October 20, 2013

Cake Pops for Mikaela's 4th Birthday


Mikaela is !!!!  
I just cant believe how fast time flies, watching her grow and learn new things each day at an amazing pace. How I wish time could be frozen! It's definitely a joy to have a daughter like her and I thank God for this blessing as I truly believe that she is the best that has ever happened to me. I just can't thank him enough for this blessing!!!





This year her birthday celebrations were not elaborate as we did not throw a huge party at home like we usually do but we still wanted to make her day as special as possible. I decided to make cake pops for her school friends and teachers hoping it would make a cute snack for the 4 year old preschoolers! 



Lately I have been addicted to Pinterest and I just can get enough of it even after hours of browsing everyday. People come up with so many ideas and its just visual heaven for a person like me. Each day after gawking through those gazillion awe-inspiring pins I feel I will never have enough time to do the things in my bucket-list or rather "boards" in Pinterest terminology ;)!! 


Being the Pinterest addict that I am how could I go for a store bought cake pop stand??? Obviously, I decided to make my own! You wont believe it if I disclose the number of shops I visited to get the material for it. I just wanted it perfect for her. We both loved the shopping part, though mommy is finding it difficult to lift the 35 pounder into the shopping cart these days!!


Well, here is another inspiration I got from Pinterest : a special birthday quiz that I would take for her birthday every year, starting this year, which could then grow into a memorable scrapbook compilation. Isn't that cool? I know I am already excited and curious to see how things would change over the years :)


Do you remember those pastel Lamingtons that I made for Easter last year? Weren't those cute? Well, here are some Lamington cake pops. My daughter and her friends thought they were yummy and seemed to just love them! Well, of course she couldn't say no to the pink and purple sprinkle ones either!!!







I also made a special cake for her birthday that we cut at home. I will post that next week, so stay tuned for more :)

Recipe adapted from Babycakes Recipe Booklet

Makes approx 4 dozen cake pops

Ingredients
1 1/2 Cups - All purpose flour
1 Tsp - Baking powder
1/2 Tsp - Salt
1/2 Cup - Butter, softened
1 Cup - Sugar
2 - Eggs
2 Tsp - Vanilla
1/2 Cup - Milk
1 Tablespoon - Wilton Colorburt batter bits (optional)

For coating
1 packet /12 OZ/340gm - Wilton White Candy melts
Sprinkles / Colored sugar / Desiccated coconut (as desired)
Cake pop sticks
Gel Food Color (if you desire colorful pops)

Equipment
Cake Pop machine \ Cake pop pan

Directions
  • In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  • Beat butter and sugar until light and creamy.
  • Mix in the eggs and vanilla.
  • Alternately stir in flour and milk into batter
  • If adding batter bits, mix it in at this stage.
  • Transfer the batter into a ziploc bag and cut about 1 cm off from one corner
  • Preheat the cake pop machine
  • Fill each well with about 1 tablespoon batter and cook 4 to 5 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Let it cool in the fridge
  • Melt candy melts according to package directions.I used the microwave method.
  • Dip the tip of the cake pop sticks into the melted candy melts (about 1 cm) and insert into the cake balls about half-way.
  • Freeze for about 20 minutes to ensure that the cake pops get glued to the stick
  • Remove cake balls from freezer.
  • Dip cake balls carefully into the chocolate until covered.
  • Allow the excess chocolate drip off. 
  • Add the sprinkles immediately else the chocolate will harden quickly.
  • Allow the decorated cake pops to dry on a styrofoam block or on an inverted colander
  • Place into the freezer to speed up setting time.

Notes and Tips
  • Here is a good video that would guide you through the process of dipping the cakes pops into candy melts.
  • Make sure you choose a cup/dish that is tall and slender so that the cake pop can be completely submerged into the melted candy.
  • Cover with a clear treat bag & ribbon, if desired.
  • Store in a single layer, in an airtight container.
 
Sending this recipe to Nancy of Spicie Foodie for the October YBR

 

17 comments:

  1. Wow wow Shema... the pics r so colorful... so apt 4 ur shweethearts b'day!!! Loved the scrapbook idea 2... hats off 2 ur creativity!!!

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  2. Wow Shema.. it felt like being in a cake fairy land :-) Such colorful and pretty cake pops. Daughters are best and yes I wish too time could be frozen :-)
    God bless Mikaela with best of life...

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  3. wow shema.. they look beautiful... happy birthday mikaela :) god bless u ..

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  4. Pops are beautiful & full of colors..Happy Birthday to Mikaela :)

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  5. that's a lovely post with yummy pops.Wishes to your daughter.BTW I am happy to follow you and would be glad if you follow me too:)

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  6. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Mikeala! How cute are those cake pops...love the laminton ones too.
    Hope she had fun and she must be so proud to have an artist mom. Hugs to her.

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  7. Daughters are the greatest blessing!!! Belated wishes to yours! I so understand the craziness around their birthdays, wanting everything to be perfect:)
    I love the colors of the stand and the pops just about everything. They look stunning!

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  8. Mia is so lucky to have such a creative mom. Really, every birthday you come up with even more fabulous things. I love the colours used and the stand is absolutely gorgeous.
    Cant wait to see the other cake you whipped up :)

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  9. Happy birthday to your little girl. What a lucky one she is and sounds like you are very lucky to have her as well. : ) These cake pops look wonderful...I love all the effort you took to make her birthday special.

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  10. Shema: What a lovely post. Wishing your pretty girl a very Happy Birthday...May her life be filled with joy! The cake pops are fun and lovely. I am so pinning this!

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  11. thats is so pretty Shema..loved everything the DIY, pops the writing ...prefctoooo...waiting for the cake too..u have been keeping the suspense way too long shema..come on do it fast =D

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  12. Happy, happy, happy birthday to Mikeala! Wow - genius idea for a birthday treat! So beautiful, so colorful!
    Hugs,
    Yelena

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  13. So colorful and fun!! Love Pinterest and all the wealth of DIY ideas out there!!

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  14. G'day! Love cake pops and lovely post today, true!
    Wish I could try one right now too!
    Cheers! Joanne
    Viewed as part of Nancy's YBR Oct Round Up

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  15. So pretty! I love those colors.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  16. I love getting cake pops at kids birthday parties, more than cupcakes or cakes! One day I wish to make it (for myself!). :) Hope your daughter had a fantastic birthday!

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First of all thanks a lot for stopping by my space. I would be very happy to hear from you and would love to see your comments and feedback :)
Thanks a bunch,
Shema