By
/ Last Modified On August 10, 2023Simple Gluten-Free Cake Pops that are also dairy-free, deliciously fudgy, and perfect for sharing. Vegan option included.
You can use your favorite cake recipe to make these cake pops, or you can use mine.
If you are looking for more gluten-free chocolate treat recipes, you’ll want to check out my Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Cake Donuts. My Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Ganache Cake is also scrumptious.
For more ideas, head over to my Gluten-Free Desserts.
Gluten-Free Cake Pops
Gluten-Free Cake pops are a super fun way to enjoy cake. They are basically little individual balls of cake mixed with frosting, dipped in delicious, rich chocolate.
You can serve them on a stick like I did here, or you can leave the sticks out.
Not only am I providing the recipe for these easy gluten-free cake pops, but I'm also including step-by-step instructions throughout this post.
You guys are going to love making cake pops once you see how easy they can be.
For these gluten-free cake pops, you're going to need a cake. I used my Easy Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake recipe and cut it in half.
If you need a vegan option or to keep this top eight free, you can use my Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes recipe and bake it up in a 9" round cake pan for 35 minutes.
You could also use your favorite cake recipe or box cake mix.
You'll also need frosting, vegetable shortening, Enjoy Life Foods Semi-Sweet Mini Chips, and little cake pop sticks.
If you want to get super fancy, and/or are a perfectionist like me, you'll want to get a foam board from the craft store that you can stick your cake pops on to dry.
The first step is to make the cake and cool it completely. Once you have your cake cooled, you'll want to put it in a large mixing bowl and break it up into pieces.
I've seen tutorials that tell you to cut the edges off the cake first to get rid of any hard or dry pieces, but I don't think you need to do this.
We'll add frosting next, and that will help rehydrate those edges so you'll have the perfect gluten-free cake pops.
Once your cake is in crumbles, you'll need to add the frosting. You can use my recipe for frosting (below) or you can use 1 cup of your favorite frosting.
Sometimes I like to add Enjoy Life Foods Semi-Sweet Mini Chips into the mix with the frosting for some extra chocolate goodness.
When mixing in the frosting, you can use a spoon, but it'll work better if you use your hands. It helps the frosting work into all that delicious gluten-free chocolate cake.
Once your frosting is mixed, you'll want to line a small baking sheet or a plate with wax or parchment paper.
Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop the batter into a ball and roll it in between your hands. Place it on your lined sheet or plate.
Once all the batter is rolled, place your sheet or plate in the freezer for 30 minutes to help the gluten-free cake balls firm up a little.
In a small mixing bowl, melt your Enjoy Life Foods Semi-Sweet Mini Chips with the vegetable shortening for 30 seconds at a time until melted. Stir the melted chocolate until smooth.
Dip the tips of the cake pop sticks into the melted chocolate and then into the center of your chilled gluten-free cake pop.
The reason for this is to help the gluten-free cake pops stay on the stick when you get to the step where you will dip the entire cake pop into the melted chocolate.
After all your gluten-free cake pops have sticks in them, place your sheet or plate back in the freezer for 5 minutes to help the chocolate harden.
Reheat your melted chocolate for 30 seconds and pull your chilled gluten-free cake pops out of the freezer. One at a time, dip each cake pop into the melted chocolate and twirl the stick to make sure the entire cake pop is covered in chocolate. Tap the stick on the side of the bowl to allow extra chocolate to drip off.
Place your cake pop back on your sheet or plate or onto your foam board stick first.
Repeat this step until all cake pops are coated. If desired, sprinkle Enjoy Life Foods Semi-Sweet Mini Chips or chocolate sprinkles on top. Leave the cake pops at room temperature to set, or place them in the refrigerator or freezer.
I love using Enjoy Life Foods Semi-Sweet Mini Chips because they are made in a dedicated top allergen-free facility, they are free of the top allergens, and they taste amazing. I use them to make gluten-free cake pops, in cookies, granola bars, cakes, brownies, and as a chocolate coating for ice cream sundaes and chocolate-dipped bananas.
I first tried them at a gluten-free expo in Dallas, TX. I've been hooked since.
They are my favorite chocolate morsel to bake with. If you don't have Enjoy Life Foods Semi-Sweet Mini Chips on hand, you can also use Enjoy Life Foods Mega Chunks for coating these gluten-Free Cake Pops.
