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    Home » Cake » Safari Animal Print Cake Pops

    Safari Animal Print Cake Pops

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    These safari animal print cake pops are homemade with a combination of delicious vanilla cake and vanilla buttercream rolled into a ball and dipped into white chocolate. The bold animal prints make it the perfect item to add to a wild one safari first birthday party dessert table or any jungle-themed party. The best part? They are surprisingly simple to make.

    Bold safari animal print cake pops with vanilla cake and buttercream and coated in white chocolate will be the showstopper at your safari jungle party. | aheadofthyme.com

    These cake pops are easy to make especially if you are using leftover cake. Plus, there is no need for a fancy cake pop tray. You simply create the cake balls by rolling the cake mixture into balls and freezing. Once set, dip away into melted chocolate and paint on your animal print patterns using homemade edible paint.

    Cake pops are just so much more fun to decorate and eat when they have a theme. But, if it's not your thing, you can always opt for simple vanilla cake pops or chocolate cake pops decorated with sprinkles. Same amount of deliciousness. Plus, you can coordinate the colour of the sprinkles to still match the theme that you are going for.

    Bold safari animal print cake pops with vanilla cake and buttercream and coated in white chocolate will be the showstopper at your safari jungle party. | aheadofthyme.com

    What is in these Vanilla Safari Cake Pops?

    • all-purpose flour
    • baking powder and baking soda
    • salt
    • butter
    • granulated sugar
    • egg
    • vanilla extract
    • whole milk
    • frosting - made with butter, icing sugar, whole milk, and vanilla extract.
    • chocolate coating - pure white chocolate and coconut oil.
    • gel food coloring
    • lemon extract

    You will also need: a silicone spatula, round 6-inch cake pan, lollipop sticks, food paint brush, and a cake pop stand (or styrofoam block).

    Bold safari animal print cake pops with vanilla cake and buttercream and coated in white chocolate will be the showstopper at your safari jungle party. | aheadofthyme.com

    How to Make the Best Homemade Vanilla Cake Pops

    First, you need vanilla cake. You can use leftover cake, or bake your own. It's quite simple to bake your own.

    • First, combine the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt) in a small bowl.
    • Next, cream the butter and sugar together in a medium bowl using an electric mixer, approximately 2-3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and continue to beat until fully mixed together.
    • Slowly add one third of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, beat until just combined. Then alternate with half of the milk. Continue adding and alternating flour mixture and milk to the batter, and ending with the flour mixture. Use a silicone spatula to scrape down the sides and to stir until just combined.
    • Pour batter into a lightly-greased round 6-inch cake pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes in a 375 F preheated oven, until toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the centre of the cake. Allow cake to cool in the cake pan for 30 minutes, then remove from pan and place on wire rack until completely cooled.

    Next, make the frosting. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat butter until smooth, approximately 2 minutes. Add sugar, milk, and vanilla, and continue to beat until smooth.

    Now we are ready to assemble and shape the cake balls. Crumble the cooled cake and place into the bowl of frosting. Using an electric mixer to beat together until combined and smooth, approximately 2 minutes. The cake mixture should have a play-doh like consistency.

    Bold safari animal print cake pops with vanilla cake and buttercream and coated in white chocolate will be the showstopper at your safari jungle party. | aheadofthyme.com

    Take a tablespoon of cake mixture and roll it into a ball. Place on a parchment-lined baking tray. Repeat until all the mixture is used up. Place tray into the refrigerator for 1 hour.

    Bold safari animal print cake pops with vanilla cake and buttercream and coated in white chocolate will be the showstopper at your safari jungle party. | aheadofthyme.com

    How to Coat Safari Cake Pops

    For the animal print, we will be making cake pops with 3 different base colours: white, pale yellow, deep yellow and orange. First, melt the white chocolate with coconut oil in a tall mug or measuring cup.

