Back to School: Apple Pencil Cake Pops!

Many of you are getting ready to send the kiddos back-to-school in the next couple of weeks. Which also means you're probably searching for fun teacher gifts and treats to get your little ones in the mood for school!


So....I thought it would be the PERFECT time for me to re-post my Apple Pencil Cake Pop Tutorial! These are SO cute, and were SO well received when I made them last spring for my daughter's Vintage Schoolhouse 1st Birthday Party. Have fun!

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 ;)

There are TONS of FREE Back-to-School Printables available in Blogland....many of them are perfect for dressing up your pops!

Pencil Pops!

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)

Happy Poppin!

Audrey

Saturday Night Sugar High #3

This past week was CRAZY busy...actually the past couple of weeks really...as evidenced by a Saturday Night Sugar High post going up on Sunday morning ;) I've been busily wrapping things up at work and filling orders at night after the kiddos are in bed. I just haven't had much time to photograph anything that's been coming out of the kitchen lately. I'm lucky there are SO many other FABULOUS and TALENTED baking bloggers out there so I can still share some serious eye-candy with you all ;)

We had a Bar-themed Treat Day at work this week, so I did my fair share of sampling and searching for recipes. Here are some recipes I found particularly inspiring...they're all on my To-Bake List, which for some reason keeps getting longer and longer!

First-up...I barely have words...but I think the name of these UBER-AMAZING-LOOKING bars should sum it up...
Ultimate Chococlate Chip Cookie n' Oreo Fudge Brownie Bars by Kevin & Amanda.
Um...YES....PLEASE!



Next up, Scotcharoos are one of my all-time FAVORITE Bars. So easy and simple, but SO delicious. You really can't go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate! These Chocolate Peanut Butter Crispy Bars by Nicole of The Galley Gourmet take the classic Scotcharoo to an entirely new level! Holy WOW these things look & sound amazing!



These Perfect Lemon Bars by Baking Bites would be PERFECT for any summery get-together. They really DO look perfect, delicious...AMAZING!



You all know how I feel about anything S'Mores related....so of course these S'Mores Candy Bars by Not So Humble Pie are right up my alley. They sound SUPER delish and SUPER easy...my favorite combination ;)




I had a chance to sample some Cake Batter Blondies this week at work (a friend was kind enough to make some in my honor)...and let me just say...they DID NOT disappoint! Pop on over to Two Twenty One for the recipe and more mouth-watering pictures! Another SUPER easy recipe...and think of all different variations you could make just by swtiching up the cake mix you use!



We always have an over-ripe banana or two (or 6 by the end of the week)...so these Double Banana Chocolate Chip Breakfast Bars by Eat, Live, Run would be the perfect (and healthy) way to put them to use!



Another friend at work makes the most AMAZING Salted Nut Roll Bars! I've harassed her into making them several times over the past 4 years...they're THAT good ;) This version, by The Kitchen Tutor looks equally delicious...take 'em to your next Potluck and you'll be SO popular - LOL!




I'm going to have to stop here....because seriously...I could go on for DAYS!

Happy Baking!
Audrey

Saturday Night Sugar High #2

So...I'm a little behind on my posting this week! I've just been SO busy behind the scenes, baking my life away ;)

Of course, I still managed to find some time to stalk some EXTREME YUMMINESS! Here's a peak at some of the amazingness that was trippin' my trigger...can you tell it was over 100 degrees here in Iowa for most of the week? I was drawn all sorts of frozen deliciousness! That's a lot of  "ness" going on, I know...but let's get started!

Love this print by Two for Joy Paper via etsy! Totally tuned into my mood this week ;)

At the start of summer I got some fun popsicle molds for the kids and we've had SO much fun finding new variations. So these Cocktail Popsicles: Cantaloupe and Kiwi Daiquiri by Bakers Royale are right up my alley! This is just one of MANY popsicle creations posted there...totally inspiring on a hot-hot day.

Next up, Veggie Wedgie posted a recipe for these uber-delish looking Vegan White Chocolate Coated Chocolate Pudding Pops. I have yet to try a full-on Vegan recipe...this might just be the one to try ;)

Cute as a Fox Creations posted pictures of the most ADORABLE Lemonade Stand full of fun ideas and inspiration. I am IN-LOVE with these Rice Krispie Treat Ice Cream Cones...so cute and easy, my favorite combination ;)



These Ice Cream Cupcakes were posted by Kristan of Confessions of a Cookbook Queen via Living Locurto. Let me just say...ADORABLE!!! As-in out of control cute!

How about an Ice Cream Parlor Party?!?!? YES PLEASE! I love everything about this adorable Cherry On Top Birthday Party by the fabulous Suzanna of Mon Tresor...AMAZING!

Last...some of my very own Ice Cream Cone Cake Balls...these little cuties always bring a smile to my face!

That's all for now...keep cool!

~Audrey

Saturday Night Sugar High #1

Introducing Saturday Night Sugar High!

I'm starting something new...a weekly post to share some of the AMAZING eye-candy I've encountered in blog-land during the week. I was thinking I should probably have something tangible to show for the time I spend online drooling over other people's fabulous creations!

First, I had some Orange Dreamsicle Cupcakes to tackle this weekend and went searching for inspiration. I found these adorable Orange Dreamsicle Cupcakes in a jar by Glorious Treats! For the recipe pop on over to Cookies and Cups!



Next up, Banana Cream Pie Cupcakes via Landee See, Landee Do! I just love it when two SUPER foods unite to create an UBER-SUPER food...you really can't go wrong with a Pie-Cupcake union right!?!? These are definitely at the top of my MUST-BAKE list! She even includes a FREE printable recipe card...go get it ;)



Since we're on the subject of pie...how about Tidy Mom's LEMONADE PIE!?! YES please! I am making this one tomorrow...5 ingredients, takes about 5 minutes to put together...right up my alley ;) This is going to be the perfect summer dessert for a super steamy day! Can't wait!



