Adventures In Cake Pops

I just realized that I haven't made a post about cake pops! :) Shame on me!!! And like I have mentioned... I do make both types of cake pops- the Bakerella type - AKA the original cake pops :) (and many kudos to her and those who have come after her for all the awesome inspiration!!!) and the baked type that don't involve anything but cake and chocolate- yes, that means no icing. And yes, in case you were wondering, I absolutely love icing in all  it's many luscious forms- American, Italian and Swiss Buttercream... (I am equal opportunity here after all) cream cheese icing... you name it, I love it... just not so much mixed WITH the cake. Which is why I offer both... because I know that most people either love or hate either one.... it's almost like the BYU/University of Utah rivalry... liking both would almost be sacrilege... but I digress :) sorry... 

And while I have made them quite bit- even done a few classes for kids :)  I just have never really taken any pictures.. why? not quite sure... I apologize... and what is a blog post about cake pops without pictures! So here ya go :) My gallery of luscious cake pops :)

I made 5 different flavors the other day for an order- and I made them both ways so I could share- and of course experiment :) so I didn't have to make so many batches of cake batter... again with the frugal-ness ;)



First was Red Velvet... a classic... delicious tangy chocolate and that deep luscious red - awesome! And forgive the red hearts so far after Valentines Day... I just couldn't resist... I love these sprinkles :)  (the mixed ones are done with cream cheese icing... of course :))  Red Velvet also lends itself well to the holidays- so I make a White Chocolate Peppermint version as well... (not pictured here)

This is my Chocolate Raspberry- made with a rich delicious Fudge Cake with pure raspberry extract as well as raspberry oil in the dipping chocolate :) and the mixed ones are made with chocolate raspberry buttercream...

Here is my cheesecake cake- a pound cake made with real cream cheese- not an actual cheesecake... (mixed with cream cheese icing) and dipped in white chocolate, then sprinkled with graham cracker crumbs :)

White chocolate is next... full of white chocolate chips and then dipped in white chocolate and topped with white chocolate crumbs-- then mixed with a white chocolate buttercream- so lots of white chocolate-y goodness! (can I say white chocolate enough?) (sorry, I didn't get an inside picture of the mixed version... This was for an order, and I didn't have any extra to take pictures.- and yes, I ran out of chocolate crumbs for the baked version... sprinkles work too... right?)

And finally... my personal favorite cake... pumpkin spice (mixed with cream cheese icing).  Again with the out of season sprinkles, but come on, tell me these cute leaves don't just scream fall- just like pumpkin spice... so a perfect match :)  These would be good dipped in white chocolate too :) but who doesn't love pumpkin and chocolate!And again... sorry I didn't get a picture of the inside of the mixed... shame on me...

So what d'ya think??? And if you are looking to order any... (like you could resist after seeing these pictures come on ;)) just click here and let me know! I have a list of cake flavors here- and they can all be made into cake pops but if you have an idea that you would like to try and don't see listed please feel free to let me know! I love making new flavors!

Prices are as follows :)
1 Cake Pop for $1.50
6 Cake Pops for $8.00
12 Cake Pops for $12.00
24 Cake Pops for $22.00
(and these are base prices- all one flavor PLEASE and with simple decoration like drizzle or sprinkles - I do charge extra for more flavors, for custom shapes, or for airbrushing or fancy decorations )

Let me know if you have need for a larger amount- I can usually work with prices especially if combined with other desserts.

Hope you all have a most wonderful rest of your week!!!
And as always Sweet Dreamz to you!

Renee :)

The Most Awesome Baker's Secret (well... today ;))

Hi... my name is Renee and I am... cheap. Frugal is a nice way to put it, penny pincher if you will, but if I can find a way to make something less expensive... you better believe I will do it.  Now what does this have to do with today's post you ask? Everything... and I will tell you why!

Last year, I purchased cake pop pans, "Bake Pop" Pans as they are called- the type you bake the cake in instead of making the cake and mixing with icing type.  Kind of like the Babycakes Cake Pop maker... only in pan form that you can bake in your oven. Personally, these kind of cake pops are my favorite.  No offense to those of you cake pop purists... or to the ever awesome Bakerella...  I do make them both, and respect the process (messy hands and all) I just have texture issues... as I have mentioned before sorry... and I prefer the more "donut hole" like pop.  Just my opinion.  No nasty messages below please ;)

Anyway, these particular pans say that you must buy Baker's Secret pan release spray with flour. (hence the name of this post... little play on words... hahaha... sorry) Not that this isn't too surprising, since I grease and flour all my cake pans, but seriously... this stuff is almost 4 dollars for a can that is almost half the size of your regular baking spray (like Pam).  So I bought one... just to make sure that there was a real difference between it and greasing and flouring the pan.  And lo and behold there was... greasing and flouring the pans was not only time consuming, but left kind of a ... baked flour layer on the cake pops... not too appetizing.