It only takes about 30 minutes for your cake pops to set. After that, you can wrap them individually or store them all in a container or zip-lock bag in the refrigerator. You can use cake pop bags or zip lock bags.
If you are serving these cake pops during the holidays, you can sprinkle different colored sprinkles on top, or drizzle different colored frosting on the top.
When I make gluten-free cake pops, I make several batches at once and freeze them. Then I pull them out a dozen at a time when I need them. If you aren't going to serve them right away, you can store them in the freezer for up to six months.
You should have everything you need in this post to make gluten-free cake pops, including links to some of the things I use to make them.
If you make these gluten-free cake pops, please stop back by and let me know what you thought.
Gluten-Free Cake Pops
Simple Gluten-Free Cake Pops that are also dairy-free, deliciously fudgy, and perfect for sharing. Vegan option included.
Ingredients
- ½ gluten-free chocolate cake recipe
- ¼ cup dairy-free butter
- 1 ½ cups vegan powdered sugar (or your preffered brand)
- ½ teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract
- 2-4 tablespoon dairy-free milk (as needed)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
- 1, 10oz. bag gluten-free chocolate chips
Instructions
- Make cake according to the directions, halving the recipe, or use my Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Cupcake Recipe, and bake the batter in a 9" pan for 30 minutes.
- Once the cake is baked, let it cool completely then crumble it in a large mixing bowl.
- For the frosting: In a separate medium mixing bowl, beat the butter until it's creamy. Add in the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract and beat until it's smooth and all the powdered sugar is incorporated.
- Add 1 cup of frosting to your crumbled cake mix and work it in until it's evenly incorporated.
- Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop the batter and roll into balls. Place the cake pop balls onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet or plate. Once they are all rolled, place the cake pop balls in the freezer for 30 minutes to set.
- Pour the Enjoy Life Mini Chips into a medium mixing bowl and melt in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between each 30 seconds until melted. Add in the vegetable shortening and stir until mixed in.
- Pull the cake pop balls out of the freezer and dip the tips of each cake pop stick into the melted chocolate, then insert them into the center of each cake pop ball.
- Once they are all inserted, place your sheet or plate back in the freezer for 5 minutes or until the chocolate sets.
- Pull the cake pops out of the freezer.
- Reheat your melted chocolate for 30 seconds, and stir it again.
- Dip each cake pop into the melted chocolate and twirl the stick to coat the cake pop. Tap the stick on the side of the bowl to allow extra chocolate to drip off. If desired, sprinkle mini chips or sprinkles on top.
- Place the cake pop back on your lined sheet or plate, or insert it into a hole on a foam board. Allow cake pops to harden by leaving them at room temperature or placing them back in the freezer.
- If desired, wrap each cake pop and tie a ribbon around it.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. They never cost you extra.
-
Judee's Natural Rainbow Sprinkles 4 oz - Gluten-Free and Nut-Free - Brighten Up Your Baked Goods - Great for Cookie and Cake Decoration - Use for Baking and as Dessert and Ice Cream Toppings
-
Goabroa Cake Pop Display Stand with 100 PCS Cake Pop Sticks and 100 PCS Wrappers Kit, 21 Holders Clear Acrylic Cakepop Making Accessories for Weddings Baby Showers Halloween
-
Enjoy Life Semi Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips, 10 oz
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1 cake popAmount Per Serving: Calories: 165Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 62mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 0gSugar: 8gProtein: 0g
Eleanor
This recipe looks incredible! Thanks for telling us how to freeze them. I always want to make a large amount of baked goods at one time but I’m never sure about freezing the items I make. Thank you!
Eleanor
Sorry, I didn’t answer the question in the giveaway 🙂 I would first eat a handful of the chocolate chips straight from the bag, then I would make hot fudge sauce for ice cream sundaes!
Dana Hamilton
Chocolate chip cookies! We use Enjoy Life chocolate chips for all the things and have for years. Love them!!
Katherine
Wow, these cake pops look divine! First up if I won the giveaway would have to be our family favorite gf/df chocolate coconut tart (and maybe a few to freeze)! So exciting, thank you for sharing!
Hannah
These look AMAZING! I’m definitely going to make these ASAP. Also if I win the giveaway I will make a pumpkin chocolate chip bread, chocolate chip muffins, and sooo much more. Enjoy life is my absolute favorite!!!
