Just keep poppin'....

So, the past two weeks have left me completely and utterly exhausted!

Harper's 1st Birthday Party last Sunday was GREAT...surrounded by family and friends celebrating our little Sweet Roll. I seriously CANNOT believe that she is 1 already! Where does the time go!?!? Everything came together for the party and I couldn't have been happier....

Flash to later that evening, my husband, who always bears the brunt of my party-planning schemes when it comes to heavy-lifting and general physical labor...noticed something wasn't quite right. Well, I guess I did him in because a visit to Urgent Care the next day confirmed that he had a hernia!

So this week around the house we've had two fussy kiddos, lingering ear infections and stomach bugs, I got the 24-hour flu mid-week, hubby had surgery on Friday and is now recovering but mostly immobile....oh and...I had orders on the books ;)

So here's what came out of the kitchen in my spare time:

Little Fishy Cake Pops

Chocolate Mint Cake Pops

Dark Chocolate Mint Cupcakes with Chocolate Mint Ganache
I know these aren't the prettiest cupcakes you've ever seen...but they taste AMAZING!!!

I used the extra Chocolate Mint Ganache to make Leprechaun Chow for the kiddos...BIG hit...huge!
Here's hoping that next week is less eventful!
~Audrey

Pencil Pops!

I've been CRAZY busy this past week preparing for my daughter's 1st Birthday Party! I'm taking a break from the last minute crafting, arranging, baking...yes...I'm still making treats (to the tune of about 6 dozen sugar cookies waiting for icing!)

So I'll keep this short....but very sweet!

Harper's party is a vintage school theme and I made these super fun Apple Cake Pops using pencils as the sticks. If you want a great tutorial on how to make the Apple Cake Pops I'll defer to the Queen of Cake Pops herself, Bakerella!

She also has a tutorial for those of you that have never attempted Cake Pops and need the basics...I'm not reinventing the wheel here...and she's so thorough you definitely need to go to her site if you plan on poppin' in the future ;)

Here's what you'll need for the Pencil Pops:
Prepared Cake Balls, formed into apple shapes
Red Candy Melts
Pencils
Plastic Pencil Pop Tips (I got mine from Sweet Baking Supply)

If you like the cute tags I used to decorate the finished pops check out Fort and Field!

POW Pops!

I'm so SUPER excited to finally post images of the Custom Cake Pops I created for this BEYOND adorable Vintage Pop Art Superhero Birthday Party put on by the fabulous Maureen Anders of Anders Ruff Custom Designs!

To make the emblems for the Pow Cake Pops I softened and then flattened Starburst candies. I used a tiny cookie cutter that I bent a bit to cut out the shape that I wanted, and added the words with edible markers.

Be sure to check out the full party post at Hostess with the Mostest for more fabulous pictures, to see my Cake Pops in ACTION and to get excellent party planning tips for your next big shindig!

UPDATE! Be sure to head over to Fabulous Features by Anders Ruff Custom Designs for even MORE details on this amazing party! Part 2 features the Candy Bar and Dessert Tables!

Cake Pop Parade!

The past week has been busy-busy around here! I had lots of super fun Valentine's Day orders to work on thanks to all of my amazingly supportive customers. Every holiday has gotten a little crazier (which is good!) It's forcing me to become hyper-organized with my baking time so I can accommodate as many orders as possible.

We're working on making a designated baking space for me in our home right now...out of the way, separate, and just for my sweet treats....once that is finished I will JUMP FOR JOY! I love that this venture has proven so successful, but it has seriously overtaken my house!!!

On the list this week: cupcakes, Cake Pops of all varieties, including the SUPER popular Rose Cake Pops, Cake Balls and my personal favorite Valentine's Day treat....Chocolate Dipped Strawberries! They are my weakness...well one of my weaknesses...but let's not go down that path ;)

Enjoy!

Valentine's Day Specials...finally!

Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats

Valentine's Day Specials

Taking preorders NOW! Be sure to get your order in before my baking roster fills-up!

All orders will be available for pick-up on Friday February 11th.

Cake Ball Sampler

$15

1 dozen assorted Cake Balls, boxed

-4 Double Chocolate Cake Balls

-4 Red Velvet Cake Balls

-2 Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake Balls

-2 Strawberries and Cream Cake Balls

Cake Pop Sampler

$18

1 dozen assorted standard Cake Pops, Valentine-inspired decorations

-4 Double Chocolate Cake Balls

-4 Red Velvet Cake Balls

-2 Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake Balls

-2 Strawberries and Cream Cake Balls

Rose Cake Pops

$18 for 6, or can be purchased individually for $3.50

-Chocolate Cake Pops covered in hand-formed petals made from modeling chocolate

 

Contact me to order TODAY!

