Peppermint Cake Balls

I have been on a bit of a peppermint kick it seems.  In actuality I just didn't want to toss out the left over candy canes I had Pork Chop crush up.  So I was really just being lazy, but you know that right?  And I bet that this will come as no surprise that this post is from way back in December.  I know, I got way ahead of myself and did all this baking and then ran out of time. So you may notice a slight holiday feel to the things I am planning to post soon, and you can just keep them in mind for next Christmas; okay?

Sad thing about this post, all you get to see are my balls, (HA!)  and a bowl of crushed up candy. Pretty lame if you ask me.

 Basically this is a two picture post, because I bet you are sick of seeing pictures of my balls.  And yes I just said that.  And yes, I know how it sounds.  And yes, I am thankful my mother never reads this.  

 So anyway.  This is basic, but yummy.  And that is all you need to know.  You are basically making a regular cake ball, but before you get too far you need to have peppermint extract and crushed candy canes.  If you do not have a Pork Chop of your own to do your candy cane crushing, you can totally skip it.  I just happen to have one, and he likes to smash things.  

  So to make these you bake a cake, any old cake you want, but as you know I prefer chocolate cake mix cake.  So anyway you bake and cool your cake, then crumble it up.  Then instead of adding frosting, add some peppermint extract first, I don't know how much, just as much as you want, if you like a lot of mint, add a lot.  Anyway add it then mix, then add enough frosting to get it to how you like your cake ball mix.  You are not going to need as much as usual, but still add it.  Then do your cake ball thing, make the cake balls, dip them in chocolate and decorate how you like.  I did it with the crushed up candy canes to add some extra mint and crunch.  It's what I do, I use the left overs so I don't have to clean them up. I'm smart that way.

Funny thing is this was one of those things my friends at work went nuts over, I got to love them.  They tell me my balls are awesome.  And who doesn't like to hear that right?

 Also just in case you would like to, I joined a site that promotes Mom blogs, so there is a button way at the tippy top of my page, right there on the right.  If you click it, it takes you to the mommy blog site that lists all sorts of fun mom blogs.  I also can be ranked and maybe get more readers, which would be cool, because I certainly have enough crazy to go around!

I'm linking up HERE

 

Brownie Pop Favors For A Baby

All ready to be bagged up and eaten.

  Have I told you before that I love babies?  Well I do. I love them even more when they don't belong to me.  Don't get me wrong, Pork Chop was the worlds cutest baby!  Don't believe me?  Well you take a look and let me know what you think.

Yes that is a picture of a picture.  This was taken when he was just a little Pork Chop.  And yes he did that on his own.  He had attitude even at that age. And yes that is on my fridge, I mean really how could I not put it up.

Try to forget that he got that from Hubby, I am the one that swears, Hubby must have taught him this.

  Anyway, babies are great, and when you have a baby you usually have a baby shower.  And baby showers mean treats.  And this is my super long way of getting a cute picture of Pork Chop on the blog, and working in a few yummies.

  So a friend of my sister in law was having a last minute shower, which lead her to ask me to make stuff. I did not have a lot of time so we had to choose simple.  And simple is cake pops.  Or in this cake brownie pops.  I could live off of these, and by I could, I mean I really should.

 To make these you just make some brownies and crumble them up with frosting, I know I have shown it before a few times, so I am just going to pretend you all know what I am talking about.  In case you don't here it is.

  So I was very lucky that these were a simple pop, the ones that you don't have to make perfectly round and they are going to be standing up.  I started with my mix and made larger balls and chilled them.

All done, and I am so glad it was an easy letter.  Could you imagine doing like a "Q" or something?  Things you should keep  in mind when you name your child.  Just saying.

 Then I melted my candy melts and got to work dipping them all.  I started by putting out a sheet of parchment paper and dipping the end of each lolli pop stick in the melts.  Then I put the sticks about half way into the ball, and let them set up a few seconds before I started dipping the whole thing.  It did not take too long.  Once they were dipped I let them set and warm up, because if there is one thing I know, my stupid cake balls are going to crack.  And when they did I just dipped them again and they were all good.

