Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Christmas

For the past couple of years my best friend Mary has come over during the holidays. It is a tradition I hope to keep forever. This year her visit involved shopping, cooking, baking, wrapping & more shopping. We made an Italian feast using her Grandmother's recipe for meatballs & sauce.  We also made a bunch of cake pops! They are so much fun & make great gifts! (recipe will be below)




Cake Pop Recipe
  • 1 box of cake mix (vanilla, chocolate, or your favorite flavor)
  • 1/4 jar of icing (your favorite flavor to go with the cake mix)
  • Chocolate chips (again, your favorite flavor/colors)
  • Sprinkles
  • Cake Pop Sticks (sold at AC Moore/Michael's/Walmart)
  • Tablespoon (for measuring the cake pop ball size)
  • 1 mini cupcake tin (optional)
  • Vegetable Oil (optional)
  • Cake pop stand (My mom bought this for me at Walmart for $3.50)
Follow the directions on the box and bake the cake. After the cake comes out let it cool for about an hour. You can put it in the refrigerator to speed up the process. Once the cake is completely cooled crumble it up into a bowl. Add 1/4 of the icing and mix until it forms a large ball. Take the tablespoon measure and start to form balls. I use 2 tablespoons and this is the perfect size. If they are too big, they will be too heavy and fall right off the stick (been there done that) I take the mini cupcake tin and put the balls into each little slot. I have found that this works perfect because you have to put the balls into the refrigerator/freezer to get hard. It keeps them all in place.  After I make the balls I place them in the freezer for about a half hour.  Take about 3/4 of the chocolates and place in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute on 50% power (this power setting is really important) take them out and stir and continue heating for 30 second increments until the chocolate is very smooth and loose. This is where the "optional" vegetable oil comes in. If the chocolate seems a little too thick add a little vegetable oil and stir. Take a stick and dip it in the melted chocolate and then into the cake ball. This helps the stick stay in place. Dip the ball into the melted chocolate. I take a spoon and swirl the chocolate around and this helps to get the excess off. Place the cake pop in the stand and decorate! Repeat, repeat, repeat & have fun!!! If you have any questions or suggestions, please comment!