How to make Cake Pops\ Baking Recipe\ Lady of Vintage

 This American craze seems to have reached the UK recently so I thought I would jump on board and see what the fuss was all about. I actually came across 'cake pops' whilst browsing on Pinterest and couldn't believe how cute they were!

I think they aren't too hard to make as long as you are not completly new to baking. Of all things, they are a bit fiddly and take a bit of practice to get right. I've seen people on forums confused as to why their pops won't stay on the stick, amongst other things, but if you get the combination of cake mixture and frosting right there is no reason you can't have some great fun baking these! 

So here is my little recipe for cake pops and little tips I have collected on the way.

Firstly you will need to whip up a basic cake mixture. These two are the best so far in terms of consistency and texture to ensure a secure cake pop!

{Vanilla} 

{Chocolate}

1/Take your loaf of cake and allow to cool completely. 

2/Carefully trim off all the 'crusty' edges and outer layers. You want the cake sponge inside only! Crumble the cake into a large bowl and add in the around 3 Teaspoons of frosting. {Click here for my vanilla frosting recipe}{Click here for my chocolate frosting recipe}

3/Melt a handful of Candy Melts. (This will be used to dip your stick in and used as a sort of glue)

4/Take around a tablespoon worth of cake and squish into a ball. Compact the cake together gently but firmly. You want the ball to be quite smooth on the outside and solid on the inside.

5/Take your stick and dip around half an inch into the candy melt.Stick it halfway into your ball and place on a baking sheet. 

 

6/Place in the fridge for around 25 mins. This will allow your cake balls to set. 

7/In the meantime, melt some Candy Melts. I find it takes around half a bag to cover around 9 pops, depending how thick you cover them. Make sure your bowl isn't too shallow.

** TIP**Make sure you don't overheat your candy melts. The heat can really damage the texutre and consistency. My advice would be to boil your water and bring to a simmer for a bit until you place your bowl of melts over the heat. The lower the heat the better. Just be patient and take your time and the melts will be easier to work with.

8/Take your chilled cake pops and carefully dip into the bowl of candy melts. It does take a bit of practice so don't worry if they come off the stick at first.
**If your balls fall off the stick:
- You have not compressed your balls properly
-You may have put too much icing into the mixture
-You didn't leave the balls to chill long enough in the fridge.

 

9/Sprinkle and decorate to your hearts content and allow them to dry upright by sticking them into a Styrofoam block or something similar. You can always experiment with Sugar Paste like I did.

  

**If you are going to sell them, like I did, just simply buy some thin cellophane to package them. It really does make a difference when they are displayed on your stall. I made a stand myself from a cardboard box or you can always invest in one from Ebay or Amazon. But to keep costs down and make yours unique you should just give DIY a go. 

Has anyone else tried these little delights before? Have you got any tips to share with me? 


Would love to hear from you!

Lady of Vintage xx