Cake Pops

Knowing that I’m a kid at heart, my daughter, Sally, bought me a Cake Pops kit by Bakerella for Mother’s Day.  Cake Pops have taken the cake world by storm ever since they were developed by Angie Dudley, creator of the wonderful Bakerella website and blog.  Cake pops are so much fun to make and decorate, and the end results are so pretty to display and so delicious.  They are a creative baking and decorating project to do with kids as they are transitioning from summer fun to more structured back to school routines.  They make tasty lunch box and after school treats, and are great to serve at kids parties as dessert or favors. Welcome Back to School!

Before you begin make sure to have on hand a 13 x 9-inch baking pan, a large mixing bowl, 4-ounce microwave safe cylindrical plastic containers*** cake pop stand or Styrofoam block, and lollipop sticks.****

Bake the cake mix in a 13 x 9-inch baking pan according to the package directions.

When the cake is done, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 5 minutes.

Flip the cake out of the pan onto a cooling rack.  Place another cooling rack over the cake and re-flip it so that it is right side up.  Allow the cake to cool completely.

Crumble the cake into a large mixing bowl.  You can do this all by hand.  Or you can use a knife to cut the cake into small pieces and then crumble by hand.

Place about 3/4 of the container of frosting into the bowl and mix the cake crumbs and frosting until well combined.

Roll by hand 1 1/2-inch cake balls.  Place them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.  Place in the freezer for at least 15 minutes.  You can keep the cake balls in the freezer for a couple of weeks or in the refrigerator for several days.

While the cake balls are in the freezer, melt the candy coating.  Place about 3 ounces or two large handfuls of melts into a 4-ounce microwave safe plastic container.  Add about 1/2  teaspoon of Crisco to the melts, then place in the microwave on medium power for one minute.  Remove and stir the melts.  Repeat this process until all the candy coating is fully melted and smooth.  You can use different colors of candy melts if desired.

Remove several cake balls from the freezer and allow to rest at room temperature for about a minute.  Take a lollipop stick, dip it about 1/2 inch into the candy coating, then insert the dipped part of the lollipop stick about halfway into the cake ball.

Dip the cake ball into the melted candy coating, making sure it is totally submerged.  Lift the cake pop out of the candy coating allowing any excess to drip back into the bowl.  Place finished cake pop onto a cake pop stand or Styrofoam block.

If desired, sprinkle with colored sugars, or sprinkles before the coating dries.

Repeat the process until you have your desired amount of cake pops.

You can keep the finished cake pops covered with plastic wrap at room temperature for a day or two, or in the refrigerator for 5 days

An 18.25 ounce box of cake mix will make about 48 cake pops.

Essex Fells Magazine

September 2013