Cake pops have become an increasingly popular treat over the past few years. Their bite-sized portions and almost too-cute-to-eat decorations make them a fun and trendy dessert. However, with the rise in food allergies, many people are left wondering – do cake pops contain tree nuts?
What are cake pops?
Cake pops are small, round lollipops made out of crumbled cake mixed with icing or frosting. The cake mixture is shaped into a ball and dipped into a coating such as chocolate, candy melts, or yogurt. A lollipop stick is inserted into the cake ball before the coating hardens. Once dry, the cake pops can be decorated with sprinkles, edible glitter, or other candies.
Cake pops are made by crumbling pieces of baked cake until a smooth, dough-like texture is achieved. Any flavor of cake can be used including vanilla, chocolate, red velvet, lemon, carrot, Funfetti, etc. The cake crumbs are combined with buttercream or cream cheese frosting before being rolled and dipped. The coating helps bind the cake mixture together and provides an extra layer of flavor.
The cake and frosting ingredients will vary based on the specific recipe used. However, common ingredients include:
- Cake flour
- Sugar
- Butter or oil
- Eggs
- Milk
- Baking powder and/or soda
- Salt
- Vanilla extract
- Cocoa powder (for chocolate cakes)
The frosting is typically made with butter, powdered sugar, cream cheese, vanilla, and milk or cream. Various mix-ins can also be added to the cake or frosting batter before baking such as chocolate chips, sprinkles, coconut, etc.
Do cake pops contain nuts?
Plain cake pops made according to standard recipes do not contain nuts. However, nuts like walnuts, pecans, almonds, etc. can be mixed into the cake batter or frosting to customize the flavor.
Some common cake pop variations that may contain nuts include:
- Almond joy – Made with almond cake or frosting
- Coconut pecan – Made with pecan cake or frosting
- Peanut butter – Made with peanut butter frosting
- Tiramisu – May contain ladyfingers made with nut flour
- Carrot cake – May contain walnuts or pecans
- Hazelnut – Made with hazelnut cake or frosting
- Nutella – Dipped in Nutella or hazelnut spread
Nuts can also be used as toppings on cake pops. For example:
- Chopped nuts sprinkled on top
- Whole nuts used to decorate
- Nut butter drizzles
If you have a nut allergy, be very cautious when purchasing cake pops. Read ingredient labels carefully to check for nuts in the cake, frosting, or toppings. When in doubt, ask the baker or seller directly about nut content.
Common tree nuts in cakes and frosting
Tree nuts commonly used in baked goods include:
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Hazelnuts
- Macadamia nuts
- Pecans
- Pine nuts
- Pistachios
- Walnuts
These nuts may be present either in their whole form or ground into nut meal or flour. When ground into flour, the nuts are more easily incorporated into cake or frosting batters.
Some examples of recipes that use tree nut flours include:
- Almond cake
- Cashew frosting
- Coconut pecan frosting
- Hazelnut chocolate cake
- Pistachio lemon cake
In addition to flours, tree nut butters like almond butter or cashew butter may be used in frostings. And extracted nut oils, like walnut oil or almond oil, can be added for flavor.
Chopped nuts may be folded into cake batter or sprinkled on top of frosted cakes. They can add delicious flavor and texture.
If you want to avoid tree nuts, look for recipes made without any nut flours, nut oils, nut butters, or chopped nuts. Opt for cakes and frostings made with ingredients like wheat flour, coconut oil, milk, fruit purees, etc.
Are coconut and nut allergies related?
While coconut is not botanically considered a tree nut, many people who are allergic to tree nuts like almonds, walnuts, or pecans also react to coconut. This is because the proteins in coconut and tree nuts share similar structures and properties.
However, it is possible to be allergic only to coconut or only to tree nuts. Some people can tolerate coconut even with a tree nut allergy, and vice versa.
If you have a tree nut allergy, it is important to work with your doctor or allergist to determine if coconut also triggers reactions.
Cross-reactivity between coconuts and tree nuts
Cross-reactivity occurs when the immune system recognizes similar proteins in different foods and reacts to both. It is the reason many people have overlapping allergies between tree nuts and coconut.
Research shows extensive cross-reactivity between:
- Cashew and pistachio
- Walnut and pecan
- Hazelnut and almond
- Coconut and almond
So if you are allergic to one specific nut, you may likely be allergic to its cross-reactive counterpart as well.
Differences between coconut and tree nut allergies
Despite the cross-reactivity, there are some key differences between coconut allergies and tree nut allergies:
- Coconut allergies are more common in children, while tree nuts more commonly affect adults.
- Reactions to coconut tend to be milder compared to some tree nuts.
- Geographic location impacts sensitivity. Coconut allergies are more prevalent in places like the Philippines and India where coconut is widely consumed.
