Cake Pops

... i tried. cake crumbs EVERYWHERE! and the buggers didn't stick together. i gave up and ate the gooey mess that was left after I lost it in the kitchen

I've cheated and bought a cake pop maker!

I use a cake pop maker. I tried once with crumbs and icing and they were horrible!! I have plain and chocolate sponge in chocolate. I hate doing them, too much of a fiddle.

I'm a keen baker but haven't attempted these at all.

The method I had read was to make the cake then crumble and mix with something sticky. It all seems like too much faff.

Let us know how you get on with the cake pop maker though because I have considered getting one.

I might get a cake pop maker if they're any good

They do look lovely, and I have all the kit but I just can't be faffed.

Good call on the buying the maker!

I've not made them before, but I watched Paul Hollywood make them once (He's a beautiful man, how I managed to concentrate is beyond me!!) He made some cakes and then essentially broke them up into little pieces and then squished them all together in to a hard cake lump and then moulded the cake lump into balls and stuck a lolly stick in the bottom, coated them in melted chocolate and then decorated them. Hope this helps!

I used to make them a lot, back when I had time! Although I love baking, I'd always use a cheapo packet cake mix and pre-made icing to make the pops, as you can't really taste the cake too much inside.

Packet cake, made up with egg/water or whatever, bake, leave to cool then chuck in the food processor (you can do it with your hands but I found I'd get random big lumps). A tub of icing, mix it all in together until the mixture is "doughy" or sticky enough to hold a shape, then shape it with your hands. I found wet hands meant the mixture doesn't stick to your hands so much, so I'd wet my hands again after every couple of balls. Chill for a couple of hours, or put in the freezer for a quicker set.

The best thing to cover them with is Candy Melts. They're like little discs of chocolate in all different colours. But I can't get them where I live (I'd order from Hobbycraft online or Amazon) so I'd often use white chocolate and just use food colouring, usually paste so it doesn't dilute the chocolate. If it's too thick, add in some Trex (vegetable shortening) which makes it more liquid.

Thanks for all the help ladies! I tried them with the cake pop maker last night and OH was impressed - it really was very handy. I did a packet mix of carrot cake and they came out pretty good.

Tizzie - those look adorable!

Knees - thanks for the recommendation about candy melts - gonna try these tonight! Have you ever made cake pops and frozen them before decoration? Like for a night or two?

I've made them the night before and just kept them in the fridge, but I'm sure they'd be fine frozen.

Thank you!

Ive only tried candy melts once, they looked all greasy and tasted terrible. Maybe the bag I had was off or something?

Ohh, i knew i forgot something - will get the candy melts tomorrow and have OH taste them to see if ok.

I will do a flash when all done!