1. Bake the Cake

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the Cake Mix: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, oil, and water. Follow the instructions on the box for the best results.
3. Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake according to the time suggested on the box, typically 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
4. Cool: Let the cake cool completely in the pan before removing it. You can also speed up the cooling process by placing it in the fridge for about 10 minutes.

2. Crumble the Cake

1. Crumble the Cake: Once your cake is fully cooled, break it apart using your hands or a fork until it becomes fine crumbs.
2. Mix with Frosting: In a separate bowl, mix your frosting ingredients together—beat the butter, powdered sugar, and cream cheese until smooth. Then, slowly add the frosting to the cake crumbs. Add the frosting in small increments until you have a dough-like consistency that can easily hold its shape when rolled into balls.

3. Roll the Cake Pops

1. Shape the Cake Balls: Use your hands to roll the cake mixture into small balls, about the size of a walnut (1 to 1.5 inches in diameter).
2. Insert the Lollipop Sticks: Melt a small amount of chocolate or frosting and dip one end of the lollipop stick into the melted chocolate. Insert the stick into the center of each cake ball. This step helps the stick stay in place while dipping.
3. Chill: Place the cake pops in the fridge for at least 15 minutes to firm up. This ensures that the pops hold their shape while you dip them in the chocolate.

4. Coat the Cake Pops

1. Melt the Chocolate: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt your chocolate chips with a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Stir every 30 seconds to prevent burning until the chocolate is smooth and fully melted.
2. Dip the Cake Pops: Holding the stick, dip each cake pop into the melted chocolate, swirling gently to coat evenly. Tap the stick against the side of the bowl to remove excess chocolate.
3. Decorate: Before the chocolate hardens, you can add sprinkles, candy, or any decorations you prefer. Let the cake pops cool and harden at room temperature for about 10 minutes.

5. Serve and Enjoy

Once your cake pops are cool and set, they’re ready to be served! You can display them on a cake pop stand, serve them in small cups, or wrap them individually for gifting.