Cupcake Pops

Different friends fill different spots in your life.  Some are your kids’ friends’ parents and you become friends through your kids, and find yourself at many a school activity together, and then it just spills over into everything else.  Some become your friends because you’re neighbors.  Some you carry through from grammar school.  Some friends bring wine.  Some bring meatballs.  Out of all my little circles of friends, I don’t think anyone has ever brought me baked goods.  I’ve gotten spaghetti sauce, meatballs, chicken entrees, wine, but nobody bakes.  Usually I’M that friend, and the kids and I deliver baked goods to friends, neighbors and more a few times during the week.  Until last week…

The doorbell rang and after I corralled the kids and the dog, I ran to open it.  No make-up, hair completely unbrushed and tangled.  Heck, I’m not even sure I brushed my teeth yet.  In my defense, it was early morning!  There stood a new neighbor bearing baked goods.  This could be my new favorite kind of neighbor.  It sure beats the ones with barking dogs and cars that block me from getting out of our driveway!  Geez, I hate those kind.

Just as important as the fact that she was bearing baked goods was the fact that she was offering up cupcake pops, something I have seen all over (and most recently on her Flickr page), but as adorable as I think they are, I’m scared to make them.  They are too cute for words and I know I don’t have the patience to do them justice.  I’d just mess them up.  So her gift was even more welcome.  She used the basic recipe from Bakerella, and once you skim through all the different versions that Bakerella herself has done, you’ll be making a plan to gather the ingredients together yourself.  I am thisclose.  The ones that Kris dropped off are awesome (hello?  cupcakes!) and she has definitely mastered the technique.  In case you’re inspired as I was, I’ve included some tips below that she shared with me so yours (and mine!) will look just as good.

A. Leave yourself plenty of time – they take forever – bake your cake the day before and roll them into balls and put in refrig. I like to put mine in the freezer.

B. 2 Bags of Wilton Melts is not enough for one batch of cake mix. Buy at least 4.

C. Don’t use the whole can of frosting. Finally did this with the latest batch and it did the trick. They will be
more firm and won’t fall off the stick when you dip. Also, dip your stick in the melts before inserting.

D. If using Wilton melts – add some Crisco shortening. It will thin the melts out and everything will be smoother.
Bakerella doesn’t use Wilton melts, but I found this hint while reading through the hints on her site.

E. I use pyrex dishes for my melts that were my grandmothers – they are rectangular and deep. Today I turned
my electric griddle on low and sat the glass dishes on top – it helped keep the temperature even. Just be careful not to burn yourself.

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