  Now for this little baby, we wanted to have a monogram on them, in pink.  So I took some pink candy melts and melted them, I used a disposable piping bag and a #2 tip.  Now you could use a squeeze bottle or a paper cone, but I like the control I have with a piping bag.

  I also want you to know that I finally figured out how to lower the power on my microwave.  This may in the future make using white candy melts better.  It may also not, who knows, just wanted to let you know I finally after 10 years and not reading the instructions, figured it out.  I am smart!

I had some extra, as I always do, and just figured I would play around.  My writing is horrible, even worse on a sideways cake ball.

I was too lazy to put his full name.

This could either be rude, or like Alice in Wonderland.  I opt to think Alice in Wonderland.

  So I piped on the H's and let them set up fully.  Then I just bagged them up, tied them up and put them in the cool basement to wait until Hubby delivered them.  I never put them in the fridge as they will crack and get condensation.  There is nothing in them that would go bad from sitting out a bit, so it was all good.

  So here's to other peoples babies, and me having a reason to each chocolate!

I'm linking up HERE and HERE

The Easiest Cake Balls Ever

  

I love how cute these cake pops turn out, considering I didn't really try.  And then the ones I try really hard to make cute, well those are not as cute.  Figures really.

 Before I get started I wanted to say thanks to you all for the very kind and fun comments.  I get suck a kick out of reading them, the ones where you share your funny comments or support really make my day.  And I love to read each and every one of them.  Thanks so much. I plan to have a little give away coming up soon to say thanks for that, nothing huge or mind blowing, but it is cute and involves cupcakes.  So it cannot be all bad right? Oh and have a happy Canada Day fellow Canadians, and for the peep's from the USA, have a great Forth of July!

 Okay back to the regular blog stuff.  

So this is not going to be a very wordy post.  

  Your welcome.

 Okay I take that back, there are going to be a lot of words, but most of it will be babbling.  How that is different from my other posts I don't really know, but you know, at least I am honest.

  Basically I wanted to share some of my super easy cake pops, they are nothing I invented obviously, but you know, I think they are great, so you need to see them.  Also I took lots of pictures, and I will try to make witty comments for each of them.  But no promises, I cannot always be on people.

  Also, Pork Chop is now out of school, on his way to grade three next year, which I cannot believe, I mean I had him when I was 3, so how did I get so old?  And what does that have to do with cake pops?  Well he sweetly asked me to make him cookies for his principal who was leaving this year.  Of course he asked me this minutes before bed on the last Sunday  night of the school year.  I had plans to make cake balls on Tuesday so asked if he would like cake pops.  He said sure.  Then I stupidly asked him what kind.  And he said "teacher cake pops."

  What the hell does that even mean!? 

Try to ignore the fact my table is covered in cupcakes and stuff.  I don't even remember what those cupcakes were for.  

 So I just ignored it and got Hubby to bake me two cakes the next night while I was at work.  ( And yes he cleaned the bowl afterwards this time, he is learning.)  And on Tuesday as I picked up Pork Chop from daycare and I asked him again what kind of cake pops he wanted, and he again said teacher cake pops. 

  So I asked him what those were and he said "you know, make them look like her."  

  And while I tried to not crash the car, I tried to think of ways to get out of it.  So as any good mother would, I steered him towards what I wanted to do.  

See how good I am getting at my pictures?  See how much sarcasm was in that last sentence?

  I told him that we should make cake pops for the three teachers too, and since I was not sure what they all looked like, what if we used all different kinds of sprinkles.  He was so excited.  So was I, until he picked out the sprinkles.  

These are my most favorite sprinkles ever.  I loaded up at Valentines day.  Then I made the mistake of taking  them to the cupcake class I taught and the kids poured them out like the were nothing.  And I couldn't keep them after the kids had touched them all.  I have issues, and I may be addicted to sprinkles.

  So I tell him to pick out 4 kinds, he goes for red and green non parelis, red sugar, pink sugar and some other red chunky glittery stuff.  I told him that was sort of Christmasy and was able to switch the red and green stuff for multi coloured ones.  Then he was adamant the other colours were perfect.  Then I kicked him out to play and changed them to the colours I wanted.

