Make cake pops
You’ll need
- Ingredients (listed on this page)
- Spoons or spatulas for mixing
- Lollypop sticks
- Mugs
- Trays
- Baking paper
- Glass bowl
- Pan (optional)
- Hob (optional)
- Microwave (optional)
- Aprons (optional)
- First aid kit, including for burns
Before you begin
- Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There's also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.
- Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
- Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help.
Planning and setting up this activity
- Remember to give a safety briefing for the cooking equipment and methods you’re using. You may wish to demonstrate the methods or activity before you all start cooking.
- Check for allergies, intolerances, fasting, food-related medical conditions, eating disorders, food sensitivities or dietary requirements, then adjust the food items used as needed. This may include making sure there’s no cross-contamination of packaging and no cross-contamination during the storage, preparation, cooking and serving.
- You may need to use separate chopping boards, equipment and utensils, such as tongs or toasters, for different dietary requirements, allergies and foods.
- If you’re unsure, check with the young person and their parents or carers. You can check with the adult directly if it’s a volunteer or helper.
- Some people may not like certain food textures or tastes and that’s OK. People don’t need to use all the ingredients if they don’t want to, and no-one should be made to try foods if they don’t want to. You can try to find an alternative for them.
- Read our guidance on food preparation.
- You could run our kitchen hygiene activities before this session.
- Always have a hand washing station, washing hands regularly throughout this activity, and taking extra hygiene precautions when handling food. If you're using gloves to prepare food, treat them like your hands. Wash any gloves before using them and in between if necessary.
- Spray and wipe down all working surfaces and tables with anti-bacterial spray before and after use, and wash any equipment you’re using in hot soapy water.
- Take extra hygiene precautions when handling raw meat, such as regular hand washing.
- Keep raw and ready-to-eat foods separate, having separate equipment for raw and cooked meat, and washing up equipment as soon as it's been used.
- Make sure food is properly cooked before you serve it. Always cut through poultry and meat to make sure it's fully cooked, especially when barbecuing food. Make sure it's cooked slowly and thoroughly, and not just done on the outside.
- Always follow cooking instructions and never use food past its use-by date.
- Keep food out of the fridge for the shortest time possible.
- At the start of this activity, remind everyone of kitchen or indoor cooking safety rules and how to act safely. Always tie hair back, tuck in Neckers and loose clothing, and wear closed toe shoes. Read our kitchen safety tips.
- You may want to run a demonstration on how to use the equipment safely, such as for cooking or chopping ingredients. You could use our kitchen safety activities before this session.
- Make sure any cooking equipment or heat sources, such as ovens and hobs, always have adult supervision, including during free time and arrival times. If anyone struggles with sensing danger, you should consider providing extra adult supervision. This could be especially helpful at unstructured times, such as breaks or waiting to cook.
- Remind everyone to keep their fingers away from any knives. You may want to use blunt, child-friendly knives, or you could also have ingredients pre-chopped.
- If you’re using a gas stove, tabletop hob plates or a mini oven, make sure it’s on a stable heat proof surface and in a clear and open area, with plenty of ventilation. Gas appliances and sources can increase risk of carbon monoxide exposure. Read our guidance on different cooking methods and carbon monoxide.
- You may want to put child-safe locks on cupboard doors to prevent access by young people, especially for cupboards containing matches, cleaning products or chemicals.
- People can work in small groups or as a whole group to bake or cook. Each group should have adult supervision.
- You may want to be in groups, but everyone to use the same cooking source, rather than having each group have their own.
- You may wish for groups to make or prepare the ingredients in a wider, more spacious area, then invite each group into the kitchen to cook one at a time.
- Remember the groups not using the kitchen or cooking will still need to be supervised, always following the Yellow Card.
- Make sure you have all the ingredients ready. You may want to pre-chop or pre-measure some activities.
Make your cake pops
Ingredients
- Sponge cake
- Icing, buttercream or frosting
- Cooking chocolate
- Sprinkles
Prep time: 20 minutes
Chill time: At least 30 minutes before dipping in chocolate, then another 10 minutes for the chocolate to set. Allow more time if you're not using a fridge.
Servings: Depends on the cake size - choose one that suits your group.
- Gather everyone together and tell them that you'll be making cake pops.
- Everyone should wash their hands.
- Everyone should get into groups, then get the equipment and ingredients available.
- First, gently crumble the cake into a large bowl.
- Mix the frosting, buttercream or icing into the crumbled cake. Mix it in one spoon at a time, until its smooth enough to roll the mixture into balls.
- Next, grab a chunk of the mixture and roll it between the hands.
- Line a plate or baking tray with baking paper.
- Place each cake ball onto the tray or plate, then carefully push a lollypop stick into the centre of each one.
- Once done, cover the cake balls and put them to one side to set. You could also put them in the fridge.
- Put any sprinkles or decorations you’re using into a bowl.
- With adult supervision or help, melt the chocolate. You could do this either in a glass bowl over a pan of hot water or in the microwave, stirring it until smooth. Once melted, place the chocolate on a stable, flat and heatproof surface.
- When ready, and once set, carefully dip each of the cake pops into the melted chocolate, then dip it into the sprinkles.
- Stand the finished cake pop upright in a mug. Leave it to set, either at room temperature or in the fridge.
- Once set, enjoy!
Reflection
What did you enjoy most about making your own cake pops? Did anything surprise you during the process? Did you learn anything new? How do you feel about the cake pops you made? What ingredients did you choose, and why? Do you think you'll make your cake pops differently depending on the occasion? Did you face any challenges during the activity? If so, how did you overcome them? How do you plan to incorporate cake pops into your future celebrations?
Safety
All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.
You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.
- Hot items and hot water
Kettles, cookers and microwave ovens produce a lot of heat by the very nature of them. Caution is needed when in contact with items that have been heated and young people should use them under adult supervision. Use on a suitable surface, protecting it if necessary. Never leave hot items unattended and make sure there’s a nearby first aid kit, with items to treat burns/scalds.
- Food
Remember to check for allergies, eating problems, fasting or dietary requirements and adjust the recipe as needed. Make sure you’ve suitable areas for storing and preparing food and avoid cross contamination of different foods. Take a look at our guidance on food safety and hygiene.
To make it harder, you could bake the cake first.
Make it accessible
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
