Valentine Cake Pops

This was my first time making the cake pops. I was really very nervous about it because I had read so many bad experiences the people had while making them like the cake pops falling off the stick, they having cracks, the coating being too thick and many more. So I first decided to do a lot of research on this and then give it a try as I had to send them in for my son's classmates and I did not want anything to go wrong. You will find many cake pop tutorials if you surf  but still I created one of my own which will explain the cake pop making process step by step. It is really very tedious job let me tell you, so having patience is the only key to get the best cake pops.

INGREDIENTS:

1 pack of cake mix (you can use any, I had used Duncan Hines)
3 eggs
1/3 cup oil
1 cup water
1 tub of store frosting ( I had used the classic chocolate)
1 12 oz bag of Wilton Red candy melts
Wilton sprinkles
4-inch lollipop sticks
Styrofoam block to hold the cake pops

DIRECTIONS:
First bake your cake according to the instructions on the cake mix box. Let it cool down completely. I had baked the cake a day before. In a large bowl, break this cake to form cake crumbs. You can either do this with your hands or using hand mixer. The crumbs should be very fine; don't leave out large pieces in there. Then to this add around 1/2 tub of the frosting. I had used chocolate frosting. With a spoon mix it well and then using your hands form it into a dough. This should have the consistency of play-doh. If you find the mixture dry you can add little frosting at a time till you get to the right consistency. Then take a tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball. Using the tablespoon will help you get cake balls of same size. Place the balls on a wax paper lined cookie sheet.

Then take a few candy melts (6-8 pieces) and melt them in a microwave; this takes only 30 seconds. Then take the lollipop stick and dip its one end in the melted candy and then insert the stick in the cake ball (not more than 1/4 of it). When you insert it a ring of candy should form around the stick. Don't move the stick once you put it inside otherwise this will create a loosened space around the stick and the cake pop will fall off easily.

After this, put the cake pops in the freezer for around 1 hour. After you take out the cake pops, leave them out for at least 10-15 minutes to come back to room temperature before dipping them in the candy melts. This will prevent the cracking of cake pops. Melt the remaining candy melts by the double boiler method. Place a deep bowl having the candy melts over pan of simmering water without the bowl touching the water. Stir the mixture continuously until completely melted. Add 2 tsp of vegetable oil while it is hot. This will thin out the candy melts and make it easy for the dipping process. Take off from the simmering water.

For the exact dipping process of the cake pop I referred to a video which was very helpful. I will post the link for you to get an idea. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyLKb6tnslw&feature=youtube ) First see to it that your candy melts mixture is not too hot. Basically you have to dip the pop straight into the candy melts mixture till it is full covered. Lift it straight up and then hold it slanting in your left hand. Tap with your right hand over the left while rotating the cake pop at the same time so that the excess candy melt drips off and you get a smooth coating. Add the sprinkles to the cake pop and then let it stand on the Styrofoam block. You need not get the expensive ones from shops; I used the ones which I had got in the packing materials of my laptop box.

Let them dry out for a while and then you can pack them as you wish. I had used the Ziploc bags and tied them up with a red ribbon which I got from the party store. If you are making the cake pops using the tablespoon, you will get around 48 cake pops from this mixture.