Additionally, the types of proteins that trigger allergic reactions differ between coconut and various tree nuts. This explains why some people can tolerate coconut or certain tree nuts despite their other allergies.
Are cake pops safe for schools?
Many schools prohibit tree nuts due to allergy concerns. So can cake pops be allowed given the risk of nuts in the ingredients?
If cake pops come from the grocery store or a nut-free bakery, they should be safe for schools. Pre-packaged pops with an ingredient label allow easy checking for any nut ingredients.
Homemade or bakery cake pops may be more risky. Even if a nut-free recipe is used, there is still a chance of cross-contact from equipment or surfaces where nuts were previously processed.
To help keep students with allergies safe, schools should consider:
- Requiring an ingredient list for all homemade baked goods
- Only allowing pre-packaged items with a label
- Designating certain rooms or tables as nut-free
- Using allergen-aware practices like wiping down surfaces, using separate utensils, etc.
Teachers and parents can also help prevent reactions by closely supervising cake pop consumption and having epinephrine auto-injectors on hand.
How to find or make nut-free cake pops
If tree nuts are off limits, look for cake pops made without any ground nuts or nut pieces. Here are some tips for finding or making safe nut-free pops:
Check grocery store options
Many mainstream brands like Hostess, Entenmann’s, and Little Debbie offer nut-free cake pops. Always read labels, but products produced on shared equipment should be okay for most. Opt for pops packed in individual wrappers when possible.
Search for nut-free bakeries
Many dedicated nut-free bakeries exist, especially in areas where school nut bans are common. These kitchens only use nut-free ingredients and have protocols in place to avoid cross-contact. Look online or ask your local bakery about nut-free options.
Make them at home
For total control over ingredients, make cake pops at home. Use your favorite nut-free cake and frosting recipes. To avoid cross-contact, thoroughly clean surfaces and utensils first. Dedicate coconut oil and nut butters to one recipe.
Modify recipes
Tweak recipes to omit nut flours or nut toppings. Replace almond extract with vanilla. Swap peanut butter for sunflower seed or soy butter. Top with sprinkles instead of chopped nuts.
Watch out for hidden nuts
Nuts can sneak into unexpected places like biscotti in tiramisu or pralines on chocolate. Opt for nut-free cake and frosting flavors when possible.
What to do if you eat cake pops with nuts
If you inadvertently eat cake pops containing your allergen, take action quickly:
- Look for signs of an allergic reaction like hives, swelling, vomiting, difficulty breathing, etc. Use epinephrine if symptoms are severe.
- Call emergency services if symptoms worsen or epinephrine does not relieve them.
- Rinse out your mouth and wash any residue off your hands to minimize further contact.
- Take an antihistamine containing diphenhydramine to help relieve mild symptoms.
- Notify teachers or caretakers of the exposure.
- Consult an allergist to determine if your allergy protocol needs adjustment.
To help prevent accidental exposures, be vigilant about labels, ask questions, and do not eat items with unknown ingredients.
Cake pop recipes without tree nuts
Here are some nut-free cake and frosting recipes perfect for making allergy-friendly cake pops at home:
Vanilla Cake
This simple vanilla cake is moist and full of flavor thanks to ingredients like milk, butter, and vanilla. Safely omit nuts by swapping the flour for an allergy-friendly brand and skipping the nuts in the instructions.
Ingredients
- 2 cups wheat flour
- 1 1⁄2 cups sugar
- 3 1⁄2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1⁄2 cup butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 inch pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- In a separate bowl, beat together milk, butter, eggs and vanilla.
- Add wet ingredients to dry and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 25-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow cake to cool completely before using for cake balls.
Strawberry Frosting
This sweet strawberry frosting uses coconut oil in place of butter for a dairy-free, nut-free option. The coconut oil helps create a smooth, spreadable texture.
Ingredients
- 1⁄3 cup coconut oil, softened
- 2 1⁄2 cups powdered sugar
- 1⁄4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp strawberry extract
- 2 tbsp strawberry puree
- 1-2 tbsp milk, optional
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, beat together coconut oil and powdered sugar until smooth.
- Add salt, strawberry extract and strawberry puree. Mix until combined.
- If needed, stir in 1-2 tbsp milk to reach desired consistency.
- Use immediately to frost nut-free cake balls.
Conclusion
Cake pops can contain tree nuts if the recipe calls for nut flours, nut butters, coconut, or chopped nuts. Always read ingredient labels carefully and ask questions to determine if nuts are present. For nut-free options, look for mainstream brands, dedicated nut-free bakeries, or make your own at home. Substitute butter for coconut oil and use fruit purees in place of nut butters. With some simple swaps and extra care, you can enjoy allergy-friendly cake pops without putting your health at risk.