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Easy Donut Hole Cake Pops

April 9, 2014

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Easy Donut Hole Cake Pop in a mini muffin liner, with a platter of more cake pops in the background.

I’m the first to admit I can be a little lazy.  I’m a hard working mama most of the time, but that lazy bone that some people don’t have?  I think I might have a tiny one in me somewhere.  Every once in a while, I’ll see it surface.

Like when we are trying to get out the door to do preschool drop-offs and Little Boy #3 has the worst case of bedhead ever recorded.  He’s not even going to school, just going with me to drop off Little Boy #2 mind you.  Why do I spend 5 minutes looking for his hat instead of just actually wetting his hair down and running the comb through it?  LAZY!

Or how about when my shirt is a little wrinkly?  Do I get out the iron like a normal person, or do I spray it, and then try to use my hair blow dryer to get out the wrinkles?  GUILTY!

Last one… if I see a few crumbs on the floor, instead of walking to the closet, pulling out the dust buster and actually vacuuming up the crumbs, if I’m feeling really lazy, I might actually just kick them under the couch.  Sheesh, I know!  But see, I know it’s already dirty under the couch anyway… What’s a few more crumbs, right?  SO LAZY!

Donut holes with lollipop sticks pressed into them, on a Silpat lined baking sheet.

So these Easy Donut Hole Cake Pops are for all you lazy people like me out there!  Hard working chefs of America, please look away.

We’ve got all the cuteness of a cake pop, but you don’t have to bake a cake… or mix it with frosting… or scoop it into balls.

Donut holes with lollipop sticks pressed into them, on a Silpat lined baking sheet.

You just melt your chocolate or candy coating, dip the lollipop stick a tiny bit into the melted chocolate, and press it into the top of your cake donut hole that you bought in the bakery section of your grocery store.  This will keep it from falling off the stick when you are dipping.  If you donut hole is shaped a little wonky, just take a paring knife and trim off the wonky part.

Easy Donut Hole Cake Pops in mini muffin liners arranged on a serving platter.

Then you let the chocolate coating harden in the fridge for about 10 minutes, and pull them out and dip the whole thing in the melted chocolate, sprinkle your sprinkles, and then put them back in the fridge to set.  It took me about 25 minutes to do two dozen.  I also like to let the cake pop harden with the stick pointing up.  No worrying needing a special tray to hold them, and you get to add to the cuteness with patterned mini cupcake liners.

Easy Donut Hole Cake Pop in a mini muffin liner, with a platter of more cake pops in the background.

So if you need cake pops in a hurry, this is the way to go!  Or maybe you know the kids at your Easter celebration aren’t too into carrot cake – these are the perfect kiddo treat.

Easy Donut Hole Cake Pops in mini muffin liners arranged on a serving platter.

I almost didn’t post this recipe, because I didn’t really want to reveal my laziness to all of you… But then I thought, maybe I’m not the only one who appreciates a shortcut now and then.

Easy Donut Hole Cake Pop in a mini muffin liner, with a platter of more cake pops in the background.

But promise me, if you ever come visit me at my house, please don’t look under my couch!

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Easy Donut Hole Cake Pops

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  • Author: Julie
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

If you need to make cake pops in a hurry, this is the way to go!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 24 cake donut holes (not yeast donut holes, just the old fashioned cake)
  • 14 ounce bag melting wafers
  • 24 lollipop sticks (4 inch)
  • 24 mini cupcake liners
  • sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Using a double boiler*, melt chocolate or candy wafers. Be careful to use low heat and stir occasionally so you don’t burn it. Also do not let any moisture get into your melting wafers or it may seize up.
  2. When it’s completely melted, dip the tip of your lollipop stick about a half inch into the melted chocolate and press it into the top of the donut hole. Place the donut hole onto a parchment paper or Silpat lined baking sheet.
  3. Repeat with all 24 donut holes. Place them into the refrigerator for 10 minutes or until the chocolate has hardened.
  4. Then take them out and dip each one all the way into the melted chocolate, letting the excess drip off. I use a spoon to sort of scrap the excess of the bottom. Remember you won’t see this part because it will be underneath.
  5. While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle your sprinkles.
  6. Repeat with all 24 donut holes and refrigerate.
  7. When the candy coating has hardened, you can place each one into a mini muffin liner.

Notes

* A double boiler is a glass bowl set over a small pot with about 1 inch of simmering water it in. You don’t want the water to touch the glass bowl. ** I buy my colored melting candy wafers at Michaels or Hobby Lobby. Source: Inspired by Better Homes and Gardens


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Cake Pop
  • Calories: 129
  • Sugar: 9.4g
  • Sodium: 137mg
  • Fat: 5.4g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.9g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3g
  • Trans Fat: 0.1g
  • Carbohydrates: 19g
  • Fiber: 0.8g
  • Protein: 1.9g
  • Cholesterol: 4.2mg

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Filed Under: Dessert

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Comments

  1. Chloe @ foodlikecake says

    April 9, 2014 at 4:35 am

    Those are so cute! I love the way you decorated them 🙂

    Reply
    • Julie says

      April 9, 2014 at 6:33 am

      Thank you Chloe.

