Red Velvet and Chocolate Cream Cheese Cake Pops

 Okay so this is my second recipe using that new chocolate cream cheese spread.  It did not turn out as I had wanted.  I don't know if it was the fact I used an actual from scratch cake and icing, or if it was that it was cream cheese icing or what, but I was not as happy with it as I am usually with my cake pops.

I will still share it because they were eaten within seconds of hitting work and Pork Chops class.  So maybe it was just me, who knows.  Basically I just made extra cake when I made those red velvet cupcakes and extra cream cheese icing.

So this is how it all started, the icing is really a winner in my books.

I did the usual and just crumbled up the cake, it was day old but I usually do day old cake, I bake it then once it cools I wrap it up.  Anyway I crumbled it all up and then added enough of the chocolate cream cheese icing to get it to stick together.  I should have added a bit more, but I am not used to this sort of cake pop, the box mix and pre made frosting is what I know.  Anyway it worked.

 Originally these were to be for a friend who had her baby in the NICU, we were going to visit, and I stayed up way late to finish them, but I was so tired that I never even decorated them.  I was so embarrassed, but figured the nurses wouldn't care.  Unfortunately my poor friend and her baby didn't have a good night so we had to put off our visit. Not a big deal, it actually meant I had cake pops for Pork Chops dance a thon, so it all worked out. And on a happy note, that cute little baby and my friend are now all settled at home, so Pork Chop is counting the days until he can hold the baby.

It looks so red, it didn't really stain my hands though.

  So once the cake was crumbled and mixed up I used my cake pop mold from My Little Cupcake because I like how uniform them are and the large size.  I was doing the forming and the all the stuff in one night so I froze them.  And some would fall apart or crack, so I think I really needed some more icing, but I was tired and just kept going.

You can sort of see it is a little dry.

  I was so wanting to decorate them with something pretty, but the fact that they were even done and wrapped was good enough for me, it had been a long day at work.  Anyway, they still went over well, as I said the kids in Pork Chops class liked them, and they didn't last long at work.  So maybe it was just me, but in cupcake form this combination was better.

So I want to say something sort of crude, like how do you like my balls, but I will refrain   Oh wait I wrote it, oh well...So, how do you like them?

   I think that my next chocolate cream cheese creation was even better than this one, not as good as the cupcakes but a close second.  All I have to say is my co workers know me well, because one of them handed me some coupons for the chocolate cream cheese, she was all "just in case you want to make more things with it."  And I so do, so that was a great treat to get.

My ball dipping set up, yep I went there.

 I don't know what I want to make next with this, but there will be more, trust me.

I thought I would toss this picture in again, ,because dude these were so good!

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Red Velvet Cupcakes with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

So firstly I want to say happy Family day to my Canadian readers.  I hope there are a few of you.  Not sure what our plans are today, but I hope it involves lots of sleep.  That would be my kind of family day.  Either way we both have the whole day off, so maybe some skating, or X box connect bowling, or sleeping.  I could do either.  Anyway that is that.

This looks like a small amount of butter, I just have a big mixing bowl.  Just in case you were wondering.

So last week I posted about the Chocolate Cream Cheese I tried, and how it was amazing.   Anyway, I loved it.  I got a few comments from some people who said they loved it, or they had not tried it and even a few saying they were not fans.  I can get that.  I really would have hated it too if I used it as a spread for toast.  Honestly I do think that is what they were going for, but I was having none of it.  Anyway I made some yummy frosting with it, and used it two ways.  This is the first way, and by far the best of the two.

My favorite spatula, it may be for Halloween, but I use it all year round.  I am a rebel that way.

And this picture is just kind of gross, but it's in focus so you have to see it.  Sorry.

I had promised Pork Chop some red velvet cupcakes during the week, and when there were none at the store I said I would make some.  I found a great recipe I love on My Baking Addiction  I first posted it here.  And have since made it many times.  So I set to work, I doubled the recipe I have listed.  I wanted enough for cupcakes and a cake to make cake balls.

I made 48, Pork Chop ate 2 I think.

Pork Chop complained the whole time about wanting one right now, and then when they were all done he said he didn't want one but he said I should frost 10 for him and leave 10 plain for him.  I made mini ones, and he hates frosting, so I compromised and put 7 plain ones in a container.  He ate one after it was all said and done.  Sigh.

Are they not pretty?  I tried to do a rose with the icing, but then I got lazy and just did swirls, but whatever, there are sprinkles so they are totally fancy!

So the frosting, oh my gosh the frosting was awesome!  I know that classically red velvet is meant to be a cream cheese icing combo.  So in that vain I made my frosting with the new chocolate cream cheese.  I have to say, I actually liked it better than plain cream cheese icing.  And my friends loved it, they were sneaking back to the break room every so often to eat another one.  I cannot blame them, I did the same thing.

So this icing was a little different as the cream cheese is a spread and much more watery.  So I just sort of winged it and it was not too hard.

I saved these take out containers they are the perfect size, and they didn't cost me anything.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing
based on me tossing stuff in a bowl

(keep in mind this made lots, enough for 40 minis cupcakes and a bunch of cake pops, I still have some left over, I am going to use it soon, don't you worry!)

