This is one of my most popular recipes to date! Death by chocolate cake pops live up to their name. Dangerously chocolate-y, and devilishly delicious these cake pops will make people who think they don’t like cake pops, LOVE cake pops.
These cake pops are untraditional in the fact that they are not baked balls of cake dipped in a frosting or coating. Rather a baked cake that has been cooled, crumbled and mixed with a mound of chocolate buttercream. (Ummmm, YUM!!)
They are kind of like chocolate truffles... only better, because buttercream.
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Using strong black coffee with Dutch process cocoa powder greatly enhances the classic chocolate-y flavor and makes for one damn delicious treat!
For the chocolate coating you can use any type of candy melt, or high quality chocolate you want! My preference is 70% dark Belgium chocolate. The dark chocolate complements the sweetness of the cake pop perfectly, and they work together to create a delicious harmony of flavour.
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Death by Chocolate Cake Pops
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 cup All Purpose Flour
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- ½ cup Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder, 20%-22%
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ cup Strong Black Coffee, cooled
- ½ cup Buttermilk
- 1 Egg, large
- ¼ cup Butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
Buttercream
- 2 cups Confectioners Sugar
- ½ cup Butter, softened
- ¼ cup Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder, 20%-22%
- 6 teaspoons Milk, divided
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
Chocolate Coating
- 2 cups of Candy Melts or High-Quality Chocolate, I prefer 70% Dark Belgium Chocolate
- 30 cake pop sticks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9” cake pan
- In a large bowl sift together the flour, Dutch process cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, or by hand, in a large bowl beat the sugar, melted butter, egg, and vanilla until thick and creamy.
- Pour in the buttermilk and cooled coffee. Mix lightly until just incorporated.
- Add all of the dry ingredients and beat on medium until a thick and smooth batter has formed. Pour into greased cake pan, and bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let cake cool completely before moving on to the next step.
- In a large bowl, crumble the cake with your hands until fine. Set aside.
- For the buttercream: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a beater attachment, beat the butter on medium speed for 2 minutes, until creamy. Scrape down the edges with a spatula and add the cocoa powder and vanilla. Beat on medium/slow until incorporated, about 1 minute.
- Add 1 cup of the confectioners’ sugar and 3 teaspoons of milk, beat on high for 2 minutes, scrape down the sides and repeat with remaining cup of confectioners’ sugar and 3 teaspoon milk, beat on high for 2 more minutes.
- Scrape all of the buttercream into the bowl of cake crumbs and stir with a spatula until completely combined.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Using a cookie scoop or a spoon, scoop out balls of dough, about the size of a golf ball, roll into a ball with your hands and place on the cookie sheet.
- Refrigerate the cake pop balls for at least 30 minutes before continuing to the next step.
- In the meantime, get a double broiler ready, with your choice of candy melts or chocolate.
- After your cake pops have rested in the fridge for 30 minutes, melt your chocolate coating in the double broiler.
- Tip: To get your cake pops to adhere to the sticks, use a small amount of the melted coating. Dip the cake pop stick directly into the melted coating, and then into the cake pop. Let set for a few minutes before moving on.
- Now you can either transfer the chocolate coating to a thin tall container, or just dip your cake pops directly into the double broiler. I prefer to put some of the melted chocolate into a small bowl and use a spoon to scoop the melted chocolate over the cake pops. Very gently tap the cake pop sticks against the edge of the bowl and transfer to cake pop stand to dry. Top with sprinkles if desired.
- Let the cake pops set in the fridge overnight before serving.
Notes
- Cake pops will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 1 week in a tightly sealed container.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 30 Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g
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Allison says
Can't wait to make these for valentines day.
Jessica says
I would love to know how they turn out and what you think!
Turisno_Crisk says
The result is a delicious, melt in your mouth, death by chocolate gluten-free dairy-free cake pop that pretty much anybody will enjoy. The bonus is it’s perfectly portioned! It’s just the right amount of treat without going overboard. And, of course, the kids asked for their favorite Juicy Juice flavor to enjoy with their personally picked pop!