Cake Pops

While we are under a record breaking snow fall for December.  43.2 inches between Sunday and Wednesday to be precise according to the National Weather Service.  I've been busy getting ready for the  holiday season.  There's nothing I love more than to make gifts for friends and loved one. 

So I thought I would highlight a gift I am making for friends...only if you can keep it a secret.

I have been wanting to make cake pops.  What are cake pops you might ask...they are cake bites on a stick, dipped in rich candy coating.  I purchased the Cake Pops cookbook by Angie Dudley a.k.a. Bakerella from our local bookstore.  Check out her wonderful website for recipes and ideas on how to make cake pops, cake balls, cupcake bites and other bite size treats.
http://www.bakerella.com/category/pops-bites/cake-pops/
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpIifr0VOxY

I know the whole idea of dipping a piece of cake in candying coating sounds easy.  I found not so much!

So here are some tips:

These yummy treats are made from a crumbled 13x9 inch spice cake and 3/4 of a container of cream cheese frosting mixed together.

 Roll the dough in 1 1/2 inch balls and freeze for 15 minutes. 

 It makes 4 dozen balls.

Next, dip 1/2 inch of the tip of a lollipop sticks in melted candy coating, and then insert the lollipop stick straight into a cake ball, pushing it no more than halfway through.  Make sure you stick it in far enough in the balls or they will fall off in the middle of deeping the balls in candy coating.

Ok this picture is of the balls already dipped in candy coating.  I was so busy melting candy, taking balls out of the freezer, juggling balls, and trying to not drop them I didn't have time to take a picture. The idea is to dip the entire cake ball into the melted candy coating until it is completely covered, and remove it in one motion.  I found you have to tap and rotate them to get the excess coating off the ball.  And it was best to take balls out of the freezer a few at a time.  So I could dip them before they reached room temperature.  They harden fast so if you plan on treating them with springles...be ready. When most of the excess coating falls off and no longer dipping, stick the cake pop into a styrofoam block.   

I covered them with a small treat bags and ribbon.

 And arrangement them in a container. 

Three gifts done...