    • For the white base: Dip ¼-inch of a cake pop lollipop stick into the chocolate, and then insert it halfway into the cake ball. Completely dip the cake ball into the chocolate and lightly tap off any excess. Place upright into a cake pop stand (or styrofoam block). Repeat with a quarter of all the cake balls.
    • For the pale yellow base: Now dye the chocolate a light pale yellow using gel food coloring. Repeat the above step and coat a quarter of all the cake balls with the pale yellow chocolate. Place upright in the cake pop stand.
    • For the deep yellow base: Dye the chocolate a deeper pale yellow using more gel food coloring. Coat a quarter of all the cake balls with the deep yellow chocolate. Place upright in the cake pop stand.
    • For the orange base: Now dye the chocolate orange by adding some red gel food coloring. Coat the remaining cake balls in orange. Place upright in the cake pop stand.

    Carefully place the cake pop stand with the cake pops in the refrigerator and allow coating to set completely, approximately one hour.

    Bold safari animal print cake pops with vanilla cake and buttercream and coated in white chocolate will be the showstopper at your safari jungle party. | aheadofthyme.com
    Bold safari animal print cake pops with vanilla cake and buttercream and coated in white chocolate will be the showstopper at your safari jungle party. | aheadofthyme.com

    How to Decorate Safari Animal Print Cake Pops

    Giraffe Print

    • In a small dish, add ¼ teaspoon of lemon extract to one drop of brown gel food coloring.
    • Using a food paint brush and ⅔ of the brown paint, paint a giraffe print pattern on the deep yellow cake pops.

    Leopard Print

    • Use the remaining ⅓ of the brown paint to brush circles/dots onto the pale yellow cake pops. Then, place back into the cake pop stand.
    • In a small dish, add ½ teaspoon of lemon extract to two drops of black gel food coloring.
    • Use about ¼ of the black paint to brush crescents around the brown dots to complete the look.

    Zebra Print

    • Use half of the remaining black paint to brush stripes on the white coated cake pops.

    Tiger Print

    • Use the remaining black paint to brush stripes onto the orange coated cake pops.

    Place decorated cake pops upright back into the cake pop stand or a styrofoam block. You can store cake pops at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator or up to 1 week.

    Bold safari animal print cake pops with vanilla cake and buttercream and coated in white chocolate will be the showstopper at your safari jungle party. | aheadofthyme.com

    Wild One Safari Jungle Birthday Party

    These cake pops are the perfect addition to a "Wild One" safari jungle party, or any safari or jungle themed party.

    How to Throw the Best Wild One Safari Birthday Party | aheadofthyme.com
    How to Throw the Best Wild One Safari Birthday Party | aheadofthyme.com
    Throw the best wild one safari birthday party with ideas on every detail for an epic jungle party from decor and party favors, to desserts and recipes. | aheadofthyme.com

    More Bite-sized Desserts

    • Vanilla Cake Pops from Scratch
    • Chocolate Cake Pops
    • Baked Jelly Donuts with Strawberry Jam
    • Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffles
    • Nutella Mousse Cups
    • Caramel Cheesecake Brownies

    Did you make this recipe? I would greatly appreciate a comment and rating below, letting me know what you thought of the recipe. You can also snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.

    Don't forget to sign up for my email newsletter so that you don't miss any recipes. You can also follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more recipe updates.

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    Bold safari animal print cake pops with vanilla cake and buttercream and coated in white chocolate will be the showstopper at your safari jungle party. | aheadofthyme.com

    Safari Animal Print Cake Pops


    • Author: Sam | Ahead of Thyme
    • Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
    • Yield: 18-20 cake pops
    • Diet: Vegetarian
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Bold safari animal print cake pops with vanilla cake and buttercream and coated in white chocolate will be the showstopper at your safari jungle party.


