Donut hole cake pops take classic cake pops and give them a new twist. Donut holes are coated with melting candy and decorated to fit any occasion you like!
These donut cake pops are a quick and easy way to provide cake pops at your next party. These easy treats are ideal for baby showers, birthday parties, and so much more.
Using store-bought donuts dipped in candy melts is the perfect smart host's secret to a homemade look in half the time. So much less work than baking a cake.
Donut Hole Cake Pops
This was inspired by my other cake pop recipe with a twist on this site and these pops made from rice krispies. These pops pair well with these cookie monster cookies as part of a delicious dessert spread.
Ingredients
It only takes a handful of simple ingredients that you can easily find at your local store to make these fun pops. I usually have a blast ordering way too many different sprinkles and decorations from Amazon.
- Plain donut holes
- Plain mini donuts
- Green Candy melts or Purple or Orange or melting wafers of your choice
- Candy eyes
- Assorted sprinkles, like this, these ones or like this one
- Black writing gel
- Cake Pop Sticks or Cake Pop Sticks (with drying stand)
See the recipe card below for exact quantities.
Instructions
It only takes a few easy steps to make these absolutely adorable pops!
Step 1: Prep the Donut Holes
Roll the donut holes in your palms so you can feel which side is smoothest and roundest. That's the side you should make the top of your pop.
Melt the candy according to the package directions, then dip the sticks into the candy. Stick the candy-coated end of each stick into a donut holes and allow it to cool upside down.
Step 2: Dip the Donut Holes
Once the sticks are secured inside the donut holes, we need to get your donut holes dipped. Carefully dip each donut hole pop into the melted candy, rotating until each one is completely coated.
Step 3: Decorate
Use candy eyes, sprinkles, and black writing gel to decorate each doughnut hole pop as desired, dry in stand, cardboard box or syrofoam and serve once the candy has set.
Hint: The easiest way to melt your candies is in the microwave at 15-second intervals, stirring in between.
Substitutions
Don't have the correct ingredients on hand or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this donut hole cake pops recipe.
- Donut Holes - Use any variety of donut holes you like. They're all delicious.
- Candy Melts - You can use any candy melts you have on hand or white chocolate and a double boiler.
Variations
Want to personalize these donut hole pops? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.
- Monster Pops - Use a base coat of candy. Then, pipe melted candy into horn shapes and let dry on parchment paper. Secure to the monster head with more melted candy.
- Star Pops - Allow the base candy coating to dry partially, then pres star sprinkles into the pops.
- Sprinkled - Let the base coat set for about 3 minutes, then coat in sprinkles.
- Holiday Themes - Use colored candies to match every holiday like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy these monster cupcakes.
Storage Tips:
These are best the day they are made, but you can make them 24 hours in advance. They're still edible by the 3rd day, but they're noticeably less fresh.
Do not store it in the fridge or freezer. The candy melts may sweat when brought to room temperature, this can cause cracking, mold, or sprinkles to bleed.
If stored overnight, store at room temperature in either an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap.
Equipment
You'll only need a few items to make this recipe.
- Small saucepan or microwave safe bowl for melting the chocolate
- Glass bowls
- Lollipop Sticks or White Treat Sticks (with drying Stand)
- Colored Treat Sticks
- Styrofoam Box or Cardboard Box
Storage
These are best the day they are made, but you can make them 24 hours in advance. My kids enjoyed them on day 3 with no complaints, however I could tell they weren't fresh.
Do not store it in the fridge or freezer. The candy melts may sweat when brought to room temperature, this can cause cracking, mold, or sprinkles to bleed.
If stored overnight, store at room temperature in either an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap.
Tips
While the process of making these pops is easy, there are a ton of nuances that you should know. They're all easy and straightforward, but they make a big difference.
- I have learned to choose candy melts that do not have a white film. Most brands have a little window you can see in the package. If you pick up a bag with a white film, your final result will likely have a white film.
