The Cake Pop Craze

Cake pops seem to be all the rage these days. They are a fun twist on dessert, hors d'oeuvres, or party favors. You can find various recipes and designs online, bakerella.com is a great website for ideas. In fact, these would also be great for a cooking party. They are relatively quick, they are fun to make with others, and you don't have to wait for them to bake.

Step 1: Decide what base you would like to use for your balls:

Cake Base

1 baked cake (any flavor, bake as directed)

1 jar of frosting

- Wait for cake to cool and then mix with frosting to a smooth consistency

Cookie Base

1 package of Oreos

1 package of cream cheese

- Crush Oreos (cream included) and then mix with cream cheese to a smooth consistency

Step 2: Decide what you would like to dip the balls into. You can use chocolate chips, chocolate bark or candy melts. Candy melts are a great option as they are easy to work with and come in a variety of vibrant colors. You can usually find them at your local craft store

Step 3: Decide what exactly you would like to make: cake balls, cake hearts, triangles, kisses, or any other shape you are inspired to try. Then if you would like, you can put them on a stick to turn them into a pop.

Step 4: Shape your balls and set them on a cutting board covered in wax paper. At this time, if you are making cake pops dip each stick into the candy melt about 1/2 inch before sticking that end into the ball and securing it with your fingers. (The candy melt will help the ball adhere to the stick.)

Step 5: Transfer your balls into the fridge or the freezer depending on your timing. If you are doing this as part of an event put them in the freezer and they should be ready in 10 minutes or so. You want the balls to be secure, but not totally frozen.

Step 6: Prepare your candy melts by microwaving them in 30 second intervals until they are completely melted. If you are using chocolate chips or chocolate bark you may find it to be a little think. Feel free to add a drop or two of cooking oil to the mixture to thin it out.

Step 7: Dip your balls into the candy melt until completely covered. Tap the stick on the edge of the bowl to get rid of any excess candy melt. Then insert the bottom of the stick into styrofoam so your cake pop sets properly. If you are not making pops, dip the cake balls by using a spoon or fork and then tap to drip off any excess, then roll your cake ball onto wax paper

Step 8: Decorate as desired

- By placing your cake pops in the fridge or in a ziplock bag they will last for a few days, so feel free to make them ahead of time.

- If you want to use them as favors simply wrap one in plastic or a ziplock sandwich bag and tie a ribbon around the stick. Then cut the plastic or bag to create a skirt around the ball.