Where Does Starbucks Get Their Cake Pops?

Starbucks, a global coffeehouse chain, is not only known for its diverse range of coffee but also for its delicious assortment of baked goods, including its popular cake pops. But have you ever wondered where Starbucks gets their cake pops? Let’s uncover the mystery.

Starbucks and Cake Pops: A Sweet Partnership

Starbucks sources their cake pops from a premium dessert company known as Steven Charles – A Dessert Company, formerly identified as SROriginals. This Denver-based company, led by Steven Fabos and Charles Kosmont, specializes in creating high-quality desserts such as cakes, cookies, cake balls, cake bars, and, of course, cake pops. Steven Charles has been supplying Starbucks with cake pops since September 2010, managing warehouses, conducting research and development, and overseeing the production of their dessert offerings from their locations in Colorado and North Carolina.

Ensuring Quality and Consistency

Starbucks ensures the quality of their cake pops through standardized recipes and guidelines. This helps maintain consistency in taste, appearance, and quality across all their stores. Starbucks’ cake pops are handcrafted, with each cake pop going through a meticulous process of baking, crumbling, mixing with frosting, forming balls, and dipping in candy coating. This process results in the signature bite-sized treats that customers worldwide have come to love.

The Making of Starbucks Cake Pops

Starbucks cake pops are made using a classic cake mix, frosting, and candy coating. Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. Bake a cake using a classic cake mix according to the box instructions and let it cool at room temperature.
2. Crumble the cooled cake into a large bowl.
3. Mix the crumbled cake with a few tablespoons of vanilla frosting to create a soft yet firm consistency.
4. Form the cake mixture into small balls and place them on a baking tray lined with wax paper.
5. Insert cake pop sticks or lollipop sticks into each cake ball.
6. Chill the cake balls in the refrigerator for at least an hour to firm them up.
7. Melt candy melts (such as pink candy melts) in the microwave according to the package directions.
8. Dip each cake ball into the melted candy coating, allowing any excess to drip off.
9. Add white sprinkles or other decorations to the cake pops before the candy coating hardens.
10. Insert the cake pops into a foam block or acrylic cake pop stand and let them stand until the coating is set.

Popular Cake Pop Flavors

Starbucks offers a variety of cake pop flavors, with some of the most popular including the Birthday Cake Pop, the Cookies & Cream Cake Pop, the Chocolate Cake Pop, and the Unicorn Cake Pop. Seasonal flavors like the Snowman Cake Pop and the Reindeer Cake Pop also make an appearance during the holidays.

Starbucks and Sustainability

While there’s no specific information on sustainability practices in Starbucks’ cake pop production, the company is committed to environmental sustainability. Starbucks aims to reduce its carbon, water, and waste footprints by half by 2030. This commitment extends to its suppliers, including those involved in cake pop production.

So next time you enjoy a cake pop from Starbucks, you’ll know the journey it took to get to your hand. From quality suppliers to careful crafting and an eye on sustainability, Starbucks’ cake pops are more than just a sweet treat—they’re a testament to the company’s commitment to quality and consistency.