See how cute and they are so simple!

 What?  They were going to be in a bag, he would never see them.  And even if he did I bet he would forget what he even picked out.

I just tried a bunch of sprinkles from the Wall O Sprinkles.

  So to make cake pops like this you need, cake pop stuff.  I know, crazy right?

And these right here, they are imported from Disney.  And they cost a fortune, like $3 for a tiny little container, I got four of them, so they better last until I win the lottery and can go there again.

 So you need a cake and icing in any flavor you like.  And you prepare the cake pop filling and scoop it out and roll it in any size you like.  Then I put them in the freezer while I melt my candy melts.  I would use white chocolate so the sprinkles show more, but I hate melting white chocolate more than going to the doctor.

Jimmies are so fun.

  So once you have that you get your cake pops out, and dip your lolli pop stick in the chocolate before putting it in the top of the cake ball and then let them set a few seconds.  Then dip the whole ball,  tap off most of the extra chocolate and then over a coffee filter sprinkle most of the pop until you have it covered how you like. Don't bother with the bottom, it is not going to be seen anyway.

I may or may have not found this cake plate for $10 and needed it, then felt bad and had to use it right away so I felt better about my spending.

  Then you just set them on a sheet of parchment and let them dry.  Easy peasy people.  Then depending on how they are going to be served you can just set them out or put them in little bags and tie them up.  I love doing them this way as you don't need a cake pop stand of any kind.

These are the nice gift bags I got for the teachers, I just put 6 in each, they are larger cake pops, and the bags are so sturdy they were well protected.

  I am making these for a friends wedding too,  they are going to be her favors with tags on the lolli pop stick.  So fun, cannot wait to make those.

And this is Pork Chop, who said "take my picture!"  So I did, then he was all "are you going to show that to people?"  And well, you know the answer.

Ice Cream Cone Cake Balls

Okay I took so many pictures of these things, then I thought to myself.  "Self do people really put sauce and sprinkles and cherries on their ice cream cones?"  And the answer was, "I don't know."  So for what it's worth, all ice cream cones should be this cute.

 *** DISCLAIMER***  I may have been in a very crazy mood when I wrote this, or drunk.  But as we all know I don't drink, but maybe I should because some of these comments may be a little racey for some.  Which is sort of weird considering this is a blog about baking, but you know if the mood strikes you, you go with it.

And Mom, if you are reading this, Lynda did it.

  That is all.

  I have been promising cake balls to Pork Chop for  a while.  Which really makes no sense as he is not going to eat them I bet.  But I made these because he seems to love ice cream cones.  Not actual ice cream cones, but the cone cone.  Does that make any sense at all?  No, well what else is new with that child.

These were the adorable mini cones, which you sort of had to scrape the seam off the bottom or else they fell over.  Stupid cone seams!

  Anyway, he loves to eat the cones, and I had seen these last year, I think I actually bought them last year, don't tell.  I buy things and think "these will make some great treats!" Then I forget about them, or pass them by and they expire, but you know, I am getting better.  So anyway, I made ice cream cone cake balls before using the actual pointy cones, but they were a pain, and hard to serve and what not.  So these, the flat bottom ones were perfect!  I figured I would be the first ever to use them, and I don't know if they even make them like this in other parts of the world.

  I choose to believe that they are just here in my little area, no where else.  And if they are, I don't want to know.  It would depress me and make me want to go shopping or something.  So you know, I have issues.

  Also I read the box, they still had a good year before they expired, score!

I took them all out, because how dumb would it have been to take one out at a time.  And I wanted you to see the stupid cone seam that I hate.  It's evil.  

  So to start I asked Hubby to bake me a box mix cake, as I was working the night before I wanted to make these.  Now I could have done it, but it saves me a lot of time and it makes it like we are doing this together.  I know, that sounds dumb.  The real reason is it makes him have to do it and the dishes so I am just being lazy.  Who would have thought that of me?

  And just so you know, he left the mixing bowl in the sink for me, day old hard cake batter does not save you time.

