Behind the Scenes: Adventures in cake pops

A step by step guide to creating your very own flower pot 'o cake.

You will need: a cake (I used a 9x13), either a can of frosting or 2 cups of homemade frosting, at least 2 14oz bags of candy melts, lollipops sticks, parchment paper, styrofoam, and a flower pot.

Step 1: Find your cutest apron









Step 2: Bake your favorite cake
I went with my personal favorite, the Better Homes and Garden's "Triple-Layer Lemon Cake"
1 cup butter
4 eggs
2 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups sugar
2 tsp lemon peel (I play a little fast and loose with the lemon peel, the more the merrier)
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk (I've tried it both ways, either way it turns out yummy. the buttermilk seems slightly more moist)

Cream the butter and sugar together. Add lemon peel and lemon juice. Add eggs one at a time. Then alternately add dry ingredients and butter milk into the batter. Bake at 350 for varying number of minutes depending on size of the pan. (I've done these as cupcakes, which took about 20 min, and as a 9x 13, which took about 25).

Step 3: Let cake cool. If you want to make your own frosting, more power to you. Or be a lazy bum like me and open up the can.

Step 4: In a large bowl (large enough to fit cake, frosting, and your hands) smash the cake and about 2/3 the can of frosting together. It's always easier to add frosting then take it away so use less than you think you need to start with. You just want it to keep the cake together.

Step 5: Roll into balls. Then press them down on parchment paper so that the bottom flattens out.










Step 6: Melt a small amount of the candy melts. Dip one end of the stick in it and push about 2/3 of the way into the cake. It'll help the stick stay put

Step 7: Put them in the freezer for at least a half hour

Step 8: Melt the candy melts and go ahead and dip them all. Set them back down on the parchment paper flat side down.

Step 9: Let them dry

Step 10: Poke them into some styrofoam that just so happens to be located at the bottom of an adorable flower pot. (If you'd like to cover the styrofoam with candies of some sort to disguise it, try poking the sticks through parchment paper sitting on top of the block.)