Ingredients
Method
Step 1: Prepare the Pan & Oven
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and line one 8-inch cake pan with parchment paper.
Step 2: Make the Buttermilk
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the milk and white vinegar. Let sit for about 10 minutes to create homemade buttermilk.
Step 3: Mix the Dry Ingredients
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and crushed freeze-dried strawberries until evenly combined.
Step 4: Mix the Wet Ingredients
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, prepared buttermilk, egg, vanilla extract, and strawberry extract until smooth.
Step 5: Combine the Batter
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently mix until a smooth batter forms. Be careful not to overmix.
Step 6: Bake
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top. Bake for 22–28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 7: Cool
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack or other surface to cool completely.
Step 8: Make the Cake Pop Mixture
- Once the cake has cooled, crumble it into fine crumbs in a large mixing bowl. Add softened cream cheese and mix until the crumbs come together into a soft, moldable mixture that holds its shape when pressed.
Step 9: Roll the Cake Pops
- Using about 2 tablespoons of mixture per cake pop, scoop and roll into smooth balls. Place onto a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate until firm, about 30–60 minutes.
Step 10: Insert the Sticks
- Melt a small amount of white chocolate. Dip the tip of each cake pop stick into the melted chocolate, then insert it halfway into each chilled cake ball. Return to the refrigerator and chill again until firm.
Step 11: Coat in White Chocolate
- Melt the remaining white chocolate until smooth. Dip each chilled cake pop into the melted white chocolate, allowing any excess coating to drip off.
Step 12: Add the Strawberry Topping
- Before the white chocolate sets, generously sprinkle the tops with crushed freeze-dried strawberries. The bright strawberry pieces add extra flavor and give the cake pops a beautiful bakery-style finish.
Step 13: Chill & Set
- Place the cake pops onto a parchment-lined tray or into a cake pop stand and refrigerate until the coating is fully set.
Step 14: Serve & Enjoy
- Once chilled, enjoy your strawberry cheesecake cake pops. They're soft, creamy, packed with real strawberry flavor, and coated in a sweet white chocolate shell that makes every bite taste like strawberry cheesecake on a stick.