cakepop: (keyk-pop) noun
1.) happiness for under two dollars
2.) a unicorn's favorite snack
3.) newcomer to sugary indulgences category
4.) a useful tool during celebration, consoling the departure of a mean boyfriend or bribery
This week we are getting ready to celebrate another friend's milestone birthday. For me, that means more time in the kitchen!
While I've posted photos of my homemade cakepops before, I thought I'd give a little step-by-step photo collection for those of you curious about making these adorable little treats yourself.
Step 1
Start with your favorite batter. My go to recipe when strawberries are still readily available can be found here, but any preferred flavor will do.
From here you can proceed one of two ways:
Using a press:
If using a press, fill a pastry bag (or disposable plastic bag) with batter and snip the end to allow easy distribution into the concave mold. Follow the press instructions and set aside your little rounded cake balls to cool.
Using a press allows you to create your cake balls without having to combine them with frosting to ensure they keep their shape. As a girl who is a bigger fan of the cake than she is sugary frosting, this is a great way to go!
Don't have a press?
There are lots of resources that explain how to make cakepops sans a press (click here to see CakeBot show you how.) Generally, this method uses a fully baked cake and a bit of frosting for binding. Once combined and chilled, the steps are very similar on how to dip and decorate.
Step 2
After cooling, it's time to add the lollipop stick. I generally use these with Wilton Candy Melts and add coloring as needed or buy the pre-colored variety and alter to the color I'd like to achieve, warming per the directions and keeping an eye on the chocolate so it doesn't burn.
Warm up a bit of chocolate in a microwave safe bowl, double boiler or warming pot. Each lollipop stick should take a dip and a swirl in the chocolate and be inserted 1/2 to 3/4 of the way into the cake ball.
Once all the cakepops are assembled, let them have a sit in the fridge to allow the chocolate to bind to the cake and the lollipop stick to ensure everything will stay intact when you go to dip them.
The Wilton website or JoAnn Fabrics are great resources for both the lollipop sticks and chocolate that melts easily and evenly.
Step 3
After heating the chocolate in a deep bowl (the deeper bowl will work better than trying to swirl the pops in a shallow dish), work one by one from the fridge to dip you cake pop into the chocolate, giving a quick swirl and tapping or spinning to remove the excess chocolate. Cakepops should be cool, but not freezing when you start this step as a cakepop that is frozen may result in the warm chocolate cooling improperly and cracking.
If you plan on using sprinkles or dragees, add them while the chocolate hasn't set. Piping or edible painting can be done after.
There are several baking brands that make great cakepop holders to keep the cakepops separate while decorating and drying, but a sturdy piece of styrofoam with a layer of plastic wrap over the top works just as well for larger batches.
And, of course, the presentation! Endless ways to decorate and present these treats, but I had a special request from the birthday girl for lots of pink. And sugar. And sparklers - maybe those will go on the cake if it wont end up with the fire chief coming after us.
Interested in ordering cakepops for a party from Birdie Royale? I am happy to create quantities between 30 - 250 for all kinds of occasions - contact me here!
Happy baking little birds!
BR
Post script: Craving cake but live in the mitten state, not the emerald city? I'm not the only member of my family who loves baking - pop over to Kakes by Koko where you'll find lots of specialty cakes, cookies and pastries for order created by my cousin Nicole.
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