Sports parties are always fun, but let’s be honest—half the people show up for the snacks. You could put chips and salsa on the table and call it a day, but why stop there when you can show up with tennis ball cakepops? Nothing says “we’re watching the US Open” like a tray of neon green little cake spheres on sticks. They’re sporty, they’re silly, and they’re way more exciting than a bowl of pretzels.
Here’s the thing: tennis balls look simple, and that’s exactly why they work as cakepops. You don’t need ten colors of candy melts or tiny fondant decorations—just one bright coat of green and a couple white curves, and boom. Everyone knows exactly what you made. I like to use a lemon or vanilla cake base inside because the pale interior pops against the green, but chocolate works too. Honestly, the inside flavor is your call—people are going to demolish them either way.
The real star is the coating. You want that perfect tennis ball green, which means mixing candy melts just right. Straight neon green candy melts can look a little cartoonish, so I usually tone it down with a spoonful of yellow candy melts mixed in. It gives you that just-right, fuzzy felt color that makes people do a double take. “Wait, are these actual tennis balls?!” No, they’re better.
Once dipped, let them set smooth and shiny, then add the white curved stripes. I pipe mine on with melted white chocolate in a small piping bag, but if you’re feeling brave, you can even drizzle with a spoon and embrace the slightly wonky lines. Tennis balls are never perfect anyway—they scuff, they blur. A little wobble in your stripes just makes them feel more real. Plus, no one at your party is going to complain while they’re biting into cake.
Presentation makes these pop (pun fully intended). I love putting them into a bowl filled with clean tennis balls, sticks up, like they’re sprouting out of the real thing. Or line them up on a tray with a mini net in the middle—yes, I’ve hot-glued a piece of mesh to two dowels before, and no, I don’t regret it. People notice the details, and it makes the party feel intentional without a ton of effort.
One of my favorite memories was last summer when I brought a batch of these to a US Open watch party. I walked in, and half the room yelled, “Game, set, match!” before even tasting them. Kids fought over who got the first one, adults sneaked seconds, and by the time the first set on TV was over, my tray was empty. The poor chips and dip sat abandoned in the corner while the tennis ball pops became the star. That’s the kind of win I love—when dessert upstages the actual sport.
They’re also easy to scale. Make a dozen for a small gathering or fifty for a big event, and they still look sharp. They hold their shape beautifully, and you don’t need to fuss over last-minute cutting or serving. People just grab a stick and go back to yelling at the TV over a close call.
There’s just something satisfying about giving a themed dessert its moment. Tennis ball cakepops are playful, recognizable, and they tie the whole party together. Whether your crowd is hardcore fans or just there for the socializing, everyone appreciates the extra effort. Plus, let’s be real: you’ll secretly enjoy all the oohs and ahhs when people see them lined up like a tiny edible tennis squad.
And at the end of the night, when the match is over and everyone’s debating who should’ve won, you’ll be the one who quietly took home the real trophy—empty sticks, crumb-filled napkins, and the bragging rights that your dessert stole the show.