Homemade Starbucks Frog Cake Pop Recipe

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For me, this spring, that joy came in the form of Starbucks’ charming Starbucks Frog Cake Pop—a dessert as delightful to look at as it is to eat. With its fluffy vanilla cake, creamy buttercream, and adorable frog design, it quickly became everyone’s favorite seasonal treat.

How to make a Starbucks Frog Cake Pop

A Starbucks Frog Cake Pop is a seasonal, whimsical treat that Starbucks is rolling out as part of its Spring 2026 menu.

Ingredients

For the Cake:

• 1 box of vanilla cake mix (or make a homemade vanilla cake—your choice!)
• Eggs, oil, and water (as per the cake mix instructions)

For the Frosting:

• ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1–2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Decorations:

• 1½ cups green candy melts or melting chocolate (for the frog coating)
• ½ cup white candy melts (for decoration details)
• Edible black gel or black edible marker (for the eyes and mouth)
• Candy googly eyes (optional but adds a fun touch!)
• Cake pop sticks

Instructions

Step 1: Bake the Vanilla Cake

1. Prepare the vanilla cake mix according to the package instructions, or make a homemade vanilla cake from scratch.
2. Once baked, let the cake cool completely. This step is crucial, as a warm cake will not form proper cake balls.

Step 2: Make the Cake Ball Mixture

1. Crumble the entire cake into fine crumbs using your hands or a fork in a large bowl.
2. In a separate bowl, make frosting by mixing softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk until smooth and creamy.
3. Add 2–3 tablespoons of frosting to the crumbled cake. Combine it until the mixture feels like moist sand and holds together when pressed. (Tip: Start with less frosting and add more as needed. Too much frosting will make the mixture overly sticky.)

Step 3: Shape the Cake Pops

1. Scoop small amounts of cake pop dough (about 1 tablespoon each) and roll firmly into smooth balls using your palms.
2. Chill the cake balls in the fridge for at least 1–2 hours (or freeze for 15–20 minutes). This helps them stay firm during the dipping process.

Step 4: Prepare the Coating

1. Melt the green candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl, heating in 30-second intervals and stirring after each interval until completely smooth.
2. Dip the tip of each cake pop stick into the melted green candy coating, then insert it about halfway into a cake ball. This step helps secure the stick to the cake pop.
3. Dip each cake ball into the melted green coating, covering it completely. Tap gently on the side of the bowl to remove excess coating.

Step 5: Decorate the Frogs

1. Before the green coating sets, press two candy googly eyes (or candy melts if you’re making custom eyes) into the top for the frog’s “face.”
2. Use white candy melts to add smaller details like cheeks or dots, then draw a cute smiley face with edible black gel or a marker.
3. Let the decorated cake pops cool and set completely. Place them upright in a foam block or cake pop stand to maintain shape.

Helpful Tips for Success

• Work Quickly: Candy melts can harden quickly, so have your decorations ready to go before dipping the cake pops.
• Smooth Cake Balls: Ensure the cake balls are rolled tightly to prevent cracking or breaking during dipping.
• Thin Coating: If your melted candy feels too thick, add a teaspoon of vegetable oil or coconut oil to thin it out and make dipping easier.
• Get Creative: If you don’t have black gel, you can pipe faces with melted dark chocolate using a toothpick or piping bag.
• Keep the Cake Pops Cool: If the coating doesn’t harden quickly, place the cake pops in the fridge for a few minutes.

What to serve with

Your homemade Starbucks Frog Cake Pop is a delightful treat all on its own, but pairing it with the right drinks or additional snacks can take your dessert game to the next level!

Hot Coffee Drinks

• Pair your Starbucks Frog Cake Pop with a classic latte, Americano, or cappuccino for a warm, comforting combo.
• Add a dash of vanilla or caramel syrup to your coffee to mirror the sweet and creamy notes of the cake.

Iced Coffee and Cold Brews

• Try a vanilla sweet cream cold brew or a simple iced latte with a splash of milk for a cooling balance to the richness of the cake pop.
• If you’re up for a DIY challenge, you can recreate Starbucks’ famous drinks at home!

Tea Pairings

• Partner the vanilla and buttercream flavors with a matcha latte or even a simple green tea.
• Fruity teas, like hibiscus tea or passion tea lemonade, are also wonderful options to add a refreshing fruity note to the sweetness.

Ingredients Substitutes

While the original recipe for Starbucks Frog Cake Pops calls for pretty straightforward ingredients, you might not always have everything on hand or may want to tailor it to your dietary needs or flavor preferences.

1. Cake Substitute Options

The base of the Frog Cake Pop can be modified depending on your preference for flavor, texture, or dietary needs.

Flavor Variations:

• Chocolate Cake: Prefer something richer? Swap vanilla cake for a classic chocolate cake mix or homemade chocolate cake.
• Red Velvet Cake: A red velvet base pairs surprisingly well with vanilla frosting and adds a hint of cocoa flavor.
• Lemon or Funfetti Cake: For a bright and playful twist, use lemon or funfetti cake mix instead of vanilla.

2. Frosting Substitute Options

The frosting acts as the “glue” to bind the cake crumbles into dough balls. If you don’t have time to make buttercream or want alternatives:

Flavor Variations:

• Store-Bought Frosting: Skip the homemade frosting and use any canned frosting (vanilla, chocolate, or even cream cheese). It’s quick and works just as well.
• Flavored Frosting: Enhance the flavor by using strawberry frosting, coconut frosting, or even peanut butter frosting for a unique twist.

Dietary Swaps:

• Dairy-Free/Vegan Frosting: Swap butter for plant-based vegan butter (such as Miyoko’s or Earth Balance) and use oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk instead of cream. Be sure to use powdered sugar that is labeled vegan, as some brands may process sugars with bone char.
• Nut Butter Option: As a fun alternative to buttercream frosting, you can use a nut butter (like peanut, almond, or sunflower butter) combined with a tablespoon of powdered sugar to help bind the mixture.

3. Candy Melt Substitutes

Candy melts give the Frog Cake Pop its shiny, colorful coating, but they’re not the only option. You can swap them for other coatings if needed.

• Chocolate Coating: Instead of candy melts, melt white chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips, then add a drop or two of food coloring gel to match Starbucks’ cheerful frog green. Avoid using liquid food coloring, as it may cause the chocolate to seize.
• Natural Dye Options: If you’re avoiding artificial coloring, opt for natural food colorings made from plant-based sources, like spinach powder or matcha powder for green tones. Add a pinch of melted white chocolate to achieve the desired color.
• Vegan Candy Melts Alternative: Several brands produce dairy-free candy melts. Check online or in specialty stores for options like Enjoy Life dairy-free chocolate or colored coconut-oil-based melts.

Final Thoughts

Starbucks Frog Cake Pops are playful treats, so don’t be afraid to experiment with flavors, colors, and substitutes!

More Cake Pops Recipes:

• Drumstick Cake Pop Ice Cream Recipe