And then I remembered a recipe for pan grease that I saw in a cookbook put out by one of the popular bakeries.  (Pink Cake Box? one of the others? I honestly can't remember, but if you know please enlighten me so that I can offer credit where it is due!!) I had made it once and loved it, but for some odd reason I never made it again.   Until now.  Not only is it quicker and easier than individually greasing and flouring the pans, but it doesn't leave a flour-y residue on your pans, but it uses every day ingredients so you know exactly what is going into your pans and onto your food.  And it is super simple ... and cheap... so seriously what is stopping you???

So here is the recipe... brace yourself... it's a doozy...
You take equal parts of shortening and flour and mix them in your mixer bowl until super smooth and creamy.... got that? K.. then you slowly pour in an equal amount of vegetable oil and beat the mixture until light and fluffy. There ya go... did you survive? I hope so :) And it looks like this...

Tell me I am wrong, but to me this looks like some gorgeous fluffy icing... is it just me? ;) So keep it marked well so kids don't decide to take a finger full... my daughter accidentally did after I had made it and lets just say she wasn't too thrilled with me... ;)
.
This lasts a long time (well as long as your shortening and oil are fresh that is) - and you can make as little or as much as you need since it's all equal measurements.  You don't need to keep it in the fridge, but I would suggest not letting it get too hot.  Room temp is fine. I just put mine in an ice cream bucket and keep it in my baking cupboard- and I bake a lot, so I make quite a bit (at least 1 cup of each).  It has never gone bad before I have used it.

So there you have it... the most awesome replacement for Bakers Secret ever- and even the replacement for your shortening and flour regimen.  Trust me... it's worth it!  You're welcome ;)

And to all of you out there in blogger land-
Sweet Dreamz!!! :)

Renee :)

Fluffy Bites of Awesome Deliciousness... too much right? ;)

Ok... now by a raise of hands... how many of you love marshmallows?
Now how many of you have had a homemade marshmallow?

GASP!!! What?! You can make marshmallows... it's true.  Yes, it does require a heavy duty stand mixer, and a little bit of candy making skills but honestly, it is almost a tragedy to even compare these to storebought marshmallows. There are so many chemicals and preservatives in storebought marshmallows, I don't even want to think about it.  These are basically just sugar, cornstarch, gelatin, and real fruit flavorings and pure extracts.

For those who are vegetarian, I do make a marshmallow with egg whites instead of gelatin, (since gelatin is a meat byproduct), but sorry vegans... I haven't found a reasonable substitute for the gelatin or egg whites. Marshmallows are a naturally fully gluten free product, however, since I do still produce things with flour, I would only recommend it for people who have a gluten intolerance rather than an allergy, since grains of flour can sit in the air for almost 2 days (or so I am told).  I don't want anyone to get sick on my account :/. 

My marshmallows are light, fluffy and delightfully creamy... everything a good, fresh marshmallow should be.  And not so disgustingly sweet that you will go into a sugar coma from eating a few (or feel sick to your stomach like I always do after choking down a marshmallow or two)

I make marshmallows in a myriad of lovely flavors- here are a few :)





Mint Chocolate Chip- a creamy mint (creme de menthe) marshmallow topped with mini chocolate chips like eating the ice cream only it doesn't melt :)

 Fresh Strawberry- a delicious vanilla marshmallow with juicy bits of REAL strawberry in it... like eating a strawberry cloud :)








Lemon - a luscious lemon marshmallow made with real lemon juice, zest, and pure lemon extract.  For anyone who loves lemon- or better yet, lemon meringue pie (ME!)... you will LOVE this... they are literally to die for.  It isn't sour, and it isn't super duper sweet- just a perfect combination of lemon and fluff :)





Here are some other flavors we enjoy- but as always, if there is a flavor you like please let me know!
Vanilla (of course :))
Orange
Raspberry
Blackberry Raspberry
Blue Raspberry
Cherry
Banana
Pumpkin Spice (seasonal- I do use real pumpkin)
Root Beer Float
Lime
Cream Soda
Double Chocolate Chip
Cappucino
Chai Tea
Chai Spice
Cinnamon Red Hots
Cinnamon (the spice :))
Peppermint
Peppermint Chocolate Chip
Cherry Limeade
Caramel
Butterscotch
These are awesome in hot tea or hot chocolate, and are just as amazing right out of the bag (I won't tell :))