      Reply
  2. Karyne says

    April 9, 2014 at 7:37 am

    Oh Julie! You make me laugh. Have you ever seen a picture of Garrison? He perpetually has bed-head with no hat in public. My clothes (or Jon’s) are wrinkly? Yeah, I didn’t iron them OR use any hair dryer trick. And crumbs on the floor? Why do you think we had a dog? In fact, that’s one of the things I miss the most about her…

    Reply
    • Julie says

      April 9, 2014 at 8:03 am

      Haha! Good to know there are others who can be lazy like me!

      Reply
  3. Ilona @ Ilona's Passion says

    April 9, 2014 at 7:45 am

    They are so pretty! Good way to use donuts:)

    Reply
    • Julie says

      April 9, 2014 at 8:02 am

      Thanks Ilona!

      Reply
  4. Chelsea @chelseasmessyapron says

    April 9, 2014 at 6:51 pm

    What a cute idea! These are so fun and beautifully photographed! Pinned 🙂

    Reply
    • Julie says

      April 9, 2014 at 8:16 pm

      Thank you Chelsea!

      Reply
  5. Chichi says

    April 10, 2014 at 4:08 am

    What a wonderful idea. Love it and they are so cute as well

    Reply
    • Julie says

      April 10, 2014 at 1:38 pm

      Thank you Chichi!

      Reply
  6. Shiran @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet. says

    April 10, 2014 at 1:03 pm

    Love that idea Julie! Cake pops take so long to make!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      April 10, 2014 at 1:41 pm

      Thanks Shiran. Using donut holes definitely makes them very doable!

      Reply
  7. Kelly says

    October 29, 2014 at 3:01 pm

    How do you store these and about how long will they stay fresh?

    Reply
    • Julie says

      October 30, 2014 at 12:12 pm

      Depending on how fresh your store bought donuts are, I think these are good for 2-3 days. I just put them on a plate and draped plastic wrap over them to store.

      Reply
  8. Teri says

    June 9, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    Are the donut holes you use the old fashion GLAZED ones? I can’t find plain ones.

    Reply
    • Julie says

      June 9, 2015 at 8:56 pm

      They may have had a glaze on them, either way is fine as long as they are a cake donut, not the softer yeast raised donut hole.

      Reply
      • Teri says

        June 9, 2015 at 9:11 pm

        Ok! Thank you for your response and help.

        Reply
      • Leesa Noonan says

        June 13, 2017 at 3:51 pm

        Hi Julie – where did you find cake donut holes? Cant find them anywhere!

        Reply
        • Julie says

          June 14, 2017 at 8:30 pm

          Hi Leesa – I just found them in the bakery section at my neighborhood Walmart. Hope that helps!

          Reply
  9. Vilm$ says

    June 22, 2015 at 7:00 pm

    Can I cheat even more and use icing instead of melting wafers? Will the icing hold the stick in place?

    Reply
    • Julie says

      June 24, 2015 at 6:35 am

      I would worry that the icing would not be thick enough to hold the stick in place, but let me know if it works if you try it!

      Reply
  10. Va says

    February 19, 2018 at 9:01 am

    I like your honesty in regards to the crumbs and about being lazy let me tell you it’s not. How do we know those beautiful work of art baking images don’t have hidden short cuts any way I love your idea,made me change my mind about cake pops for my grandchild’s party. Putting the pops in paper cups will make it look fancy and this way I won’t have to worry about mini mistakes while coating. Thank You.

    Reply
    • Julie says

      February 22, 2018 at 7:42 am

      Hope everyone enjoys! These are perfect for parties!

      Reply
  11. Sharon says

    February 22, 2018 at 11:42 am

    I love this idea using donut holes, I need to prepare in advance so what are your thoughts on freezing these?

    Reply
  12. Sharon says

    February 22, 2018 at 11:44 am

    Love idea using donut holes, I need to prepare in advance though, what is your opinion on freezing these and if it can be done?

    Reply
    • Julie says

      February 23, 2018 at 9:21 am

      I haven’t tried freezing them before, but I don’t see why you couldn’t. I have had good luck freezing other types of cake pops.

      Reply
  13. Dee says

    December 23, 2021 at 11:30 pm

    Dang it I just came across your post, after I made 68 cake pops the original way and it took soooooo long! Now I know better for next time. THANKS for the shortcut.

    Reply
  14. Maria says

    August 22, 2023 at 1:45 pm

    I actually searched this because I thought it would be s great idea! The tip with the cupcake liners makes it even easier!

    Reply

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Hi I'm Julie, and I spend a lot of time in my lovely little kitchen. I love gathering my family around simple delicious food. This is how I do it. Learn more →

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