April 15, 2011

Easter Cake Pops

i really do love easter. not only because of what it stands for, but also because (again) it's a chance to make sweet, sugary treats that you probably wouldn't justify to yourself on a normal sunday.

i love the great baskets that the easter bunny brings. and the egg hunts. and the unnecessary loads of chocolates and sugar. and the promise of spring, replete with blooming tulips and cherry blossoms.

ever since i stumbled upon bakerella's version, i haven't been able to get them out of my mind. can you blame me? are they not the cutest things? and so it's easter... and i couldn't not make them...


Easter Cake Pops

1       box cake mix (i used betty crocker gluten-free yellow cake mix)
1       (16-ounce) container ready-made frosting (i used betty crocker vanilla)
(Styrofoam block)

1. Bake cake according to package instructions. Allow cake to cool completely.

2. Cut the cake into quarters. Finely crumble each quarter of cake in a large bowl.

3. Add half the container of frosting. Mix into cake crumbles until well combined. Mixture should stick together to form a ball, not too crumbly, not too wet. (Add more frosting, if needed.) Reserve remaining frosting for another use.

4. Roll cake mixture into 2-inch oval shaped balls. Place on wax paper-lined baking sheet, cover and chill in fridge till firm.

Chicks:
1       (1-pound) bag yellow candy coating morsels
Lollipop sticks
Yellow & Orange Rainbow Candy Coated Chips
Orange Pastel Wild Flower Sprinkles
Black edible ink pen

1. Carefully melt yellow candy coating in a deep bowl in microwave according to package directions.

2. Dip 1/4-inch of a lollipop stick into candy coating mixture; insert the stick straight into the cake ball on one end of the oval ball, almost half-way. Hold cake ball at the surface of the candy coating, spoon coating evenly over cake ball; and carefully tap off any excess. Work quickly, but not too forcefully or the cake ball will fall off the stick. Place end of stick in the Styrofoam block until sturdy and allow to dry. Continue with remaining balls.

3. Dip a toothpick into the coating and use like glue to adhere the orange candy chips as beak, yellow candy chips as wings, and orange flower sprinkles as feet. Draw on eyes with edible ink pen.

Bunnies:
1       (1-pound) bag white candy coating morsels
Lollipop sticks
White (or Pink) Licorice Pastels (from Licorice Bridge Mix... NOT GLUTEN-FREE)
Pink Rainbow Candy Coated Chips
Blue & Pink edible ink pen
Mini-Marshmallows

1. Carefully melt white candy coating in a deep bowl in microwave according to package directions.

2. Dip 1/4-inch of a lollipop stick into candy coating mixture; insert the stick straight into the cake ball on the underside of the oval ball, almost half-way. Hold cake ball at the surface of the candy coating, spoon coating evenly over cake ball; and carefully tap off any excess. Work quickly, but not too forcefully or the cake ball will fall off the stick. Quickly, place white licorice pastels as ears. Don't push too deeply or the coating may crack later. Place end of stick in the Styrofoam block until sturdy and allow to dry. Continue with remaining balls.

3. Dip a toothpick into the coating and use like glue to adhere the pink candy chips as nose. Draw on eyes and mouth with edible ink pens.

4. For the tails, use a knife and make criss-crossing indentions on a mini marshmallow. Don’t cut through, just enough to give a cottontail effect. Attach the tails with melted candy coating.

Sheep:
1       (1-pound) bag white candy coating morsels
Lollipop sticks
Black Licorice Buttons (from Licorice Bridge Mix... NOT GLUTEN-FREE)
Black Licorice Pastels (from Licorice Bridge Mix... NOT GLUTEN-FREE), cut in half
White Mini Sugar Pearls (these may contain gluten, depending upon brand)
Brown Rainbow Candy Coated Chips

1. Carefully melt white candy coating in a deep bowl in microwave according to package directions.

2. Dip 1/4-inch of a lollipop stick into candy coating mixture; insert the stick straight into the cake ball on the underside of the oval ball, almost half-way. Hold cake ball at the surface of the candy coating, spoon coating evenly over cake ball; and carefully tap off any excess. Work quickly, but not too forcefully or the cake ball will fall off the stick. This can get tricky... quickly, place black licorice button for head, then pastels for legs, and pearls all over (the pearls are probably best done over a bowl to keep them from rolling across your counter and everywhere else in your kitchen). If the timing doesn't work, use coating as glue to attach them all. Dip a toothpick into the coating and use like glue to adhere candy coated chips to candy coated chips for ears.

Be creative....
Yield: about 30 cake pops.


PRINT THIS RECIPE

No comments:

Post a Comment