Now if you are looking to purchase some, just click here- I have sampler packs (up to
4 flavors- 12 total marshmallows), and packages of 12 or 24 (1 flavor).  They are molded, if you will, in mini cupcake tins into 1 oz mallows (saves me the hassle of having to cut them later with greased scissors and getting all frustrated because they aren't perfect or all the same size :)) I do take special orders to cut with flower, or egg, or bunny cookie cutters (or egg molds)- or really pretty much any shape you can imagine... cars, hearts, skulls :) You can also get these in mug size (a large round marshmallow perfect for the top of hot chocolate mugs) they melt so beautifully into hot drinks... not into bubbles like regular marshmallows, but into ooey gooey yummy deliciousness... I double dog dare you to try it :) And since summer is coming up- these make incredible Smores too!

 And finally, I also make Glamour Chicks (my version of Peeps- only significantly more awesome...) Tell me those aren't the cutest little marshmallow chicks you've seen? I mean come on...Peeps? Not even close... I add some gorgeous edible glitter to the brightly colored sugar, (because everything is just more awesome with glitter :)) and trust me... you will never touch a Peep again. :)  The sugar isn't super thick, and the marshmallow inside is soft and fluffy :)
And they are available all year round, not just during Easter- so even better right?! 


So any ideas as to what I should call them? To call them marshmallows seems so... I don't know... ordinary ;)

Have a wonderful week!
And as always - Sweet Dreamz everyone!

Renee :D

Hooray for Halloween!!! :)

October 2nd is here... and I am soooooo ready for Halloween!!
So much so that this is what we had for dinner tonight ;)
(Just kidding... we had leftovers, but since I didn't cook,it seemed like it was!)

Death By Chocolate... an awesome cake by every definition... but could a name fit Halloween any better???
Moist delicious Double Chocolate Fudge Cake, with a rich dark chocolate ganache center, topped with a decadent dark chocolate frosting, and then rolled in mini semi sweet chocolate chips!!!
Can we say chocolate overload children?  All together now! ;)
But seriously people -for you true chocoholics out there- is there really such thing as TOO much chocolate??? I think not...

And Just Bitten.. (as shown) Same UBER-Moist & delicious Double Chocolate Fudge Cake, with a dark rich ganache center, Ruby Red Cherry Filling (and not just the sauce mind you... 2 actual plump delicious cherries :)), then frosted with a luscious fluffy whipped frosting.  Ummmmmm... how did that fang mark get in there? ;) It's kind of a Halloween version of Black Forest Cake, if you will :)
Also available in White Cake... without the ganache filling. (or with if you really want...  it does takes away from the effect of the stark white cake and blood red cherries... isn't that the most perfect color blood red ever?... but  if you want it you got it!-- Who am I to judge?) I will be making some soon and posting them so you can see...

Oh how I love Halloween!!! And really just the cutesy artsy stuff... not the gross gory stuff...

There is definitely more to come ... so stay close!
And if you want to order some... of course you do! Just click here to shoot me an email.....now!

And as always Sweet Dreamz my pretties *insert cackle here... Not quite as effective is it? ;)
Nighty Night!
Renee :D

Do You Believe in Magic... Cookies???

I have to say I am pretty impressed with myself right now.  I had heard of these cookies on Food Network years ago, from one of my favorite tv chefs, the ever adorable Paula Deen, and always wanted to try them, but never really did anything about it.  Why you ask? I have absolutely no idea.
But I finally did it.

What are these cookies you say?

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies... AKA MAGIC Peanut Butter Cookies.

Now I kid you not, if you love Peanut Butter Cookies, you will not be disappointed.  Even if you don't love them- they really are absolutely amazing!

And they can even be made somewhat healthy! (GASP! A healthy cookie WITHOUT tasting like cardboard... and filled with all kinds of fiber? nonsense! :))

And the real kicker is... you probably have all the ingredients in your kitchen, so when the mood hits... you are set to go!!!

The only downside is it doesn't make a whole bunch... maybe 3-4 dozen depending on how big you make them, but still... if you want to make them one night at 3 am when you get a sweet craving- go for it! You can even freeze this dough and cut it up later! See I told you! Amazing!!!

