D-2 to Ethan's Birthday

OH MY LEGS!!! My aching legs......after this party...i'm gonna just sit around and not do anything for awhile.....

so my friend was saying how she's interested in making cake pops and bought a cake pop machine......and i tot...wat a brilliant idea for a little "door gift" for the party....so i started researching on bakeralla(goddess of cake pop) as well as other websites and bugging friends, who have actually manage to do it successfully.

researching on the internet doesn't really give u much confidence...it's full of people crying...swearing and cursing at cake pops.....so i started to worry....i really hate to do something and have to give it up halfway because i can't do it...it'll just annoy the heck out of me.....so here goes...

Had two packets of Ghirardelli Brownie Premix left..so that's what i used....once they were done...i basically let it cool just a little....cut off the four crusty sides and mashed the brownie together....then i rolled them into balls and sort of press them to flatten them a little....using brownie as pop, u really don't need added frosting..the trick here is to roll while they're still warm.....

I know...at this point..they really look like droppings

Once they have been rolled,  leave them to cool. instead of using candy melts, i use cadbury chocolate melts....i think they're great to work with. i followed their microwave instructions...no problems at all......dip the lollipop sticks in the melted choc and stick them into the balls...not too far up...the balls will break....for the ears...oh...did i mention tat they're Hello Kitty brownie pops....i used mini choc chips...just use a little melted chocolate to stick them to the balls.

yes..they looked kind of devilish...

Into the fridge they go....10 mins...just for the choc to set....take them out and now dip them into the melted choc....give them a little tap to remove excess choc and stand them to set...

TA-DA....the worst is sort of over....

Now that the pops are sort of done.....i have to get my cake boards ready....fondant covered cakeboards looks soooo pretty....i reckon.... roll the fondant out on icing/cornflour dusted work are...to transfer the rolled fondant onto the cake board....just life them onto the rolling pin and onto the cake board....trim the sides with a butter knife....i use edible glue to sort of hold them in place.....see that little indentation on the pink board...i wonder if it's because of the glue...hmmmm...cake boards should be covered at least a day ahead...to sort of let it harden before u put the cake on it.....it will decrease the chances of damaging the fondant on the board....

Pops and cake boards....

Tips from the Internet:

• If pops are too cold while dipping in choc, the choc will crack when it sets
• Do not overheat melts
• If using frosting in pops, add a little at a time....too much frosting and the pops will slide off the sticks
• If pops have bubbles (mine does...sigh)....oil might leak as a "weak" spot is created