Jess
I love enjoy life products and these pops look delicious!
Tammi Miller
These look great!
I would first make chocolate chip pumpkin bread!
Heather Yospe
I’d make these cake pops! Or homemade butterfingers.
Sydiessweets
I made these for a bridal shower and not only was the recipe so simple to follow- they were more popular than the bakery cupcakes!!! I will definitely save this for later 🙂
chrystal
I am so glad to hear it. Thank you for taking the time to stop back by and let me know.
Best,
Chrystal
Lauren
These look so yummy! Can’t wait to try them.
Jessica
Ok i would make these cake pops and hot chocolate with the enjoy life chocolate chips and coconut milk. Going dairy and gluten free along with some other random allergies enjoy life products saved me! And actual yummy gf recipes make me so grateful.
Catherine
Thank you for the tip about freezing a big batch! I always try to have something on hand for my 6yo with celiac to take to birthday parties, and these would be perfect!
Tim
I would try to make some homemade Reese's cups. They are as fun to make as they are to eat.
Jeffrey
I'm a self proclaimed chocoholic just like my father! He still reaches for the milk variety, I opt for darker, more bitter chocolate. If I was chosen as the winner the first thing I would make is fudgy brownies with a thick frosting!
jberry
Double Chocolate Cacao Chip Bars.
Vicki P.
I eat them straight from the bag! I make so many chocolate recipes and I could use these in every recipe I make!
marlene
Choc chips cookies
Cindy
Came pops are favorites with the grandkids!
Dominique
I would make some hazelnut brownie
Susan
Chocolate chip cookies
Georgette
The first thing I would make would be chocolate chip cookies!
Tenille Van Hollebeke
I love using Enjoy Life chocolate chips for all my baked goods! I think I'd make chocolate chip cookies (they're my favorite) or maybe a chocolate chip bread.
Karol
The first thing I would make is gluten free chocolate chip cookies, using their chocolate chips. Soft and gooey, if I could manage it
Angela
Since it is almost pumpkin month, I would make pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. Yum!
Analisa
If I won I would either make df, gf, ef cashew butter bars or gf, df, ef double chocolate chip muffins!!! Or maybe I'd just make both!! 😉
Jill
I would make my son’s favorite cowboy cookies and freeze them so that he could grab one whenever he wants.
Heidi
Super delicious cake for the cake pops, just just like I've found with all your recipes. The only problem I had was that I didn't realize how far you have to push in the sticks. We ended up not actually having too many covered in chocolate because they all broke off, but we're definitely willing to try again another time. Thank you.
chrystal
Hi Heidi,
I'm so glad you guys liked them!
Best,
Chrystal
Jessi
Hello! I have been loving your GF cake/cupcake recipes, and decided to try some cake pops last night (not knowing about this post!).. I make non-GF cake pops all the time, but this had me question things.. i used your finfetti cake recipe, cut in half, baked in 8" pan, which came out great! When I crumbled the cake, I found that I couldn't get as fine a crumb as I do on my regular cake pops.. do you experience this? Also, when i mixed in my frosting, my cake turned into a tough chewy mess- heeeelp! I didn't mix it any longer than I normally do, but for some reason it just didn't turn out correctly. The flavor was great, though! Any suggestions?
chrystal
Hi Jessi,
I haven't tried making funfetti cake pops. I'm wondering if cooking the sprinkles did something that caused this. Did you let the cakes cool completely before crumbling them? You could try adding more frosting? Sorry I can't be more help. I've made cake pops with my chocolate cake, vanilla cake, and lemon cake.
Best,
Chrystal
Jessi
No worries! Next time I'll try the chocolate cake. Thats always my favorite flavor anyway!
Kim
Hi!
I have made these cake pops twice now and they are well received by both gluten-free and gluten-enjoying folks. The sponge is very moist, with that in mind, is it possible to bake this as a Bundt cake, or might it have even-baking issues?
chrystal
Hi Kim,
I am so glad everyone loves them. I have a recipe for chocolate bundt cake 🙂
Best,
Chrystal
Kim
Hello,
I can't wait to try these! Can you recommend an allergy friendly vegetable shortening? I haven't been able to find one. Or is there a sub I can use?
Thanks so much!
chrystal
You can use coconut oil, if you'd like.
Best,
Chrystal