You've heard of these, right? They're little spheres of cakey goodness dipped in chocolate--not unlike a truffle--and eaten on a stick. Bakerella got this ball rolling awhile back, and now you see cake pops everywhere; parties, potlucks, even Starbucks sells them.
Ah, but Bakerella yet reigns. Her blog showcases dozens of insanely cute alternatives to the simple sphere.
She's even published a book on the topic.
Mini desserts have been popular for several years now, so it's no surprise that these cute little one-bite creations are the hottest thing going. They can be as simple as little balls of chocolate dipped cake, maybe covered in sprinkles for a bit of festivity... or each one can be a small work of art. Cake pops are a modern, jeans-wearing cousin of the elegant petit four.
Here are a couple of recipes:
How fun would it be to make this with your kids, or with a group of friends? Everybody could go crazy decorating their little snacks however they like. Or you could make them into little place holders for a party; maybe write each person's name on a single cake pop, stick that in a cupcake, and sit it on a cute little plate by their chair. Better: forget writing names and make the cake pop actually look like that person's head.
Here's what I've been wondering: if you can shape spheres from this cake/frosting mixture, couldn't you shape... well, anything? Is this like an edible playdough? Can it be used to build dimension onto a full-sized cake? This stuff could have a lot of potential!
Now, hopefully you're all antsy to get into the creative kitchen this weekend. Have fun! and be sure to send us pictures of your work!
