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Add vegetable shortening if needed for a thinner consistency.
07 - Dip each stick tip into melted coating, then insert halfway into each chilled cake ball.
08 - Submerge each cake pop in melted coating, gently tap off excess, and return to stand upright.
09 - While coating is still wet, add sprinkles or colored sugar. For graduation caps, press a fondant square on top and attach a mini chocolate chip using melted chocolate as adhesive for a tassel.
10 - Allow cake pops to set upright in a styrofoam block or cake pop stand until coating is completely hardened before serving.