Magic Cookies- From Paula Deen on Food Network :)
2 cups Peanut Butter**
2 eggs**
2 2/3 cup sugar **(now see, you can go as low as 2 cups -like me- but however you wish to do it is up to you)

**and here is where you can make it more healthy... you can totally use natural peanut butter, egg substitute, and Splenda... and this would be a cookie you would be proud to serve to your kids and they wouldn't know the difference... seriously. My kids are raging sweet a holics... and they didn't know any better... hehehehehe ;)

You put all the ingredients in a mixer (actually you can use a bowl and wooden spoon if you so desire to  mix this, but I am lazy like that...) mix til well combined... and you're done. Put on a baking sheet and smoosh (is that the correct term? squish? mash? well... whatever it is you do to get those criss cross markings on your cookies :) )  Bake at 350 for 8 minutes. I did have to bake a little longer or they would fall apart on me... but I guess it depends on your oven. Mine is older than me so it's a bit... temperamental at times :)

Seriously... that's it. No joke. No fancy ingredients, no complicated equipment or long drawn out difficult steps... And they bake up all chewy and crisp on the outside just like you would expect an awesome peanut butter cookie to be.  And impressive to say the least :)

You're Welcome :) 

Now GO ... make some delicious cookies! And if you feel super adventurous... skip the squoosh and add a Hershey's Kiss on top :) ... you daredevil you!

Sweet Dreamz all!!! :)

What inspires you?

I don't know... lately I have been turning everything into cake.  

Now I know that sounds odd... but it's true!!!
I see a cute ruffly shirt? Before I would just say- hey... that's a cute shirt! 

But lately, I see a cute shirt and I think... wow ok.... that would look so cute on a cake!! :) 

It can be a cute birthday card... it could be a swatch of funky wall paper...it could be a little girls dress... an adorable purse or a cute pair of strappy sandals - even a gorgeous color - you name it! 

It's like my brain is in constant creative mode. 

And I am absolutely loving it!

I have to say my biggest inspirations are the infinite sources of talent available to us in all forms of media... books... tv... the internet....  They are everywhere! It's a little daunting don't get me wrong, but it definitely revs my brain too just thinking of all the awesome ways to create art now a days.  The awe inspiring techniques that people come up with to create are just incredible! And there are so many to choose from I couldn't even come close to naming even a fraction of them... but some of my favorites are below (and to the right a smidge :)) Go check them out! You'll see what I mean!!! 

So tell me... what inspires you? Do you wake up in the middle of the night with ideas in your head you're just dying to write down? Do you keep a journal by your bed for just such occasions? Or am I just losing it? ;) Well... I probably am.. but I cant be the only one!  

I know I am getting old when....

So...my oldest daughter turned 15 today :) a part of me is so proud of the beautiful, strong young woman she has become, the other part wants her to STOP GROWING UP!!!! Just stop the train for a few years... what happened to the last 15??? ;) And seriously... I am going to be teaching her to DRIVE???? WHAT??? I am seriously not even wanting to think about that one... let alone the fact that my other daughter turns 15 in 10 months and 7 days (yes my daughters are 10 months and 7 days apart :)) ... oh heaven help me!

OK... gotta stop thinking about it... Well, on another note :) she took the initiative this weekend and wanted to draw the cake she wanted for her birthday.  She is quite the amazing artist- and I said sure :) We went through a few designs and came up with a simple but pretty awesome cake :) Here are her drawings.... (I know I know... I need a new camera :))

So her drawings went from that ... to this :)

 

 The side pictures are the 4 sides of the square... I hope that makes sense... the skull was on top of a square (and since it is black... it is hard to see that isn't it?... sorry) I did feel like we needed something else... not sure quite what, I mean I do like the shiny black fondant... but hmmmmmmmm.  We had wanted to do some quilting with blue and pink pearls but for some reason, this particular fondant  batch was just a little too soft so it only tore when I tried... darn it... but I was still pretty darn proud of the result :)

Oh I almost forgot! Shame on me... Megan painted the colors on the crest (the pink and the blue.) I didn't want her not to get credit for her part :) She chose a cherry vanilla cake with vanilla and marachino cherry filling for the square, and the skull was mint chocolate chip cake with mint filling both with white chocolate buttercream :) and of course, my homemade marshmallow fondant :) I think with it being so hot, I didn't want it to get too hard so I held back on the powdered sugar... but next time I will definitely stick to the recipe.

Speaking of which... instead of shortening, I have been using butter in my fondant recipe (I haven't tried margarine... I wouldn't recommend it seeing as how much water there is, but you can certainly try it :)) and it really does seem to improve the texture.  I will have to try it a few more times to make sure that I like it better, but so far, it seems to be a pretty good recipe :) 

So what do y'all think?? Any ideas for what we could have added? I am really scratching my head about it...

Happy Monday everyone! And happy birthday sweetheart! We love you!!!!
Sweet Dreamz!!!