Cake pops are an irresistibly tasty treat that can be customized for any special event – birthday parties and baby showers being just two such celebrations where cake pops are the perfect finishing touch.
Utilize a spring-loaded scoop to quickly and evenly portion the cake mixture for each ball of cake, saving time while helping ensure uniform results. This provides a faster job that ensures even results!
Melted white candy can be used to embellish cake pops, although food-grade markers can also be used.
Cake
A cake pop consists of a combination of cake crumbs and frosting covered in a candy coating, typically prepared from scratch or using boxed mixes from grocery store bakeries or commercial sponge cakes. For optimal results, crumbling the cake into fine pieces so that it blends smoothly with the frosting; food processors work great in accomplishing this task.
Once cake crumbs and frosting have been mixed, using a spring-loaded cookie or ice cream scoop helps evenly portion out the mixture to form cake pops. This enables the easy creation of uniform balls ready for coating and decorations.
If you plan on coating cake pops in chocolate, you must use premium brands such as Ghiradelli or Hershey’s for optimal results. Also, melting the chocolate slowly with regular stirring will help ensure an even consistency.
For an exciting, vibrant appearance, choose colored candy melts. You can easily find these in the baking aisle of your local supermarket or craft section of your local craft store, and the colors should complement each other nicely on a color wheel or even just different hues within one hue. Candy coating also enables you to easily incorporate decorations such as sprinkles, small candies, freeze-dried fruit pieces, or fondant flowers for garnish.
An effective cake pop begins by handling its cake patty gently; too much movement could lead to its crumbling and breaking apart, leaving only an empty shell behind. When submerging them in candy coating, make sure it remains at a consistent depth until all surfaces have been evenly covered; once finished dipping, gently tap its stick against the side of a bowl while rotating to allow excess coating to drip off and drip back off of them.
Once cake pops have been coated and decorated, they are ready for their final touch: drying. If displaying with their sticks out, set them out on parchment paper to dry before placing them into an attractive container like a vase or jar. For something different, try putting posts into styrofoam blocks for creative display purposes and allow them to air-dry overnight before using them for display purposes.
Candy Coating
To create adorable cake pops, you need a few basic supplies. Use store-bought cake mix and frosting, or bake the cakes from scratch for extra special treats! Finally, decorate each pop using candy melts and sprinkles according to the party theme – or customize their colors however you like!
Begin by following the directions on the box and allowing it to cool before crumbling it into a bowl with frosting and using your hands to form smooth balls between 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Place these on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper before chilling them in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before refrigerating them again.
Once chilled, use a Melt and Make Microwaveable Tray or similar product to melt the chocolate coating in a microwaveable bowl. Dip each cake ball in the melted chocolate coating and allow the excess to drip off. You may add decorations while the layer is still wet – such as sprinkles or jimmies to each cake pop if desired.
Before the chocolate hardens, insert lollipop sticks into each ball. To ensure upright positioning of your cake pops while waiting their turn to be dipped, push one end of each post into Styrofoam pieces until it stops falling or touching other cake pops while waiting their turn to be dunked. After they’ve been coated in chocolate, they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
When ready to serve, display the cake pops on a beautiful platter or basket with sticks. They can also be stored in the freezer for up to one month – wrap each cake pop individually in plastic wrap before sealing it in a large resealable bag.
If you are making these pops for a special event, add an embellishment like a themed ribbon or present box! They make great treats at birthday parties, weddings, or any other festive gathering!
Decorating
Football-themed cake pops make an easy and appealing snack to enjoy during game day snacks or sports-themed birthday parties. Follow a straightforward recipe and decorate each pop with edible white sprinkles or white chocolate laces; to give each cake pop some added pizazz, tie a bow around each one!
Use the same technique to make soccer-themed cake balls using colored candy coating and various decorations, such as grassy bases made with green candy melts and shredded coconut, which you can make more vibrant by mixing in food color beforehand – place in a resealable plastic bag, adding drops of your preferred hue until evenly mixed – before filling a container and inserting your cake pops!
As an alternative to using the traditional styrofoam block as your base, try filling a clear glass or bowl with light brown sugar and cookie crumbs as your foundation. Or you could fill a small cup or bowl with blue confetti sprinkles to mimic an ocean scene for Beach Ball cake pops – then place cake pops at their centers while surrounding them with suitable decorations that fit with their theme.
To assemble cake pops, begin by melting some white candy coating in a microwaveable bowl until it reaches a creamy state – this may require you to stir and rewarm in 30-second intervals for best results. Dip each lollipop stick tip in this layer of candy before inserting them halfway through your cake ball. Finally, coat all four cake pops completely in chocolate (reheating as necessary to ensure complete coverage), shaking off excess.
Use an icing writer or other decorating tool to draw laces on each cake pop and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to several hours or in the refrigerator for more extended storage.
Sticks
Cake pops are typically created from a mixture of baked cake crumbles with creamy frosting added as a binding agent; then, they are hand-rolled into 1- 1/2 inch balls and hand-decorated to specifications. Once frozen (to avoid condensation that could ruin decorations and cause water spots) or given away as treats, they’re stored or consumed immediately.
To create the actual cake pops, first, choose your favorite kind of cake and slice it thin. Next, grab some sturdy styrofoam and poke holes for sticks into it before laying your cake pops in with their posts sticking up out of them. If they are gifts, you could also cover their base in present wrapping paper for additional protection.
While your cake pops are chilling, melt some colored candy melts or white chocolate chips in the microwave according to package directions. Holding on tightly to each end of a lollipop stick, dip each cake pop into the melted chocolate using its back and gently swirl around until coated, tapping its end against hard surfaces until any excess chocolate has been removed before returning it to your baking sheet and refrigerating until set.
When you are ready to decorate your soccer cake pops, use a small spoon to apply a thin layer of frosting – multiple coats may be required if coverage is complete. Roll each cake pop in your preferred colors of sprinkles before using a toothpick to “glue” some small pieces of frosting or candies onto its surface if desired.
Air bubbles should be taken note of when coating cakes in chocolate. This occurs due to oils or butter in the frosting trying to escape, creating unpleasant air pockets in your bite-sized treats. To minimize them, strive to maintain as smooth an icing mixture as possible while mixing, only adding as much as is necessary to form balls of dough.
Once your cake pops are finished being dipped and decorated, they can be displayed using either a unique soccer cake stand or put back onto their baking sheets to stay upright while the chocolate sets. As an alternative, use a block of Styrofoam with holes pierced into it so that they rest safely against it.
