Banana Split Cake Pops

One Year Ago:  Swedish Meatballs over Egg Noodles

I am one who hates wasting things.  Wondering where the cupcake tops went when I coned them out of the Patriotic Apple Pie Cupcakes?  I made them into cake pops!  I know, I know!  I keep talking about the weather but it has been crazy hot.  A few days ago, the heat prompted us to go out for ice cream and my daughter got a banana split.  I thought it would be fun to turn it into a cake pop, hence banana split cake pops!  They are so yummy!  Sweet, crunchy, salty and chocolaty all in one cute little bite!  Dollop them with whipped cream and a cherry on top right before serving!

Baby Shower Cake Pops

One Year Ago:  Homemade Ricotta-Parmesan Ravioli in Marinara

My mother, sister and I threw a baby shower this past Saturday for my amazing sister-in-law, Samantha, who is having a boy.  One of my tasks was the party favors, which I immediately knew would be edible.  Once I made up my mind that I was going to make baby cake pops, I purchased some AmeriColor Gourmet Writer Food Decorating Pens from Amazon so I could draw the little faces.  Why I have waited so long to purchase these is beyond me.  I highly recommend them as they write beautifully and brilliantly.  Have I mentioned before that I am addicted to making cake pops?  Yes!  These little guys are so easy to make.

Little Lamb Cake Pops

One Year Ago:  Italian Pasta Salad

Have you ventured into the cake pop world yet?  I have and am completely hooked.  They are so easy and fun and what you can do with them is only limited by your imagination!  Bakeralla has these cute lamb pops and I instantly knew that I would be making them for the kids at Easter. 

Ingredients:

• 1 box cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)
• 1 (16 oz) can frosting
• Wax paper
• White candy melts
• Sugar pearls 
• Licorice-flavored gumdrops, cut in half (heads)
• Licorice sticks, cut into 1/2-inch long strips and then in half (legs)
• Tiny heart sprinkles (noses)
• Rainbow chip sprinkles, pick through for the brown ones (ears)
• Lollipop sticks
• Styrofoam block

Directions:

After the cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble it into large bowl.  Mix the frosting thoroughly into the crumbled cake.  You do not need the entire can of frosting, so start out by using almost the entire can and add more if you need to.

Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls.  Place on wax paper covered cookie sheet. (Should make 45-50)

Melt the chocolate in the microwave per directions on package. (30 sec intervals, stirring in between.)  Dip the tip of your lollipop sticks in a little of the melted candy coating and insert into the cake balls. (Insert a little less than halfway.)  Place them in the freezer for a little while to firm up.

Meanwhile, prepare the candy.  Dip the end of a toothpick in the melted chocolate, apply it to the back of a heart sprinkle and attach it on a gumdrop to make the nose.  Using the same toothpick, dip the end into the melted chocolate and dot two eyes.  Place some melted chocolate on the bottom of two brown rainbow chip sprinkles and attach them to the gumdrop to make the ears.  Repeat with the remaining candy until you have about 45 to 50 heads. 

Once the cake pops are firm, carefully insert the cake ball into the candy coating by holding the lollipop stick and rotating until covered. Once covered, remove and softly tap and rotate until the excess chocolate falls off. Don’t tap too hard or the cake ball will fall off, too. When the candy coating is just about to harden, attach the face and legs and sprinkle the sugar pearl candy all over.  Repeat with the remainder of the cake pops. 

Place in a styrofoam block to dry. 

Enjoy! 

Easter Egg Cake Pops

Easter Egg Cake Pops

One Year Ago:  Homemade Pop Tarts

It's hard to believe that Easter is right around the corner.  After this past long, harsh winter, signs of spring are always a warm welcome.  For us, we have a lot of driving around to do Easter weekend.  On Friday, we attend the Good Friday sermon at our church.  Then, we meet with my side of the family at my mother's house on Saturday for dinner and an egg hunt.  On Easter Sunday, we go to church in the morning and then meet my husband's side of the family for dinner at his mom's house and an egg hunt.  Somewhere in between all of the running around, I find the time to make two different dishes, one for each dinner.

I wanted to share these cute little cake pops with you.  This is my second attempt at cake pops and I am completely hooked.  They are so simple and so much fun!  I cannot share my first attempt at them yet because they are for an upcoming special occasion.  I got this basic cake pop recipe from Bakerella.   

Do you have any fun family Easter traditions?   What types of dishes do you make for Easter? 

Ingredients:  
Printable Recipe

• 1 box cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)
• 1 (16 oz) can frosting
• Wax paper
• Styrofoam
• White candy melts
• Lollipop sticks 
• Colored icing, candy decorations, food writing pens, etc.; for decorating 

Directions:

After the cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble it into large bowl.  Mix the frosting thoroughly into the crumbled cake.  You do not need the entire can of frosting, so start out by using almost the entire can and add more if you need to.

Roll mixture into 1-inch balls and form into egg shapes.  Place on wax paper covered cookie sheet. (Should make 45-50)

Melt the chocolate in the microwave per directions on package. (30 sec intervals, stirring in between.)  Dip the tip of your lollipop sticks in a little of the melted candy coating and insert into the cake balls. (Insert a little less than halfway.)  Place them in the freezer for a little while to firm up.

Once the cake pops are firm, carefully insert the cake ball into the candy coating by holding the lollipop stick and rotating until covered. Once covered remove and softly tap and rotate until the excess chocolate falls off. Don’t tap too hard or the cake ball will fall off, too.

Place in a styrofoam block to dry.

Once dry, decorate with icing and allow to dry!

Enjoy!

Here are a few additional Easter recipe ideas:

Easter Bunny Cake

Apple Pie Cupcakes

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Roasted Rosemary-Garlic Leg of Lamb

Cheddar-Garlic Biscuits

Baked Potato Soup

Italian Pinwheels

This recipe is linked to Sweets for a Saturday