-1 1/2 tubs chocolate cream cheese spread
-1 cup butter
-1 TBSP vanilla bean paste
-5-8 cups of icing sugar
-milk if you need to thin it out

So start by creaming your butter, you want it smooth with no lumps.  Then beat in the cream cheese spread and beat until it comes together.  At one point it looked like it was just going to be a huge failure, but I kept mixing and it was fine.  Add your icing sugar 1 cup at a time, and mix well to make sure you don't add too much.  Now at this point I tried it and I felt it needed vanilla, so you can add it now, or before the sugar, either way.  I didn't need any milk as I found that I used so much icing sugar, but whatever you have to do, you do it.

So then I just piped a little swirl on my cupcake and sprinkled on heart sprinkles, because I had them out and was way too lazy to get different ones.  Then I ate a few, and then packed them up for work.

I have to say I am really impressed with this picture, try not to think about the fact I really cropped out a lot, focus on the yummy!

It really was a nice frosting, not overly chocolaty and you could tell it was cream cheese but it was not too cheesy if you get what I mean.  So yum, this is going to be a favorite for sure.

I also want to share a funny story about Pork Chop and these cupcakes.  A few days after I made them we were hitting the grocery store after Costco, I suggested sushi and he was all over it.  He likes the veggie ones.  Anyway we are walking in and I ask if he wants a cupcake, he tells me  yes, a red velvet one.  I told him sure, but why won't he eat the ones I made?

"yours aren't very good actually."

Said with a straight face.  My own Pork Chop, said that, to me!  I just laughed because dude has his issues, and if one of them is that my cupcakes are not the best, well I can deal.

Then we are at the bakery and he saw a chocolate mousse cake.

"OMG that is gross, a chocolate mouse cake!!!!"

I told him it was a mousse cake, no one would bake a mouse in a cake.

"That is still gross, moose in a cake is gross."

I just didn't know how to answer that really.  The guy at the bakery was laughing a little, and Pork Chop was looking at him like he was crazy, as we walked away he says "I bet he doesn't like moose in his cake either."

I told him he was probably right.  Things like that make having kids worth while, they are so funny and they don't even know it.

Philadelphia Chocolate Cream Cheese Review

 Okay, before I get started, I want you all to know that I am over the moon that we finally got this product in Canada.  I read about it on some blogs I think and right away I was all "We need to move south!!" And Hubby just rolled his eyes, and said something about liking being around family or whatever.  But he hates cream cheese, so I cannot really expect him to get it.  But I know you guys will. Seriously I have only used this a few times already and it is going to change your life.  I know, dramatic, but I just need you to understand, you need this item, right now!!!!!

  Anyway, I saw on face book we finally had this and I went right to the store after work with Pork Chop, I had to bribe him by buying him a pound or so of olives, but I got what I went for.  As I was cashing out the cashier was all "have you tried that, it looks weird!"  And I was all "I have so many plans for it, you need to try it!" And she sort of just gave me a crazy look, because she probably doesn't understand the impact this is going to have.  Or something like that.

My first simple test.

So for my first try I just wanted something really simple, because I wanted to actually try the product how it was made.  Trust me I already have about 50 ideas in my head, and I don't have the money to buy that much cream cheese.  If you are out there makers of Philly Chocolate Cream Cheese of the Gods, feel free to send me about 100 tubs.  That should last me at least a month. Give or take.

It looked like chocolate, pure and simple!

 So firstly, I had no idea this product was a spread before I saw it, I always assumed it was in block form. I didn't really care, I got two tubs and I bought these super fat lady finger cookies.  I figure simple would let me really try it.  And Oh. My. Gosh!  It was good.

 So it looks like this is being marketed akin to Nutella.  But with I think 50% less sugar. It was on the tin foil label, but I was in a rush to taste it, so I sort of tossed that out fast.  Anyway.  I don't agree.  Nutella is it's own beast, I mean it is thick and rich and super sweet and almost like peanut butter.  Where as this, well it's hard to describe.  The flavour is out of this world, and the texture is perfect for spreading, or if you are one of those weird people that likes fruit, it could be an instant fruit dip.  But I won't go there.  Sorry.

I didn't put too much, I was being stupid, you want to put lots, trust me.

 In my first use, I just made cookie sandwiches.  I just spread a bunch in between two soft cookies, and then I ate them.  It was so good, it has this almost tart kick to it, like a sour cream.  But it was sweet but in a way that is was not over powering like Nutella can be.  I personally don't think I would eat this on toast, it is just not the same to me.  But the things I have planned, oh you just wait..  I am honestly going to spend a lot of time with this and make a few things.

Try to ignore the fact my fingers are almost as chubby as the cookies.

I really liked the taste of it just like this, and even found myself using it as a dip for cookies.  It really is good. And I sound like a girl with a high school crush, and gosh darn it, I am so happy with this.  I have read about products and waited for them only to feel blah about them.  So far this is a keeper.  So stay tuned I have plans, and I will be sharing them.  Then I will invest in cream cheese stock, or just hoard the stuff.

So these only lasted 12 hours and that is because I was sleeping, they were gone really fast.

Have you tried it yet?  What do you think?