Cake Pop Tutorial

After trying a red velvet cake ball in Arizona in January, I started making them on my own!  I saw that Starbucks has started selling cake pops, but I refuse to pay that much money when I know you can make dozens on your own at home for pennies on the dollar.

I took these photos a while back, and didn't decorate like the red velvet ones, but you'll get the idea!  I had a few people ask me my method for making cake balls, which I learned from Bakerella's website.  I've learned to make it easier by trial and error!

Make a cake!  You can do this from scratch, or use boxed mix.  I would choose a flavor that complements the icing you'll be using later!  I like red velvet cake/cream cheese frosting, vanilla cake/strawberry frosting, etc.)

Once the cake has cooled, you need to crumble it up!  I like to use my mixer.

Then, once it's crumbled, I add frosting!  I use a can of store-bought frosting, or the equivalent amount of icing from scratch.  Try not to eat it all!  :)  Mix well. 

Roll the mixture into balls!  You can also stick skewers in if you're doing cake pops.  I put them on wax paper, then  stick them in the fridge or freezer for a while to harden up.

I like to use almond bark for my cake pops.  With a double boiler, I feel it stays melted easier than chocolate chips.  but it's up to you!  Just keep it warm so it doesn't harden.

Dip the cake balls into the chocolate!  I use two spoons, passing it back and forth.   I've tried a number of methods, but the spoons work for me!

Set them out on wax/parchment paper to harden.

Voila!  They look like truffles and taste delicious too.  The icing in the mixture makes it super moist.  You can drizzle a contrasting almond bark onto these to give a professional-looking stripe effect.

You can buy little appliances that actually bake little cake pops, as in little balls of cake... but this is how I learned it, and I think it makes for a more moist, rich pop.  I can eat two of these and feel full, and one box of cake mix can yield a few dozen cake balls!  Way cheaper than Starbucks.