Chocolate and Mocha Cake Pops and My Babycakes Cake Pop Maker

It was in early 2010 when I first heard of cake pops - the bite-sized cake ball on a stick that was brought to fame by Bakerella. I've always wanted to try making cake pops since then, much more when I started recipe blogging...but I really didn't like the thought of having to crumble a freshly baked cake, mix it with frosting and then shape into a ball using my hands. I've seen pictures of how messy it could be, and that kept me from trying it. When I saw the Bake Pop Kit on TV, I got so amazed with how easy cake pop baking could be. The kit includes a bake pop pan, a decorating idea guide, 18 sticks, 18 wraps, 18 ties and a decorating squeeze bottle. It was a good deal, so I ordered it online around first week of November. I was thinking that I will receive it just in time for the holidays. But I had a problem with my order and had to cancel it. I promised myself that I'll just buy the cake pop maker available at Kohl's (which is the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker) after the holidays. But to my surprise, my good friend, Carmi gave me one last Christmas! I was so happy! :)

For the first time, I made cake pops last Wednesday. Simple ones though. I adapted the recipe for Chocolate Cake Pops from the manual that goes with the cake pop maker. I just made some adjustments based on the availability of ingredients in my pantry...and VOILA!!!

 

Making it was so simple and quick! Not messy as I always imagined it would be. I made another batch using the same recipe but substituted the dark chocolate with cocoa and instant coffee to make it taste like mocha. The cake pops made my girls happy...and that made me even happier! Thanks Carmi Remmers for this awesome baking gadget! :-*

This Babycakes Cake Pop Maker is available online at Amazon and thebabycakesshop.com. You can also get it at Kohl's and Bed Bath & Beyond. For the price of $19.99-24.99, I can say that this is such a good buy. Cake Pops are sold for $2-$7 each in bake shops depending on the flavor and coating. Imagine how much money you could save if you can make it in your own kitchen! 12 cake pops in 4 minutes - I think that's good enough! I made 6 dozen cake pops with simple glaze/coating in less than one hour! 

The Babycakes Cake Pop Maker bakes cake pops directly from batter which is much cleaner and quicker compared to the traditional way of making cake pops. And let me tell you that the cake pops aren't dry at all. They are moist and soft as long as you don't over bake them. The manual says to bake for 4-5 minutes. 4 minutes is just right. Baking it for more than 4 minutes will make your cake pops dry. 

I will try to incorporate frosting into the batter next time so it will be more like the traditional cake pops and will surely let you know if it will work! :)

Happy Friday everyone!

*adapted from Babycakes Cake Pop Maker Manual
Ingredients:

For the cake pops:

(Chocolate) Makes about 3 dozen cake pops

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 Tbsp melted Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup freshly brewed hot coffee

 (Mocha) Makes about 3 dozen cake pops

•  same as above except for the 3 Tbsp melted Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate which I replaced with 1 Tbsp cocoa and 1 Tbsp instant coffee

For the vanilla glaze: Makes about 1 1/2 cups of glaze

• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 2 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 Tbsp hot water
  

For the chocolate coating with sprinkles/cashews

• 2 cups melted semi-sweet chocolate morsels
• 1/2 cup chopped cashew nuts
• sprinkles

Procedure:

For the chocolate cake pops:

1. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl. Mix well.

2. Add melted chocolate, buttermilk, olive oil, egg and vanilla. Using a mixer, blend until smooth. Add brewed coffee and continue mixing until coffee is evenly incorporated into mixture. 

3. Fill each cooking reservoir with about 1 Tbsp of batter.

4. Bake for 4 minutes.

5. Allow to cool and glaze/coat as desired.

For the mocha cake pops:

1. Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, instant coffee, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl. Mix well.

2. Add buttermilk, olive oil, egg and vanilla. Using a mixer, blend until smooth. Add brewed coffee and continue mixing until coffee is evenly incorporated  into mixture. 

3. Fill each cooking reservoir with about 1 Tbsp of batter.

4. Bake for 4 minutes.

5. Allow to cool and glaze/coat as desired.

For the vanilla glaze:

1. Combine melted butter with confectioners sugar, stirring until well blended.

2. Stir in vanilla.
3. Blend in hot water and stir until smooth.