Cake Pops

[Malica]

After stumbling across Bakerella's blog after seeing her hamburger and fries both here and on cake wrecks, I really couldn't help myself when I saw these Smiling Cake Pops

The premise is simple enough - make a cake, crumble it up, stir in a can of frosting, roll them into balls, jab lollipop sticks into them then dip them in melted chocolate, and I needed to bring something to a family event I figured I'd give them a try.




A few disappointments with them though:
1. Not all edible markers can write on chocolate. Chocolate is oily, the markers I got were not suitable (Wilton's FoodWriter Edible Color Markers - the only ones at my local Michael's). It was like trying to write on a sheet of wax paper with a ball point pen, so only 2 got faces on them. I was really hoping to take the markers and let the kids draw on their own faces, but it wasn't meant to be this time.
2. Instructions say to pop them in the freezer to firm them up. I'm pretty sure that's why about 1/4 of mine ended up getting big cracks in the coating (warm coating + cold cake ball =  )

Still though, they were pretty easy once I got the hang of how to coat something in chocolate. I've got my baking friends now on the quest to find me markers that will write on chocolate in Canada because I know I'm going to make these (or the animal variants) again sometime.

[Asheri]

I've been wanting to try those for awhile, but I wonder if the taste is worth the trouble of making them?
Or are they basically just cute?

[spicytaco]

That's a really cute idea. I wonder how they taste?

I had an idea about doing the faces. What if you used some royal icing in a piping bag?
(Or even a milk or zipper bag with the corner cut off?) I've done that to right names on chocolate easter eggs, and it wasn't hard.

[ulcdmj]

I think they look very yummy since I TOO know what cake pops/balls/truffles are. I saw bakerella's post a while back and tried it for my girls and I. We instantly fell in love w/ them and make them for any family special event. They are perfect because they are different and very creative. Not to mention the different combination's you can come up with. My personal faves are red velvet w/ cream cheese icing (Betty Crocker) or the Lemon and cream cheese. I think you did a fine job!

[a2nikki20]

I make these - the red velvet mixed with cream cheese frosting and covered with dark chocolate.  The taste is amazing - I made them for Christmas gifts and EVERYONE loved them!!

[WYOKrista]

I think these are a great idea, and I truly appreciate it when people post things that dont turn out perfect, I might even try to make these some day thanks for the ideas

[Kitten1318]

I LOVE this recipe, I used it this year when making candy to give as gifts for Christmas.  I didn't use the sticks and I used white and milk chocolate to coat, then drizzled the opposite color on top to make them a bit more fancy.  I love the idea of colors.  They are SOOOOOOOOOOO yummy too!

[in_wonderland]

there goes my diet!

[Malica]

They actually do taste really good. Really really good. I was worried about that myself as I used a gluten-free cake mix so the entire family could enjoy them, and I've actually been eating a lot better myself lately so I had to trust my husband to be the taste tester and be honest about the results. After several family members asked for the instructions my curiosity got the better of me an I had one. And they were super yummy. (Especially if you're under 10).

I was going to make gluten-free and regular ones and make them different colours to keep them straight, but 1 package of cake mix (even a single-layer cake mix for gluten free cake) makes a lot of them and I ran out of chocolate before making a second batch. Thankfully my husband and his friends were able to dispose of a pan of brownies for me.

[pinokeeo]

OMG.  I love this idea.  I can't wait to try these.  Great job.