Make Cake Pops From Leftover Holiday Sugar Cookies (No Baking Required)
I’m sharing the easiest way ever to make DIY cookie pops, aka sugar cookie cake pops – no baking involved!
Here’s an easy no-bake dessert the family will love!
If you’ve ever made homemade cake pops then you likely know they can be a bit time intensive. Today I’m excited to share a fun baking hack of crushing the soft frosted sugar cookies, such as Lofthouse cookies you’d find at the grocery store bakery, to make super easy cake pops at home!
The result is a delicious ball of goodness dipped in candy melts and sprinkles. It’s almost like a sugar cookie truffle!
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, check out more easy desserts recipes!
This is such a fun activity for the older kids to do, and they honestly taste better than a pricey Starbucks cake pop in my opinion! These can be decorated as desired for various holidays and birthdays.
Savings time: Look for clearance cookies after the holidays when making these cookie cake pops!
To make your sugar cookie cake pops even more frugal, try grabbing this soft style of sugar cookie after various holidays on clearance! I was able to find these packaged cookies for just $1.29 after Easter, regularly $5.99. 👏
Nearly every grocery store chain and retailer, including Target and Walmart, will have their own version of soft frosted sugar cookies like Lofthouse cookies so they’re bound to be somewhere local to you.
Sugar Cookie Cake Pops
yield: 16 SERVINGS
prep time: 2 HOURS 30 MINUTES
total time: 2 HOURS 30 MINUTES
Soft cake pops with an outer candy coating and sprinkles just like Starbucks!
Ingredients
Directions
1
Add the cookies and cream cheese to a large mixing bowl or stand mixer. Mix until the cookies are small crumbs.
2
Use a cookie scoop or spoon to scoop up and roll small balls, about one inch. Place them on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.
3
Melt 1/4 cup of the candy melts (according to package directions). I used the microwave method to melt them in short intervals.
4
Dip the sticks into the candy melts and insert them into each cake pop ball. Freeze for a couple of hours on a parchment-lined tray.
5
Remove from the freezer and then melt the remaining candy melts. Place in a taller cup or jar.
6
Dip the cake pops in the melted candy coating. I find it easier to dip straight down and up. Tap the excess off and add sprinkles. Place the cake pops back on the parchment paper, in a jar, or inserted them into a piece of styrofoam to hold them straight up until set. Enjoy!
Tips for making sugar cookie cake pops:
- This style of cookie is so soft you can mash them up by hand, with a potato masher, or use your stand mixer. It was so fast to use my mixer and satisfying to watch!
- Use a small cookie scoop to make rolling the cookie crumb balls fast and easy! Make sure to place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking!
- Don’t skip the freezing part. In previous failed attempts with homemade cake pops, they would fall off the stick when dipping them. I figured out the trick is to freeze them with the stick on! Also dipping them straight down and then up in the melted candy coating helps. Those two tips have worked well for me.
Who knew these cookie pops would be such a fun cake pop hack?!
These really did taste yummy, and remind me of frosted Circus cookies. I loved how well this worked out and the idea makes so much sense because the cookies are already so soft and almost cake-like. 😋 Hooray for easy no-bake treat ideas that are exciting to make!
These dipped Ritz Cracker Fluffernutter Sandwiches are another delicious no-bake treat!
Oh wow. So fun! Can’t wait to try!
I hope you do! Let us know how they turn out for you, lbmomma!🥰
I’m adding this to tomorrows grocery list!
Do you really need the cream cheese or can you eliminate the cream cheese?
I think it cuts the sweetness a bit and is a good binder but ya you can omit and it will most likely be fine. I haven’t tried it so let is know! Thanks Sherri.
My daughter wants to make these together for her 13th birthday that we are celebrating today and we are excited to try them! Thank you so much for the recipe.
YAY! You’re welcome! 🎉Hope you enjoy making them together! 🤗 And a very Happy Birthday to your daughter!!🥳
Do these cookie pops require to stay refrigerated due to the cream cheese?
Hi Donna! So according to the food safety experts at the US government, cream cheese shouldn’t be out of the fridge for longer than two hours. Hope that’s helpful.
When I made mine and refrigerated they would sweat and then the sprinkles ran down the cake pop?
Hey Sarah! Make sure you freeze for a couple of hours before the final dip in the melted candy coating. Hope that helps.💕
Could you use melted frosting instead of the candy melts?
I am thinking that wouldn’t harden enough to ask like glue, however I am not really a cake pop expert 🙂 If anyone knows for sure, please chime in! Thanks, Daleen for the question!
I made sprinkle cookies the other day and have some broken ones left over do you think I could make this recipe using my cookies instead?
If they are the super soft cake-like texture kind then I would think so! But if they are the chewy or crumbly type then maybe no. Hope that helps…. You can also make cake pops from leftover cake and cupcakes!
I made these for our Easter get together and they are really sweet my family didn’t care for them.
Mix in golden Oreos instead of the cream cheese
Is there a good substitution for the cream cheese? I’m thinking about making thse for an event, and I know they would be at room temp for over two hours.
I am thinking maybe a little cream cheese frosting from a container.
Good idea. Thanks!
Oh sure!
What are your thoughts on adding like pumpkin or apple sauce for fall flavors?
Ya i do like that! Great idea. Maybe just add in a little pumpkin and cinnamon/nutmeg? I have not tried but if you do let us know 😀
We’re I can find that sticks?? That brand ?
Hi Viri! I used a brand from my grocery store in the baking aisle. Any craft store or big box retailer like Target or Walmart has them now too. We have the Wilton ones linked in the post ingredients if that helps from Walmart!
Do you think this recipe could be modified to make an actual cake using a small round metal pan, pouring the melted chocolate over the whole cake? My girl loves cake pops and requested a whole cake of this?
Wow! Yes I do actually. How fun and creative. It would be rich and dense but I think would taste yummy. Let us know!! ❤️