Cake Pops - An International Incident!

I haven't participated in the International Incident Party, hosted by the fabulous Penny aka Jeroxie (Who's Birthday is this month, Happy Birthday Penny!!), in quite some time. I don't know why, as I always enjoy doing it (and if you haven't, you really should look into signing up). This time we were making something I have heard of but haven't ever tried to make or have ever eaten. Cake pops!

With all that is going on in my life this month and especially this weekend, what with 2 more weeks until the big move across the pond and my mother and mother-in-law coming this coming Monday, I wasn't at all sure if I should try to participate this month either.

When I saw the theme was cake pops though, I decided it would be something great for my kiddo to take to school with him and to give out to his classmates as an early goodbye gift.

I had planned on going all out and making the cake pops look like beavers (in tribute to Canada) but as you can see below, it just didn't work out like I had planned (looks deranged, doesn't he?).

I didn't do these all on my own however, I did have help with dipping into the chocolate and the poking the sticks into the balls part, all thanks to my little helper (if he gets to take 'em to school he gets to help too!).

 

Vanilla Cake

• 1 cup unbleached all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened (10 seconds in the microwave will do this perfectly)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup 1% milk

Using a whisk,in a bowl whisk together flours, baking powder and salt until evenly distributed.

In another clean bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Should become lighter in color and fluffy.

One at a time, add the eggs, mixing well before adding the next. Add vanilla.

Next add in the milk and flour alternating between the two.

Pre-heat oven to 350F.

Pour batter into a cake tin, cupcake tin, or something else that can hold a cake. Shape doesn't matter as you will be breaking this up.

Bake for 15-25 minutes depending on what you bake it in and how thick it is. To be certain use the toothpick trick by inserting it in the middle of the cake and when it comes out clean, it's done.

Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Chocolate Frosting

• 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 3 1/2 tablespoons 1% milk
• 1 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup butter

In a bowl combine sugar and cocoa with a whisk. Stir in milk and vanilla thoroughly.

Using an electric mixer, mix in the butter until it become light and fluffy.

Cake Ball assembly

Using your fingers, break the cake up into little pieces so that the texture is like bread crumbs and put it in a large bowl.

Add in about 2/3 of the chocolate frosting to the crumbs and mix well. It make take a little bit before everything is mixed together well. If you are having problems getting it to mix, add in the rest of the frosting (I'm sure most won't mind a little more chocolate :D).

Take a tablespoon and scoop out an even amount of cake/frosting mixture and roll it into a ball. Set aside. Rinse and repeat until you have no more cake mix left.

You should have in between 30 and 50 balls depending on the size. I wound up with closer to 50.

For decorating, I'd suggest going to Bakerella.com and following the instructions there! She even has a book out all about cake pops.

I also made a couple of adult pops in anticipation of the moms coming and for my marido (husband) and I to enjoy. Just drop a few non-coated cake balls into a little bit of Irish cream and then put them in the freezer... They were such a good combination of sweet chocolate and naughty Irish cream that I made sure there were a few extra for those of us over the legal age :D.