# What You Need:
→ Cake
01 - 1 box vanilla or chocolate cake mix (approximately 15 oz), plus required eggs, oil, and water as per package instructions
02 - Alternatively, 1 homemade 9-inch cake, fully cooled
→ Frosting
03 - 1/2 cup cream cheese frosting or buttercream frosting
→ Coating & Decoration
04 - 12 oz candy melts in desired school colors or white chocolate with food coloring
05 - 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening (optional, for thinning coating)
06 - Sprinkles, edible glitter, or colored sugar in coordinating colors
07 - 24 lollipop sticks
08 - 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (for tassel or decorative accents)
09 - Fondant in school colors (optional, for cap decorations)
# Steps:
01 - Prepare the cake following package or recipe instructions. Allow the baked cake to cool completely before proceeding.
02 - Break the cooled cake into fine crumbs in a large mixing bowl.
03 - Add the cream cheese or buttercream frosting to the cake crumbs. Mix with a spatula or hands until the mixture holds together; add only as much as needed.
04 - Portion out 24 tablespoon-sized scoops and roll each into a uniform ball.
05 - Arrange the cake balls on a lined baking sheet. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or freeze for 20 minutes until firm.
06 - Melt the candy melts or chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, heating in 30-second increments and stirring until smooth. Add vegetable shortening if a thinner consistency is needed.
07 - Dip the tip of each lollipop stick into the melted coating, then insert halfway into each cake ball.
08 - Immerse each cake pop fully in the melted coating, gently tap off excess, and immediately apply sprinkles or colored sugar.
09 - To create graduation caps, place a fondant square on each pop and attach a mini chocolate chip with melted coating as a tassel.
10 - Stand each pop upright in a styrofoam block or cake pop stand. Let the coating harden thoroughly before presenting or serving.
