Wednesday, February 23, 2011

How To Make Mini Cupcake POPS

A few friends asked me to reveal how I made the cupcake POPS for Reese's party, so here you go :)

Need: 
1 Box of Cake Mix (any flavor...I used Strawberry Cake Mix)
1 Can of Cream Cheese Frosting
Candy Melts in desired colors
Sprinkles/Decoration
Lollipop Sticks (I used plastic ones since they came with my lollipop wrappers which are optional)
Powdered Sugar for dusting your hands
Wax Paper
Egg Cartons (help drying process of the mini cupcakes...not necessary if making standard round-shaped cake POPS)
Mini Cupcake Mold (helps if making mini cupcake shaped POPS)

I bought My Little Cupcake mold from Amazon

Step 1: Mix cake batter as it says on box
Step 2: Bake cake as it says on box
Step 3: Once cake cooled, crumble into a large bowl
Step 4: Mix in cream cheese frosting (might not need the whole can. Mine were very "gooey" for lack of a better word by using the whole can but they were very yummy!)
Step 5: Dust hands with powdered sugar and roll cake mixture into 1 inch balls and place on a wax paper lined cookie sheet
Step 6: Refrigerate cake balls for at least 30 min or freeze for approx 5 min to firm up the dough
Step 7: Place a dough ball into the mini cupcake mold and close. Remove excess batter that is squeezed out and open mold back up. Use index finger at the top of cupcake and thumb at the bottom to gently pull it out of the mold. 
Step 8: Place mini cupcakes on wax paper lined cookie sheet
Step 9: Return to the fridge or freezer to re-firm the dough
Step 10: Melt the candy melt (the desired color for the bottom half of cupcakes) as directed in a small bowl
Step 11: Dip bottom half of the cupcake into the candy melt (do not stir!) and then while still wet dip lollipop stick into the melted candy and then into the bottom of the cupcakes.
Step 12: Place cupcakes upside down in a cleaned egg carton to help the candy melt dry (takes approx. 5 min)
Step 13: Melt candy melt (desired color for top of cupcakes) in a small bowl as directed
Step 14: Dip top half of cupcakes into the melted candy (do not stir!)
Step 15: Add sprinkles while still wet (I used valentine M&Ms for the top)
Step 16: Store upright into a Styrofoam block
For this I used a shoe box lid, hot glued on ribbon at all 4 corners of the box and cut Styrofoam to fit.

Step 17: Once completely dry- If you want your POPS to be "to-go", wrap them in lollipop bags

Step 18: Once at party site location top Styrofoam with candy (I used remaining M&Ms)
They tasted amazing and were good even a week after making them. The candy melt really helps seal in the cake moisture!

There are other recipes available that are no bake, ex: Oreos & Cream Cheese or Oreo Fudgees, Choc. Chips & Milk 
(but these do have to stay refrigerated until ready to serve)

I know this looks like a lot of steps but it was actually super easy to do!! I plan on doing them again :)

Helpful videos:

2 comments:

Kelly Grant said...

Oh my...I am gonna try to make these but after reading the directions I am totally intimidated! AHHH! Can you fly up to dc and make them for me?

Tonya said...

I wish I had taken more pictures of all the steps. I think in my efforts to explain everything thoroughly it got lengthy ("intimidating"). It truly is simple and I plan on doing them again! It was my favorite part of her party planning :)