Pop! Goes my Cake.

Planning a party is one thing - planning a party AND doing catering is another kettle of fish altogether - and was definitely my biggest challenge (as well as working full time, managing a business - oh and performing in a local production of Chess!). So without further ado - here is Part 1 of our Tea Party recipe collection: Cake Pops.

(Oh and thanks to one of my favourite Hugh Grant films "Music and Lyrics" for the title inspiration!)

CAKE POPS

I've yet to find a Brisbane cake-maker that can make professional quality cake pops (Do you know of one? Let me know!) - in fact it's hard to find anyone in Brisbane who has even HEARD of cake pops, so I knew it was up to me.

Cake Pops are ridiculously easy to make but ridiculously hard to make WELL. Firstly - if you're not aware of Bakerella's blog - do yourself a favour and get acquainted with it NOW!

Here are some instructions aimed at Australian readers:

Ingredients/Resources:

1. 1 x packet Greens chocolate mud cake (I've found this the best cake to work with)
2. 3/4 can of pre-made Betty Crocker frosting (chocolate works well for me)
3. 1 1/2 - 2 packets of Wilton's Candy Melts.
4. Styrofoam block
5. Lollipop sticks (I get mine from eBay - they're so cheap!)
6. Sprinkles or other decorations.


A word on the Candy Melts - these are becoming easier to find in Australia now - Little Betsy Baker has them in practically every colour for around $10.50. Check out eBay also - various cake makers sometimes sell their leftover stock there a little cheaper. We spotted them in Spotlight the other day too - in pink, blue and choc-mint - again for $10.50.

Method:

1. Bake your cake and leave to cool. 
2. Break cake into halves and rub together into a bowl to form fine crumbs - there should be no lumps at all.
3. Scoop out frosting and stir through. You might also need to use your hands (although beware - this is VERY tasty!)
4. Roll into balls the size of chupa-chups. Any bigger and they'll fall off the stick - in my experience anyway. You SHOULD have 50 or so, depending on how many you've eaten off your hands!
5. Place onto a tray and pop into the freezer for an hour or so.
6. Melt candy melts in the microwave (low heat) or over a pot of simmering water. Be careful not to overheat- I've done this - it's not pleasant. Stir thoroughly to eliminate all lumps.
7. Stir in a little oil to thin mixture out a little (there are other thinning agents you can use - but oil works for me - just not too much or you can taste it).
8. Take a few cake balls out at a time. Dip a lollipop stick into the melted candy mixture (about an inch), and push into the centre of the ball. I tend to prep about 5 with sticks before I move onto the next step but it's up to you. 
9. Lower the cake ball (on the stick) into the melted mixture and wriggle it around to get even coverage. Try to avoid spinning the stick - unless you want to risk it falling apart. Lift it out and stick into the Styrofoam block. You have about 5 seconds to decorate with sprinkles before it hardens!
10. Repeat - another 49 or so times. I didn't say it wasn't time consuming!

Bakerella has the BEST decorating ideas on her blog - I am a mere pleb in the world of cake-pop making. But the ones I have made have been received very well and are super SUPER yummy!