Rose Cake Pop Tutorial!

I had TONS of inquiries about the Rose Cake Pops I posted last week, so it seemed only logical that a proper tutorial should follow!

I plan on including these in my Valentine's Day Specials for those of you that don't want to attempt to make them yourself...but for the rest of you....enjoy!

If you've never made Cake Balls or Cake Pops, head straight over to Bakerella's website for a crash-course! Once you have the basic concept and recipes down you can apply them to SO many fun custom creations.

Rose Cake Pops

You'll Need:

Prepared Cake Balls

Lollipop Sticks

Melted Almond Bark or Candy Melts

Prepared Modeling Chocolate

      Quick Modeling Chocolate Recipe: Melt 8 oz of Chocolate or Almond Bark. Once melted, combine with 1/3 Cup Corn Syrup until well mixed. Spread mixture on clear plastic wrap and cover.

Refrigerate until hardened and ready to use.

For the roses, I used a combination of Red Candy Melts and White Almond Bark.

To start, you'll need to form your Cake Balls into tear drop shapes.

I like to roll them in varying sizes so I can have large and small roses.

Dip the lollipop stick into melted almond bark, then insert the dipped stick into the formed Cake Ball....you now officially have a Cake Pop...ready to be dipped! 

Dip the Cake Pop, be sure to completely coat the tear drop shaped ball and gently tap off the excess almond bark.

I use a chocolate melter for super easy melting and dipping!

Put the Cake Pops in a Styrofoam block to set.

Cut a 3-4 inch piece off of your Modeling Chocolate.

Roll until the piece is smooth and workable.

Be careful not to over-handle the Modeling Chocolate.

If it gets too soft and sticky, put it back in the refrigerator for a bit.

Cut the rolled Modeling Chocolate into 8 equal pieces.

Using a spoon, or whatever method/utensil you prefer, flatten each of the pieces to form the individual petals for your rose.

I also used a small amount of Modeling Chocolate to cover the tips of the Cake Pops after they were dipped.

If you are working with a dark colored cake this may be necessary so the color of the cake doesn't show through.

Start wrapping the petals, around the Cake Pop.

The Modeling Chocolate is workable, so after you place each petal you can smooth the edges.

Repeat until all of the petals have been used. I like to vary the amount of petals I use so some of the roses appear to be in full bloom, and others look like rose buds...do what makes you happy ;)

After all of the petals have been placed you can carefully roll them back for a more "in-bloom" look.

That's it...I know it seems like a lot, but really (I SWEAR) it's not!

Have fun!

~Audrey

Everything's coming up roses!

With every New Year comes the obligatory resolutions. I have a few on the roster for 2011, one of which is to focus on the positive and run with it! Sometimes, amidst the rush and bustle of my day-to-day, I lose sight of all the incredible blessings that surround me. So this is a big goal...stay positive...stay focused.

I've found such joy in making Cake Pops. Making these little, edible, pieces of joy on a stick has given me the outlet I needed for some true creativity. It's so rewarding to create something that other people enjoy! I feel truly honored that my treats are considered cute enough to be included in important celebrations in my customers' lives! I love it when people tell me, "These are almost too cute to eat!"

Almost....everyone manages to get over the cuteness and get down to the eating...which is what it's all about in the end ;)

This week I was looking toward the next big holiday on the calendar....Valentine's Day! I'm working on some special items that I think Cupid himself would swoon over. First on the list, Rose Cake Pops! I don't know about you all....but although I can appreciate receiving flowers on special occasions, wouldn't it be even better to receive EDIBLE flowers!??!? Well here they are! UPDATE: I was going to save this as a surprise but....next week's post will feature a ROSE CAKE POP TUTORIAL! So stay tuned ;)

I also tried out a new cupcake and frosting recipe for the Cupcake of the Month Club. I took a break from the CCMC in December, but I think the January cupcakes will be worth the wait! I made Hot Cocoa Cupcakes topped with Marshmallow Frosting. And yes....in case you're wondering...they are as good as they look! The frosting-to-cupcake ratio may be a little off...but I've always been a more-is-more kind of girl myself.

Finally, here's a sweet order I worked on this week for a very generous Mom-to-be. She contacted me a few weeks ago wanting treats to give out to visitors when her little-one arrived. Isn't that too cute?!?! I was barely coherent in the days following the arrival of both of my kiddos....maybe if I had handed out sweets our visitors wouldn't have noticed ;) Congrats Nelson Family!!!

Thank you all for the amazing support in 2010! I hope I can continue to win you all over in 2011!

~Audrey