I've been a bit S'Mores obsessed lately...I've made more batches of S'Mores Dip in the past few weeks than I'm willing to admit. So this S'Mores Popcorn from Nest of Posies is just the ticket.




Last, another cupcake...apparently I just gravitate towards cupcakes ;) This one is PERFECT for all of my fellow Harry Potter fans...I went to see the new movie TODAY! I was a ball of nerves and cried numerous times...but I'm a bit of a cry-baby and I don't know that I was emotionally prepared to say farewell to my friends at Hogwarts. Anyways...back to the treats..how about some Butterbeer Cupcakes? Get the recipe over at Cook Like a Champion!

http://www.cooklikeachampionblog.com/2011/07/butterbeer-cupcakes.html


That's all for now ;) Enjoy!
~Audrey

S'Mores DIP!

So...prepare to be AMAZED! I have one of the simplest, most delicious recipes EVER...and I'm going to share it with all of YOU! When I say simple....I mean, like 3 ingredients simple...and you really can't beat that ;)

We were having a Dip Day at work a few weeks ago and I thought I'd try to make something with all the Marshmallow Fluff I had laying around. I don't normally stockpile Marshmallow Fluff, but since it was a key frosting ingredient for my Fluffernutter Cupcakes....and it was Cupcake of the Month Club time..I had several containers on-hand!

I thought...HEY! I should make S'mores Dip! Since every cool idea I have is usually already out there in the world, I immediately googled S'mores Dip recipes ;) I found a couple different versions and tweaked them both a bit to come up with this AMAZING DELICIOUSNESS!

We made 2 batches over the 4th...that's when I was originally going to post the recipe...but I got too excited and everyone wanted to dig-in....so I didn't even stop to take pictures...shameful, I know.

S'Mores Dip!

Ingredients
1 - 13 oz jar of Marshmallow Fluff (two of the smaller 7 oz jars will work too)
1 - 14 oz can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 1/2 Cup of Milk Chocolate Chips


First, pour the Marshmallow Fluff into whatever container you are going to serve the dip in. Doing this now gives it time to spread out and settle.

See what I mean...actually...if you want to just dig into the Fluff with a spoon and skip the other steps I'd totally understand.

In a separate bowl combine the Chocolate Chips and the Sweetened Condensed Milk. Make sure the bowl is microwave safe!

Mix together until all of the Chocolate Chips are coated. Add the mixture to the microwave for about 1 minute. Remove from microwave and stir quickly. You'll end up with a wonderful hot fudge-like mixture.

Pour a little more than half of the fudgey chocolate over the Marshmallow Fluff in your serving dish. You can use more or less...it's totally a preference thing!

Next, I used a spatula to fold the Fluff onto the Fudge so we had chocolate all through the dip. Finally, I swirled the mixture using a skewer.

We like to use the Braided Honey Wheat Pretzel Sticks for dipping...they're perfect because they add some crunch, but aren't overly sweet! Obviously it would be good with Graham Crackers...or Nilla Wafers....or probably even slathered on a piece of tree bark.

Seriously...it's THAT good!

I originally prepared it in a stoneware serving dish so we could warm it up if we wanted....so far no one has allowed me the time to try that step, they dive right in ;)

 ENJOY!

Disclaimer...please ignore my polish...clearly I need to have my Shellac removed ;)

 Happy Dipping!
Audrey

It's OFFICIAL...I'm a POP STAR!

Last week I got the MOST AMAZING surprise a Cake Popper could ask for...a FEATURE on Bakerella's uber-inspiring baking blog! I'm OFFICIALLY A POP STAR!



For those of you who don't know...because maybe you've been living under a rock or sitting on a stump somewhere in the wilderness...Bakerella is basically the QUEEN of Cake Pops! Finding her website was a life-changing experience for me...whoa right...I know that might sound a little extreme...but it's the TRUTH!

I was instantly smitten with her site...the way she connected to her readers...and of course the CAKE POPS! I had never even heard of a Cake Pop before Bakerella...imagine that!

The thing is, more than anything, reading her blog gave ME the motivation to try my hand at Cake Pops. I immediately became addicted to creating the little balls of joy on a stick....and the rest...well you know ;)

Making the leap and deciding to start selling my goodies...creating Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats as a way to provide people with the deliciousness I had to offer....and creating this blog as a way to connect with clients and fellow creators...it was ALL an extension of that first seed of inspiration I found in Bakerella's blog!

This is me with Miss Bakerella herself at her Chicago book signing last Fall...do I look excited? ;)

I believe in the power of prayer and positive thinking...I've been sending only my best thoughts in her direction the past few months. She's been dealing with some major health issues and even through all of that, she still manages to reach out and inspire those of us who truly adore her and wish that we could in some way return just a bit of the happiness she so generously bestowed upon us!

Here are some of my FAVORITE Cake Pop Creations....I hope they bring a smile to your face! My hope is that in some small way, the baking and creating I'm doing will maybe inspire some of you! Happiness grows the more you share it right?!?! Enjoy...and THANK YOU ALL for following me and inspiring me EVERY DAY!

Fish Cake Pops on Cupcakes!

Ice Cream Cone Cake Balls!

Cookie Monster!

Elmo!

Frankenstein Marshmallow Pops!

Snowman!

Rose Cake Pops!

Hello Kitty

Super Hero Pops!

Apple Cake Pops on Pencils!

Little Fishy Cake Pops!

Elmo & Cookie Monster Pops on Cupcakes!

Little Chick Cake Pops!

Strawberry Lemonade Cake Pops!

Pinwheel Cake Pops!

~Audrey