1. Bake the Vanilla Cake

• Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease and flour an 8-inch round or square baking pan.
• In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• In a separate large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy using a hand mixer or stand mixer.
• Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
• Let the cake cool completely before proceeding.

2. Prepare the Frosting

• Beat the softened butter until creamy.
• Add powdered sugar gradually, mixing until fully combined and smooth.
• Stir in the vanilla extract and add milk as needed to achieve a thick, spreadable consistency.

3. Crumble the Cake

• Once the cake is completely cool, crumble it into fine crumbs in a large mixing bowl.
• Ensure there are no large lumps—use your hands or a fork to get a fine texture.

4. Mix Cake and Frosting

• Add a few spoonfuls of frosting to the cake crumbs and mix with clean hands or a spatula.
• Continue adding frosting a bit at a time until the mixture holds together like cookie dough and can be shaped into balls.

5. Shape the Cake Balls

• Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or freeze for 30 minutes until firm.

6. Melt and Color the Coating

• Melt the white chocolate or candy melts in a heatproof bowl over simmering water or in the microwave in 30-second intervals.
• Add a few drops of pink oil-based food coloring and stir until evenly tinted.

7. Insert Sticks and Dip Cake Pops

• Dip the tip of each cake pop stick into the melted chocolate, then insert it halfway into a chilled cake ball.
• Let it set for a few minutes—this helps secure the stick.
• Dip each cake pop into the melted pink coating, tapping off the excess gently.

8. Decorate and Set

• Immediately add sprinkles or decorations before the coating sets.
• Stick the cake pops into a styrofoam block or a cake pop stand to dry upright completely.