Equipment you will need:

- 32 candy sticks

- 13" x 9" cake pan

- 1 big bowl (we used a 5 qt bowl)

- small ice cream scoop

- piping bags for decorating

Bake cake according to directions. Dump cake into large bowl and let sit for about 5 minutes. Break up into crumbs (careful, it's still hot!) and let sit until completely cooled. If you're in a rush, after about 10 minutes, put it in the fridge until cooled.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Once cake crumbs are cooled, mix in about 1/2 a tub of frosting and mix well. We've found that using (clean) hands is the best way to evenly blend it together, but you could probably use a mixer, hand mixer or just a big spoon.

Using a small ice cream scoop or a tablespoon, scoop into balls and round with hands. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Melt a quarter cup of chocolate, dip one of the candy sticks into melted chocolate and insert about halfway into cake balls. Freeze for at least 2 hours.

Once your cake balls are frozen, in a small cup or mug, melt about 1/3 of the chocolate chips at a time for dipping. You can do it in the microwave on high 20 seconds at a time or over a stove on super low heat, being careful not to over-heat the chocolate otherwise it can burn and "seize" (aka harden). For both methods, stop heating as soon as the chips start to melt. Remove from heat and keep stirring until all of the chips have melted. For a thinner consistency, add about 1 tsp of canola oil to melted chocolate (before or after heating) and stir well. Add food coloring if desired.

Carefully dip frozen cake balls on a stick into the melted chocolate, swirling to make sure the whole ball is covered. Cover with sprinkles, if using, at this point. If you're going to decorate them with frosting after, let them harden for a bit and proceed to next step.

Place dipped cake pop back onto cookie sheet and continue with others. Your cake pops will be flat on the end without the stick. You can alternatively make a cake pop holder by poking holes on one side of your cake mix box to hold while "drying" so your cake pops won't be flat on top. I guess it all depends on what your idea of "top" is.

Decorate with frosting (or melted chocolate with food coloring) using a piping bag.

That's it! You're done! Be careful not to eat too many of these because they are DELICIOUS but pack a powerful punch of sugar. lol. Enjoy!