April 3, 2011

Cake Pops

When learned of cake pops and  "googled"  how they were made, the recipe sounded crazy but simple.   I got over-confident and
offered to bring cake pops to an office birthday party
 even though I had never made them before.

  Here is basically what you do:
Bake a box of cake mix according to the directions in a 13" x 9" pan then cool.

After cooling, break the cake up into small pieces in a large bowl.

Add a whole can of frosting to the crumbled cake.

Mix well so the frosting is evenly distributed.

Refrigerate the mixture for 15 minutes or longer.

Form the cooled cake/frosting mixture into (about 1") balls.

Melt some Wilton candy wafers in a small bowl according to package directions.

Dip the end of a sucker stick in the melted candy about 1"
 then immediately stick it in the top of a ball.
This acts as a kind of "glue" to hold the stick in the ball.
Do a sucker stick in candy for each ball.

Refrigerate the balls with sticks in them for 15 minutes or longer. 

Melt more candy wafers in the small bowl so that it is at least 1" deep. 

Take the balls out of the refrigerator a few at a time so they will stay chilled until they are dipped.
Dip each ball on a stick in the bowl of melted candy.


Make sure that the melted candy comes up to the stick so that when it hardens, it will help hold the cake on the stick.  I tried other methods of dipping/coating but this little bowl worked best for me.

 As you dip more pops, you will need to add more candy wafers to the bowl and then microwave  it in 15 second intervals to  
melt the newly added wafers.  Stir between heatings. 

To get excess melted candy off the ball when you bring it out, tap the stick gently  on the side of the bowl.
I ended up with candy on the stick because I didn't clean off a
 place on the side of the bowl to tap.
 For a better look, clean off a spot to tap.

If you are going to add sprinkles of any kind, put them on the cake pop as soon as you finish coating it with the candy melts so that they will stick.  If you are going to drizzle, you can wait until the candy hardens.

There are two ways you can display your cake pops.
  One way is to let the cake part
 of the pop to rest on the plate with the stick in the air. 

 Since this was my first attempt at the cake pops, I made most of them too big I think (they were about 1 1/2").  
 It was easier to keep the cake on the stick to
 let them be "bottom heavy" and just sit on a plate.

Just be aware that the bottom of the cake pop will be flat.  
I don't think that really matters. 

 I had to "fool with" the more rounded pops longer to make the candy coating look  uniform all around the cake part so,
  for me, the "bottom heavy" pops were quicker. 

The second way to display the cake pops it to insert the stick in styrofoam.  

If you want this look, be sure you have your styrofoam ready when you take the pop out of the melted candy so it will keep
 its rounded shape while it is hardening. 

 You can decorate the styrofoam block if you want to or stick it in a pot  and hide it like I did here with crinkled paper.

I hope to do better decorating next time I try this.  


This is what I ended up taking to the office birthday party. 
 I ran out of time because I was having a hard time getting the dipping part right. This pitiful looking sheet cake was supposed
 to be the basis for more cake pops but it got late and I had lost my patience with the pops. 

A few of the cake pops turned out decent so they ended up being the cake decoration.
 It TASTED alright and that's all most folks cared about.

  The pictures near the beginning of this post were of pops that sat in the refrigerator  without candy coating 
until I had more time to work on my technique.

16 comments

  1. Oh the adventures of cake pops. When I first tried them it was a family activity and my husband was better at dipping them then I was. I think the first pictured ones look great! I love your "cake pops gone wrong" cake. Thanks for the tips - they will be very helpful for my next time.

    Thanks for visiting my blog re:make your own eggs. It's nice to meet you.
    Following you now!

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  2. I love cake pops. We are making them this week for a wedding. I have found out if you use only 3/4 of the can of frosting they do better. Thanks for the tip on dipping in cup. Vicky

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  3. I just tried to make these for the 1st time last week for my daughter's birthday party. They came out fantastic! I have 1 tip that worked great..instead of using parchment or wax paper, I used my pizza stone to put the pops on, put the stone in the freezer a head of time and the pops "set up" ASAP immediately, the coldness of the stone really made a difference. Come see what you think...

    http://just-starting-out.blogspot.com/2011/03/cake-pops-tutorial.html

    Melissa

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  4. Oh my those are just adorable and so yummy looking. THanks for sharing in the newbie party.
    http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/

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  5. Your cake pops turned out really well..I love the white icing accents! Your instructions and tips are so helpful. I've been wanting to try making these forever.

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  6. I heart cake pops!! Yours look great!!

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  7. I've made cake pops once. They are a fun treat.

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  8. Those look really yummy. I have to try this sometime. I found you over at Debbie's party. Your blog background is the same background I used when I started my blog. Love it. I am your latest follower. I would love for you to come and check out my blog and follow me back at www.diybydesign.blogspot.com. Thanks so much.

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  9. I'm thinking I want to get adventurous and try to make some cake pops. I've been thinking that for awhile though.... so who knows if I will. Your's turned out great and your cake picture made me laugh. Seriously looks like something I would have to do.

    Stopping by from Debbie's party.

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  10. Yumm!!! Enjoy your new lightbox! I love your blog background....so pretty. I'm a new follower, btw!

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  11. Very tempting ... the way you have done is fabulous ....
    http://craftaworld.blogspot.com/
    Love
    Farah

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  12. I'm a follower now! Your photographs of these cake pops are making me hungry and its only 10:30 in the morning!

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  13. I'm a follower now - you had me at cake :) Nicely detailed instructions - I might attempt this on a low frustration day.

    Jill @ JunkyVagabond

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  14. You are the best! I have read hundreds of blogs, and your is by far the most practical. You have detailed, clear photos and show several options for execution. You also give candid self-evaluations after completion. Thanks so much! I am your new greatest fan.

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  15. I am definitely enjoying your website. You definitely have some great insight and great stories. cakes in bakersfield ca

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