Cake Pops are such a fun thing to make with your kids. My little 4 year old loves to help make these. Prepare to get messy and have tons of fun!!
As I was thinking about these, I wanted to do something different so I thought I would put caramel in the middle of the cake pops. This is where my pinterest fail comes in... keep reading.
INGREDIENTS
Your favorite cake mix
Your favorite frosting (make sure the color of the frosting matches the color of the cake)
Cookie Sticks
Candy Melts in your desired colors
Any decorations you'd like to use
Make your cake according to the directions in the recipe. After baking, let your cake cool on a cooling rack until it has completely cooled.
So this is where my pinterest fail comes in. I have seen a lot of different methods for making caramel in the crock pot using only sweetened condensed milk. The method I tried using was putting the can in the crock pot, completely submerged in water. Cook it on low for 3 hours. Remove and then place into the refrigerator until it has completely cooled. Well, here is the beginning...
And this is the result. As you can see by the arrow, that is how much caramel I got. The rest just tasted like cooked sweetened condensed milk. If you decide to try this, I suggest keeping it in the crock pot for a lot longer, quite possibly 6+ hours.
Ok, back to the cake pops. Once your cake has cooled, crumble the cake completely in a medium size bowl. If you are using a lighter colored cake, only crumble the inside of the cake. Don't use the edges as the color is different and will cause the cake balls to have darker specks inside. However, if you don't mind that look, then by all means, use all the cake.
Add 1/2 to 2/3 tub of frosting. This turns out to be about a cup of frosting. Mix the cake crumbs and the frosting until it is completely combined and dough like. You can taste test it at this point. If it is too dry, add a little more frosting. Taste it again, and again... just make sure you have enough left to make the cake pops :)
Roll the cake mixture into balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Place onto a lined cookie sheet and place into the refrigerator for 2-3 hours or until completely cooled.
When you are ready to decorate the cake pops, melt the candy melts. I put about a half of a bag into a bowl and melt that first, I reserved some to use in case I over melt the candy melts.
I also like to use candy melts better than chocolate chips because it dries rock hard.
Dip a cookie stick into the candy melt and place into the cake ball.
This helps the cookie stick stay inside the cake ball.
When you have placed all the cookie sticks inside the cake balls, let them sit until the candy melts have dried completely. Then you are ready to decorate. Hold the cake ball by the stick, over the bowl of melted candy melts. Spoon the melts over the cake ball and tap gently on the side of the bowl until it has smoothed over the cake ball. I had a hard time taking a photo of that, sorry.
When the cake ball is covered, decorate it before the melts have dried. Then store standing up in a cake ball stand. If you don't have one of these, an empty egg carton turned upside down works great too!!
MONSTER CAKE POP: Spoon the green melts over the cake pop and tap gently, but not until smooth. Let the bumps form a little then add the eyes, however many eyes you want. Let dry.
EYE BALL CAKE POP: My hubby is an Optometrist so we have to have one of these. After covering the cake ball with white candy melts, add a colored life saver and hold it on the cake pop until it has secured itself to the pop. Then add a dark chocolate drop to the center and red lines on the outside.
PUMPKIN CAKE POP: Cover the pop in orange candy melts and add a piece of pretzel to the top.
MUMMY CAKE POP: Cover the pop in white candy melts. Use the back of a spoon and gently swipe it around the cake pop to form the lines. Add two candy eyes to the mummy. Let stand to dry.
TRIPLE COLORED: Cover the cake pop with the white candy melts. Let dry. Then dip the cake pop into the orange, 2/3 of the way up the pop. Let dry. Then dip the pop into the green candy melts. Add a black sprinkle on top and let dry. You can do this with any color, just make sure you use the lightest color on the bottom.
SPRINKLES CAKE POP: Cover the cake pop in your desired color and immediately sprinkle with desired sprinkles. Let dry.
These little cake pops are so fun to serve at a party or just as an after school snack!! Your kids will love them!!
