Wintertime Cake Pops

Don't you love those cute cake pops that pop up every season? I always stop and admire the work, especially if they are hand made, and wonder if I'd ever have the time (or patience) to do them myself at home. So when one of my teenage daughters made them with her friends one night, I knew I had to share them with my readers! Wintertime Cake Pops are a wonderful way to spend a snowy afternoon.

Ingredients:

1 box of cake mix (any flavor, plus eggs/oil as called for)
1 tub of white icing
2 bags of candy chocolates (also known as almond bark, white and milk chocolate)
1 pack of tic tacs (snowman nose, color accordingly)
1 bag of rolo candies (snowman hat)
1 chocolate coin/disc, unwrapped (snowman hat)
1 bag of alphabet pretzels (use F, E, & Y for the antlers)
Red M&Ms (reindeer nose)
Sprinkles (for the eyes & mouths)
Cocktail sticks (plastic worked best)
Foam block (optional)

Directions:

1. Prepare the cake as directed on the box, then let it cool completely.

2. Crumble the cake into a mixing bowl by hand, then add some of the frosting until the texture resembles cookie dough. This will probably take about half a tub of icing, but more may be needed if cake really dry.

3. Scoop and form balls of the cake mixture and place them on a lined tray and place into the freezer for 10-15 minutes.

4. Let the chocolate begin melting; place a small glass bowl over a saucepan filled with water and bring it to a low simmer (double boiler method). Note: you should only melt one type of chocolate at a time, unless you have many hands and are making both snowmen and reindeer at the same time.

5. Set out all of your supplies as the chocolate is melting: candies, sprinkles, sticks and the foam block or other sturdy way to keep the cake pops upright and still as they are drying.

6. Make the snowman hats at this step by dipping the bottom of the Rolo candy piece into some of the melted chocolate and “glue” it onto the chocolate coin or disc.

7. Remove the tray from the freezer; the cake balls should be firm and set at this point. Dip the tip into the melted chocolate and push the tip about halfway into the ball. *If your cake is too dry, it will crumble at this step; repeat step 2 & 3 above

8. Firmly holding the stick, dip the ball into the melted chocolate and begin to spin the stick, allowing for a smooth and complete coating of the chocolate. Push the handle into the foam block (or your chosen container) and begin decorating.

Snowman: Push a tic-tac candy in the center, about halfway, to create a nose. Place the “hat” on top. Use sprinkles for the eyes and the mouth.

Reindeer: Push the bottom tip of the pretzel letter into either side of the “head” for the antler placement. Press the red M&M into place for the nose. Add sprinkles or candy for the eyes.

9. Allow cake pops to set completely, then arrange them for display!

I hope your family and guests enjoy these as much as mine did! You can get as creative as you wish, this is just the way we put ours together. Do you have a similar treat for your home? Share your recipe/instructions with us!