Adventures in Baking: Cake Pops!

Let me just begin by saying cake pops are probably not the best activity for toddlers...  BUT, they are SUPER easy and FUN to make!  I had seen a few references to them online, but the first one I had was by my friend, Sarah.  

She sent a few to me that she had made for a baby shower--they were A.MAZ.ING!  Seriously--so tasty!  She sent a second set a few days later, and those were just as yummy!  

I started to pay a little more attention to the ones I saw online, and then I got to watch Brandi make some football shaped ones for Scott's birthday while she was at our house.  I decided that I would make baby boy cake pops while we had Kaitlyn when Brandi was in labor and at the hospital.  The cake making portion of the activity went very well--Kaitlyn and Jackson loved helping with that!  The decorating was a little tricky, perhaps in the future this will be a more fun activity...


Anyways, I thought I'd give my take on making cake pops.  I started with a box of cake mix and a can of frosting: chocolate cake and cream cheese frosting.  We baked the cake in the morning, and once it was out and cooled for about 15 minutes, I broke it into large chunks to finish cooling.  During naptime I crumbled up the cake into a big bowl and scooped in almost the whole container of frosting.  I mixed it all together, and then I stuck the bowl in the fridge for about 20 minutes.  Rolling the batter between your hands to make balls goes MUCH better if the dough is chilled!  I made 1T sized balls, and I just laid them on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper after I rolled each one.  Then I dipped the tip of the lollipop sticks in the coating I was planning to use later and then stuck one stick in each ball.  I got almost 50 balls out of my batter, and then I stuck the baking sheet in the freezer for a while.  The longer the better.  The first set I made was only in for about 45 minutes, but the second batch stayed in there while we ate and cleaned up dinner--those were easier to dip and decorate.  

I bought one bag of light blue candy wafers... 

and one bag of dark chocolate mint candy wafers.

I did the blue ones first.  I melted the candy (the thinner the better) and then stuck on large sprinkles.  I did the same thing with the chocolate mint melts.  I was really pleased with how they came out!  I am hoping to work up to something more elaborate by October for Jackson's birthday...  We'll see!!!


These are the websites I found helpful and inspiring:
Bakerella--apparently, this is THE cake ball/pop site!
The Adventures of Miss Mommy--Emily was the first friend of mine who posted pictures and a real explanation of how to generate this amazing treat!
Sleepless in Sandy--this site gave me the idea to dip the pops and then put them "head down" instead of propping them up in something to dry.  I thought that might make it easier for Jackson and Kaitlyn to decorate, but I ended up just doing them all that way!