How to: *updated*

****For those of you who do not have AMAZING craft stores nearby (seriously though, how do you live???) Here are some links to joanns.com... Online shopping is my best friend/worst enemy. Just click on the item and it will take you directly to the website. Make sure you read my note a few rows down to save $!

Edible markers (please do not actually eat the marker. hehehe)

Candy Melts

Lollipop sticks

Clear bags with ties (If you want to package the cake pops individually)

Daisy Sprinkles (chick feet)

Candied chocolate chips (beak, arms) ...okay, so I didn't find these, but I also didn't look that hard...

***Most, if not all of these are Wilton brand, and if you buy 2 or more Wilton items you automatically get 20% off. AND, Joann's sent me a promo code to get free shipping. The code is: EBD095 and it expires 4/5/09***

I. am. awesome.

Original Post:
I read all three of these posts and just combined the knowledge...she shares different tips in each post, so read all three:

http://bakerella.blogspot.com/2008/08/hope-these-put-smile-on-your-face.html

http://bakerella.blogspot.com/2007/12/red-velvet-cake-balls.html

http://bakerella.blogspot.com/2008/04/make-your-cupcakes-pop.html

Here are the basic steps:

Buy your favorite cake mix, can of icing, THREE bags of candy melts, Lollipop sticks (the thinker, the better...they come in different sizes,) edible black pen, the different sprinkles necessary for what you are doing (p.s. if you are making the chicks without eggs, you do not need white candy melts, only yellow!) and flat styrofoam. Make sure you don't buy styrofoam that crumbles everywhere. I did.

Bake cake according to directions, let it cool completely on a wire rack;
Once cooled, crumble completely and mix in the ENTIRE jar of icing. (Bakerella says she uses most of the icing, then adds as she needs it...I only used 80% of the jar and wished I had used the whole thing for better stickiness.)

Roll mixture into quarter size balls (You can use a melon scooper if you have one.)

Melt just a few candy melts, dip the stick into candy melt, then stick into ball about halfway. Freeze for a few hours?

Remove from freezer, melt the rest of the candy melts, and dip. Really cover them as much as you can and use a deep bowl or cup to make it easier. Hold the stick in right hand and tap your wrist, not the stick, with your left. (You dont tap the stick b/c the cake will fall off, and you use your left hand b/c for most people it's weaker.)

Stick into a styrofoam sqaure to dry. No need to refrigerate. Once they dry completely, put them in an airtight container.

Read Bakerella's instructions closely, also!


What I learned from experience:

Buy more candy melts than she lists... I bought 2 bags of candy melts, and I probably would have bought 3. It will make way too much, but it makes it easier to dip the cake pop without having to scrape the bottom!

I made the cake, crumbled it, mixed in the icing, and refrigerated overnight. Next time, I will go ahead and put the sticks in (you have to dip them in the candy melts first!) and then freeze them for a little while. My cake pops kept falling off of their sticks. Bummer.

I used cake decorating gel in black for the eyes. It was too goopy and never dried! I wanted to put cute little plaster bags over the cake pops, but I couldn't do it without smearing the eyes. I didn't buy the edible pens b/c they only came in a pack of like 6 for $8, and I'm cheap. What can I say.

I should have really rolled the balls into quarter size, not tried to see how big I can make them...

p.s. You do not have to buy the paramount crystals listed on the Easter chick ingredient list. They are only to thin out the candy melt if you have to heat it repeatedly. You can use shortening to do this. The exact amount is listed on the back of the candy melts. I got most of the ingredients from Michaels.

Let me know if you have any other questions! They were really easy to make, just be patient while you are dipping them in the candy melts...sometime you have to wait for them to dry and redip a few. TOTALLY worth it.