Crisp chocolate on the outside, impossibly tender within, these bite-sized treats capture the classic flavors of a Boston cream pie in a fun, portable format. You'll crumble a shortcut yellow cake base and mix it with a quick homemade vanilla pudding to create a rich, moist center. Each cake ball gets a dip in a smooth chocolate candy coating and a sweet white chocolate drizzle. They're a fantastic make-ahead dessert that brings a touch of nostalgia to any dessert table.
1Preheat the oven to 350°F and coat a 13x9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Prepare and bake the yellow cake mix according to the package directions using the required water, oil, and eggs. Let it cool completely.
2Whisk the sugar, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt together in a 2-quart saucepan. Pour in the milk and beaten egg yolks. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly so the eggs don't scramble, until the mixture reaches a boil. Let it boil for 1 minute before stirring in the butter and vanilla.
3Remove the saucepan from the heat. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming, and set it aside to cool.
4Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Break the cooled cake into fine crumbs in a large mixing bowl. Add the cooled pudding and mix everything together with your hands until a dough forms.
5Roll the cake mixture into 24 balls, each about 1 1/2 inches wide, and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet. Place them in the freezer until they're firm, then move them to the refrigerator.
6Take a few cake balls out of the refrigerator at a time to keep them chilled. Dip the tip of a lollipop stick about 1/2 inch into the melted chocolate candy coating, then push it halfway into a cake ball. This helps anchor the stick to the cake.
7Submerge each cake pop completely into the melted chocolate coating and gently tap the stick against the edge of the bowl to remove any excess. Stick the bottom end of the lollipop stick into a large foam block to hold it upright while the chocolate sets.
8Melt the white vanilla baking chips and shortening together in the microwave until smooth. Drizzle the white chocolate mixture over the hardened cake pops and let them rest until the drizzle is fully set.
Notes
Make ahead: You can bake the cake and make the pudding up to 2 days in advance. Store both in the refrigerator until you're ready to assemble.
Storage: Keep the finished cake pops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Tip: If the cake balls start falling off the sticks while dipping, they aren't cold enough. Pop them back in the freezer for 10 minutes to firm up.