 Touche Hubby, touche.

See how crazy I am, I set everything up and took a blurry picture and you can even see my drink in there.  I go no where in my house without my drink.  Well almost no where; don't ask.

  Anyway, once the cake was baked, he covered it for me and the next day I got to work.  Now this day we had the funeral for my Uncle, and I thought baking would be the best therapy.  I actually wanted to go to all the kitchen stores I know and blow all the money I don't really have, so this was the better option.

Stubby finger action shot.

I want to say something clever but dirty here about only dipping half of your ball, but I got nothing.  Sorry.

At this point, if you didn't deal with those cone seams, you may start pulling your hair out.  Or eat the ones that fell over.  However you deal with your problems is up to you.

I have nothing to say about this picture, but I took it, so you need to see it.

  So I crumbled up my cake and added just enough frosting to get it to hold together then I used a mini ice cream scoop to make my cake balls.  I wanted to not roll them, but I thought that if I did not roll them they may not stick inside the cone as well.  So I rolled them.  Then popped them in the freezer while I tided up and got everything ready.

  And I don't know if you ever notice how I point out I tidy up now and then, but if I write it, it has to be true.

  Now I hate working with white chocolate so decided all my ice cream was going to be chocolate. And chocolate is the only kind of ice cream you should ever eat really. So I melted my candy wafers in the microwave and set out a sheet of wax paper.  I took out a few cake balls at a time then dipped the bottom half of them in the chocolate then set them in the cones and left them to dry.

I think I may need to hire a hand model.

Could you imagine the ad? "Wanted, one hand model to dip my balls while I take pictures."  That could get interesting.

 Once I had done that for all of them I was ready to do the full dip. By this time the first coating of chocolate should have hardened and stuck the ball to the cone.  Then I just took the cone and dipped it to make sure the whole cake ball was covered then let the extra drip off before setting them right side up on the paper again.  Now if you get drips down the cone, that is fine, it will just look like melting ice cream.

Almost done, and they could just be finished at this, but I needed to use sprinkles, so I could not leave them like this.

  Once that was done I got a small amount of white candy melts and melted them with some paraffin crystals. I wanted to make them pink, like strawberry sauce or something, so I used the candy colouring I had.  It is oil based so I can use it to colour the candy melts without it making the chocolate seize up.

  Also in real life, no fruit should ever touch my desert, ever.  So even though it looks like strawberry sauce, it better not be.  Or else.

Ok so here is the set up, I have found that coffee filters are great at catching sprinkles without making them bounce out and on the floor like if you use a bowl or plate.  That is until you try to pour them back into the container and drop the filter.  Not that that happened or anything.  Stupid sprinkles.

So I pipped on the pink then I decorated, but I figured out after this one if you shake the thing after you put the chocolate on it settles and looks nicer.

See how cute?  And that my friends is why chocolate is better than fruit.  I know that makes no real sense but I had to say it anyway.

   Then once it was melted I put it in a squeeze bottle and got my sprinkles and such set up.  To try and cut down on the mess I put one cone in a coffee filter and poured some pink chocolate on top then gave it a few seconds to drip down then added my sprinkles.  I find that if you use a coffee filter the sprinkles don't bounce out of the filter like they do with a bowl.  Then I topped it off with a red mini jaw breaker.  You can use anything though, like a big or mini M&M or a sixlet.  Whatever you want really

My little cone army.  Do they have cone army's?  Well they totally should.

We will call him Sargent Pinky.  No idea why, I feel like today I am in one of those moods, so you should probably just disregard all the comments so far.

And this, well that was the one I ate.  Because Pork Chop looked at it and said "No thanks."  And then I killed him and ate it myself.

  Then I let them set up and packed them away to take to work.  I think they were adorable and I so would make these in the full size cone, but that may kill you with the sugar amounts.  So just eat like 5 of these and you are good!

I didn't really kill him, that would mean they would take away my cake balls.  And I also want to call this picture "Cone in a box"  Which is funny if you know what I am talking about, and if not, you so do but just don't want to admit it.  And no Mom, there is no way I am explaining this to you.