Tutorial: The Cake Pop Topiary February 29, 2012 DIY, Entertaining, Parties and Entertaining Tutorials 7 Comments 11834 Is there anything more fun than cake on a stick? I think not. That’s why I whipped up some cake pops with a twist for a little dinner party I was hosting. Here’s what you’ll need to create these ready-for-Spring cuties: Cake Pops Box cake mix 1 (16oz) container Cream Cheese frosting Food coloring Pastry bag and tip (optional, but fun!) 1 lb bag candy melts Wax paper Cookie sheets 1/2 cup butter Large bag powdered sugar Milk Vanilla Topiary Supplies Small pots of your choice (mine were on sale for $0.76/ea), you could try baby food jars too Decorative grass Floral foam square (enough to put some in each pot) Lollipop sticks Paper for name card Ribbon (optional) First you’ll need to bake the cake mix per the directions on the box. Bake in a 9×13 pan and allow to fully cool before crumbling it up into a large bowl. Start with almost all of the can of frosting and mix it in with a electric beater or in a stand mixer. Add more until you get a consistency that will hold a ball shape. We added the whole can- and it was probably a bit too much- but still worked out. Roll your cake balls (flour-ing your hands if necessary) and place them on a wax paper lined cookie sheet. Chill for at least 10 minutes in the freezer. While the cake is chilling, you can prep your topiary pots. Cut your floral foam to fit in your pots, this will hold the lollipop stick in place when you finish the cake pops (don’t add the sticks yet, though). Set your pots aside for now, and melt your candy following the package directions (most can be microwaved at half power). Dip a lollipop stick in the melted candy before putting a cake ball on it. This will help it stay in place. Use a spoon to cover the cake ball with candy, let the excess drip off, then place on wax paper to dry. You can also skip the stick to make plain cake balls. Let the dipped cake balls chill another 10 minutes in the freezer. While they are setting up, mix the decorative frosting. This is sort of a consistency game using the powdered sugar, room temperature butter, a couple of teaspoons milk, and 1 tsp vanilla. You can use an electric mixer or a stand mixer (stand mixers are less messy…) Just keep adding more sugar or a little milk to get a whipped frosting. Add food coloring to your liking, remember a little goes a long way. Filling a pastry bag is easy with a tall glass, just stuff the bottom in and fold the top over the glass. A simple star tip will work great to create the flowers. You could also use a plastic ziplock with a tiny bit of the corner cut out. There was a little failed double cake ball topiary situation, so just ignore the ball on the bottom… Stick the cake pop into a prepped pot and place in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes. Then you can add your ribbon or namecard. Keep the topiaries in the fridge until close to serving time. How cute are they? Enjoy! 7 Responses Amy @ this DIY life February 29, 2012 Adorable! I’m planning to do a garden brunch this summer and these will be perfect…must go pin. I found a tip on Pinterest for easy fill and clean up of piping bags (http://pinterest.com/pin/48413764713716763/). I haven’t tried it yet, but I certainly plan to! Reply Julie @White Lights on Wednesday February 29, 2012 I haven’t gotten into cake pops yet. The whole idea of intricate little fondant animals and stuff seems too much for my frazzled brain. But this I could totally do. Thanks for showing me a fancy cake pop that’s easy on my nerves. 🙂 Reply Kassi @ Truly Lovely February 29, 2012 Those are too cute!!! Thanks for the pastry bag tip!!! I always have trouble getting those filled without a huge mess! Reply Tanya from Dans le Townhouse February 29, 2012 Such a genius idea! I have to try this. So much inspiration here – your blog is lovely. I came over from AT (congrats on the nomination!). I was nominated too, so I’ve been perusing crafty blogs I had yet to discover. I’m a bit of a DIY fanatic myself. Your blog is gorgeous and I am heading back to AT to vote for you (I love that we can vote so many times, for different blogs). Reply Julie February 29, 2012 Not just cute- pretty too! What a great idea for a Spring party, a shower… whatever! Thanks for the cute idea. Reply Carol @arewethereyet March 3, 2012 What a cute idea! Might have to try this for a baby shower I’m co-hosting in April! Would love for you to check out my post on my Laundry Room Renovation if you get a chance – thanks again! Hugs- Carol Reply Chelsea @ {twotwentyone} March 5, 2012 Oh my goodness! These are so cute! Such a great idea! Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. CAPTCHA Code * Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Check here to Subscribe to notifications for new posts
Amy @ this DIY life February 29, 2012 Adorable! I’m planning to do a garden brunch this summer and these will be perfect…must go pin. I found a tip on Pinterest for easy fill and clean up of piping bags (http://pinterest.com/pin/48413764713716763/). I haven’t tried it yet, but I certainly plan to! Reply
Julie @White Lights on Wednesday February 29, 2012 I haven’t gotten into cake pops yet. The whole idea of intricate little fondant animals and stuff seems too much for my frazzled brain. But this I could totally do. Thanks for showing me a fancy cake pop that’s easy on my nerves. 🙂 Reply
Kassi @ Truly Lovely February 29, 2012 Those are too cute!!! Thanks for the pastry bag tip!!! I always have trouble getting those filled without a huge mess! Reply
Tanya from Dans le Townhouse February 29, 2012 Such a genius idea! I have to try this. So much inspiration here – your blog is lovely. I came over from AT (congrats on the nomination!). I was nominated too, so I’ve been perusing crafty blogs I had yet to discover. I’m a bit of a DIY fanatic myself. Your blog is gorgeous and I am heading back to AT to vote for you (I love that we can vote so many times, for different blogs). Reply
Julie February 29, 2012 Not just cute- pretty too! What a great idea for a Spring party, a shower… whatever! Thanks for the cute idea. Reply
Carol @arewethereyet March 3, 2012 What a cute idea! Might have to try this for a baby shower I’m co-hosting in April! Would love for you to check out my post on my Laundry Room Renovation if you get a chance – thanks again! Hugs- Carol Reply