- If you have lumpy donut holes, use those ones to fully coat in sprinkles. It helps hide the flaws!
- If adding the second layer of candy melt, make sure the candy melt temperature is close to room temperature to ensure the layers don't crack or separate.
- Give the donut hole a quick shaping between your palms before placing it on the stick.
- For drizzled pops, allow the first layer of candy melt to almost set completely before drizzling on the second layer.
- For monster pops, allow the first layer to dry before decorating. Use additional melted candy melt coating to stick the eyes to the cake pops and decorate with sprinkles and black writing gel as desired.
- To make monster horns, pipe horn shapes on wax paper and attach to cake pops using additional melted candy melt. For large horns, I like to stick a sprinkle in the head for support/backing.
- For star pops, allow the dipped cake pops a few minutes to set before pressing the stars into the cake pops.
- For sprinkle-topped pops, allow the candy melts to set for 3 minutes before dipping tops in sprinkles.
FAQ
Do you have questions about these donut hole cake pops? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about donut hole pops.
They'll last for up to 3 days at room temperature stored in an airtight container.
No. The candy coating can sweat and crack.
You can make these up to a day ahead even though they are best eaten the day you made them.
More Donut Recipes
Do you like donuts? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
Donut Hole Cake Pops
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Donut Hole Cake Pops
Equipment
- Melting pot Small saucepan or microwave safe bowl for melting the chocolate
- Cake Pop Sticks 6 inch or Lollipop sticks or White Treat Sticks
- Cake Pop Stand or use styrofoam or a cardboard box.
Ingredients
- 12 plain donut holes
- 12 plain mini donuts
- 1 cup candy melts of each desired color
- candy eyes
- Assorted Sprinkles
- Black writing gel
Instructions
- Prepare donut holes for dipping by giving a quick roll between your palms and determining where you will place your stick. I like to make sure the smoothest rounded side is at the top of the cake pop.
- Melt the candy melts according to package directions. Each brand may vary slightly. I use the microwave in 15 second intervals, but you can also melt them on the stove top or in a double boiler.
- In between intervals, make sure to stir the melts for a full minute. I often find the final few lumps melt away if you give it a bit of time.
- If your candy melt mixture is too thick and is pulling donut holes off the stick, add oil ½ teaspoon at a time to thin it out. (Coconut or vegetable)
- If you have lumpy donut holes, use those ones to fully coat in sprinkles. It helps hide the flaws!
- Carefully dip each cake pop stick into the candy melts and stick into the cake pop. Allow to cool upside down.
- If adding the second layer of candy melt, make sure the candy melt temperature is close to room temperature to ensure the layers don't crack or separate.
- When the chocolate has cooled, carefully dip each cake pop in the remaining melted candy melts rotating until fully coated.
- Use the candy eyes, sprinkles and black writing gel to decorate cake pops as desired, dry in stand, cardboard box or syrofoam and serve once the candy melts have set.
Notes
- These are best the day they are made, but you can make them 24 hours in advance. If storing overnight, store at room temperature in either an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap. Do not store it in the fridge or freezer. The candy melts may sweat when brought to room temperature, this can cause cracking, mold or sprinkles to bleed.
- I have learned to choose candy melts that do not have a white film. Most brands have a little window you can see in the package. If you pick up a bag with white film, your final result will likely have a white film.
- For monster pops, allow the first layer to dry before decorating. Use additional melted candy melt coating to stick the eyes to the cake pops and decorate with sprinkles and black writing gel as desired.
- To make monster horns, pipe horn shapes on wax paper and attach to cake pops using additional melted candy melt. For large horns, I like to stick a sprinkle in the head for support/backing.
- For star pops, allow the dipped cake pops a few minutes to set before pressing the stars into the cake pops.
- For sprinkle topped pops, allow the candy melts to set for 3 minutes before dipping tops in sprinkles.
- For drizzled pops, allow the first layer of candy melt to almost set completely before drizzling on the second layer.
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