CAKE POPS and CAKE BALLS...The Saga Continues

My son walked into the kitchen Sunday and took a step back..."whoa, Mom, you said you weren't doing those again" and then he smiled.  I shrugged and said "well, I changed my mind...I'm giving it another go".  Thus began 5 1/2 hours of a labor of love.  Christmas cake pops and cake balls for my family.  They love them.  The teen loves that he gets to eat the mistakes :-)

I've written a post about these last year, which you can find here.  I've written a review on Bakerella's book "Cake Pops"...because she was my catalyst for making these most excellent creations.  My 2010 blog post on Christmas Cake Pops has moved into the #1 all time post for my blog.  I almost didn't post these - I wasn't sure I had much to add.  However, since I'm not a pro at this, maybe another home baker might enjoy seeing my photos....although, they are not excellent.

That's part of the pure pleasure I get form blogging and reading other blogs.  Many of us are just home bakers and cooks who enjoy sharing our antics with other like-minded readers.  I can say this:  my cake pops have gotten a lot smoother this year.  I continue to make mistakes when trying to hurry.  Keeping the cake pops chilled firm to the last possible moment was key to them not falling off the stick.  Anytime I moved more than 2 out of the fridge at a time, the 3rd one fell off the stick.  Lesson learned.  Lesson eaten :-)

So, here are the photos.  I encourage you to visit Bakerella.com for better instructions (and a lot better photos).  You can also see a demonstration of exactly how to do it from start to finish in this link link, scroll down to "Related Media" and click on the link that says "cake pops" - it is a 3:49 minute tutorial and I've watched it about 5 times!  While you are there, buy the book.  Even better, go to an independent book store and buy it in person.  Shop small businesses this season!!!

Go get your supplies (the book has infinite resources for the supplies - I live in the boonies and have to depend on Amazon, Wal-mart, and Michael's...and many other online vendors).  Bake the cake, let it cool, crumble it to pieces, add in frosting, squish it up, roll it up, chill, set up your work area, melt, dip, and decorate  It's that easy!  Happy cake popping everyone.

Measured mixture with scoop for consistent sizing

Rolled cake balls

Shaped cake trees

Set up the work station - mis en place for this too! 
Have lots of paper towels
and toothpicks ready. 
Wear an apron if you are as messy as me!

Set up the sprinkles and get out the craft tweezers

Wax paper covered baking sheets ready to set the
cake balls on when finished dipping

I decorated as I went for the most part but sometimes, did a few trees
and then went back to decorate and pipe additional features. 
The "tinsel" for the trees was piped after the tree
dried and I added sprinkles after
I piped on melted chocolate coating.

Add the tree toppers while chocolate is still soft.
To make the "tree-like texture" of the tree pops, rapidly use
the side of a toothpick and touch and pull up and down
the cone.

For sprinkles - need to adhere while it is still melty.
You have to move really, really fast to get the tree texture,
the little sprinkles, and the star on top.
 Come back and use the craft tweezers and individually
apply the sugar balls to the tree
with a little dab of melted chocolate.

The finished cake balls - 22 survived out of 24...
we happily ate the 2 that perished!

24 cake pops and cake trees - drying and waiting to be individually
bagged up in cellophane bags for transport to our happy family
Christmas!  The important thing...pretty is as pretty does...
they must taste good too!

BON APPETIT, Y'ALL!

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