Cake Pops!

How to Make the Perfect Little Party Treat

Courtesy of Family Features

These sweets on a stick are so versatile—and adorable—they add something special to any celebration! Keep things simple with classic cake pops—crumbled cake mixed with icing, then shaped into balls and dipped into melted candy—or create hundreds of other pop shapes and flavors from cake, brownies, cookies, and crispy cereal treats.

Basic Cake Pops

1 box (about 18 ounces) cake mix

1 box (about 3.4 ounces) instant pudding mix

4 eggs

1 cup water

1/3  cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup creamy white decorator icing

1 bag (14 ounces) Candy Melts

lollipop sticks

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray two 8-inch or 9-inch round pans or one 13 x 9 x 2-inch sheet pan with vegetable pan spray.

In large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water and oil; beat at medium speed with electric mixer 2 minutes. Pour into prepared pans.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes for round pans; 35 to 40 minutes for sheet pan, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling grid and cool completely. Divide cake in half; freeze one half for future use.

In large bowl, use hands to crumble cake until no large chunks remain. Add icing; mix with fingers until well combined. Form mixture into balls. Chill in refrigerator at least 2 hours.

Melt Candy Melts according to package directions. Dip sticks into melted Candy Melts and insert into cake balls; let set. Wait until candy is completely firm before dipping the pops completely in melted Candy Melts.

Yields 48 tablespoons:

Makes 48 — 1-tablespoon sized cake pops (each about 1 1/4-inch diameter)

Makes 24 — 2-tablespoon sized cake pops (each about 1 1/2-inch diameter)

Makes 16 — 3-tablespoon sized cake pops (each about 1 3/4-inch diameter)

4 Ways to Decorate

1. Tripple Dippers - Add colorful stripes to complement your party's pallette 

2. Cocoa Kabobs - Choose your favorite toppings and add texture to your pops 

3. Monster Fun Pops - Get the kids to help decorate these funny-faced treats

4. Superstars!  - Think outside the sphere and play with shapes

These recipes are only the beginning. Pops! Sweets on a Stick™, a new book from Wilton, features 112 pages packed with pops.
You can order the book, get recipes, supplies, tips, and more at Wilton.com.

Triple Dippers
Create a rainbow effect with three layers of color! Works with any trio of Candy Melt colors, or try light, medium and dark shades of the same color. Lighten Candy Melt colors by adding melted White Candy Melts.

Each serves 1

medium cake balls

Dark Cocoa, White and any favorite color Candy Melts, melted

Candy Color Set (optional)

Dip cake pops completely in melted cocoa or white candy; place in decorating stand and chill until firm. Create two shades of each candy color by adding more or less White Candy Melts, or using Candy Colors. Dip pops in lightest candy shade, covering bottom 2/3; tap to remove excess; chill until firm. Dip pops in darkest candy shade, covering bottom 1/3; tap to remove excess; place pop on parchment-covered cake board and chill until set. 

Cocoa Kabobs

Each serves 1

small and medium cake pop balls—not on sticks

Light Cocoa and White Candy Melts, melted Turtle Crunch, Cookies ’N Cream Crunch, toasted coconut, chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips

11 3/4-inch lollipop sticks

Dip cake ball pops in melted candy. Roll in various toppings. Let set on parchment-covered cake board. Use melted candy in disposable decorating bag to pipe a ring of candy about 4 inches from end of stick; chill until firm, then overpipe. Place sticks on parchment-covered cake board until firm. Slide four cake balls onto prepared sticks, alternating sizes.

*2 cake balls each size per kabob.

Monster Fun Pops
Throwing a wild rumpus for your favorite little monster? (For more party planning ideas on this theme, check out “Dress Up & Party Down!” in our June 2011 issue.) These funny-faced creations are almost too cute to eat. Almost.

Each serves 1

medium cake pops

White, Red, Orange and Green Candy Melts, melted

Garden Candy Color Set (black used)

Candy Eyeballs, spice drops, banana-shaped hard candies

Dip cake pops in melted candy. Place in decorating stand; chill until firm.

With pointy knife, cut small holes in sides of cake balls for ears. Insert banana candy, securing with melted candy. Cut small piece of spice drop and shape for nose. Attach nose and eyes with melted candy. Pipe black tinted candy mouth, let set. Pipe white candy dot teeth.

Superstars!
Delectable fairy wand for your birthday girl, or a fitting treat for your biggest Harry Potter fan? Maybe you want to ‘wow’ the family at your gathering on The Fourth. Whatever your party plans, these sweets are sure to conjure smiles!

Each serves 1

1 box (18 ounces) yellow cake mix

eggs, water and vegetable oil to make mix

Cookie Treat Sticks

Yellow, Blue, Orange, Green* and Red Candy Melts

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray Silicone Star Pops Mold with vegetable pan spray.

In large bowl, prepare cake mix following package instructions. Pour into prepared mold supported by cookie sheet, filling cavities 2/3 full; insert sticks.

Bake 16 to 21 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in mold 20 minutes; remove from mold to cooling grid and cool completely.

Melt Candy Melts in disposable decorating bags. Cut tip of bag and pipe top, bottom and middle stars with melted candy; let set. Pipe remaining 2 stars; let set. Pipe outline details using melted candy.

*Mix green and yellow candy for green shown in photo.

For more photos and decorating how-to's, plus recipes, supplies, tips, and more, visit Wilton.co