    Ingredients

    Cake Base:

    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ cup butter, softened to room temperature
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 egg
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ cup whole milk

    Frosting:

    • ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
    • ⅔ cup icing sugar
    • 1 teaspoon whole milk
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

    Coating: 

    • 275 g pure white chocolate (approximately 10 oz)
    • ⅛ teaspoon coconut oil
    • gel food coloring
    • 18-20 lollipop sticks
    • 1 teaspoon lemon extract, divided
    • food paint brush

    Instructions

    Make the Cake:

    1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Lightly grease a round 6-inch cake pan.
    2. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
    3. In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar together using an electric mixer, approximately 2-3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and continue to beat until fully mixed together.
    4. Slowly add one third of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, beat until just combined. Then alternate with half of the milk. Continue adding and alternating flour mixture and milk to the batter, and ending with the flour mixture. Use a spatula scrape down the sides and to stir until just combined.
    5. Pour batter into the prepared cake pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the centre of the cake. Allow cake to cool in the cake pan for 30 minutes, then remove from pan and place on wire rack until completely cooled.

    Make the Frosting:

    1. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat butter until smooth, approximately 2 minutes. Add sugar, milk, and vanilla, and continue to beat until smooth.

    Assemble and Shape the Cake Balls: 

    1. Crumble the cooled cake and place into the bowl of frosting. An easy way to crumble is to break the cake into big pieces and place it into the Vitamix. A few pulses will turn it into perfect crumbs.
    2. Using an electric mixer, beat together until combined and smooth, approximately 2 minutes. The cake mixture should have a play-doh like consistency.
    3. Take a tablespoon of cake mixture and roll it into a ball. Place on a parchment-lined baking tray. Repeat until all the mixture is used up. Place tray into the refrigerator for 1 hour.

    Coat the Cake Pops: 

    1. Melt the white chocolate with coconut oil in a tall mug or measuring cup.
    2. Dip ¼-inch of a cake pop stick into the chocolate, and then insert it halfway into the cake ball. Completely dip the cake ball into the chocolate and lightly tap off any excess. Place upright into a cake pop stand, or a styrofoam block. Repeat with a quarter of all the cake balls.
    3. Now dye the chocolate a light pale yellow using gel food coloring. Repeat step 2 with a quarter of all the cake balls. Dye the chocolate a deeper pale yellow using more gel food coloring. Repeat step 2 with a quarter of all the cake balls. Dye the chocolate orange by adding some red gel food coloring. Repeat step 2 with remaining cake balls.
    4. Place cake pops in the refrigerator and allow coating to set completely, approximately one hour.

    Decorate the Cake Pops: 

    1. Prepare your edible paint. In a small dish, add ¼ teaspoon of lemon extract to a drop of brown gel food coloring. Using a food paint brush, paint a giraffe print pattern on the yellow cake pops. These will be your giraffe animal print cake pops. Use the brown paint to brush circles/dots onto the light yellow cake pops. This will turn into your leopard print cake pops
    2. In another small dish, add ½ teaspoon of lemon extract to two drops of black gel food coloring. Using your paint brush, brush stripes on the white coated cake pops and the orange coated cake pops. These will be your tiger and zebra striped cake pops. Brush crescents around the brown dots on your leopard print cake pops to complete the look.
    3. Place decorated cake pops upright into the cake pop stand, or a styrofoam block. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

    Notes

    Equipment used: silicone spatula, round 6-inch cake pan, lollipop sticks, gel food colouring, food paint brush, and a cake pop stand (or styrofoam block). 

    How to store cake pops: Store these cake pops at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to one week.

    • Prep Time: 2 hours
    • Cook Time: 30 minutes
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Bake
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: safari animal print cake pops, vanilla cake pops, animal print cake, animal print dessert, animal print treats, cake pops, how to make cake pops

    Did you make this recipe?

    I'd love to see! Tag me @aheadofthyme on Instagram.

    Bold safari animal print cake pops with vanilla cake and buttercream and coated in white chocolate will be the showstopper at your safari jungle party. | aheadofthyme.com
    Bold safari animal print cake pops with vanilla cake and buttercream and coated in white chocolate will be the showstopper at your safari jungle party. | aheadofthyme.com
    Safari Animal Print Cake PopsSafari Animal Print Cake Pops
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ice says

      May 06, 2021 at 2:11 pm

      Hi,

      You did amazing!!! What is the purpose of lemon extract tho?

      Reply
      • Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says

        July 03, 2021 at 12:30 pm

        Thank you! It helps the food coloring dry.

        Reply

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