Cake pops for 2nd Blog Anniversary and Blogging Marathon

Yes...its that time of the year again!!
I am so happy that 'Smitha's Spicy Flavors' turned two last week. I didn't find much time to write up a post, so now since I am again joining the Blogging Marathon team (Started by Srivalli of Spicing your Life), I decided to do this as my first post.

Thanks for all your support and comments over the past year that I am able to improve myself and do more yummy cooking! I mean experimenting and devouring!

This past year saw many changes in my life, biggest being us moving to California and settling down. There were a few days, maybe I can say months when I didn't find time to writes posts. Such were the times when I couldn't join the Blogging marathon, which I loved to do.

Anyways now I am glad to be back and hopefully will continue to do for the coming months.
With almost 200,000+ page views over the past two years and now with almost 800+ page views per day, tell me who is grinning from ear to ear??

When I first started to write blogs, I didn't even think this is possible and something like this can happen...I am Happy with what I achieved and hope to continue to keep my readers happy with my posts. I would love to hear from you guys about how I am doing and how I should improve. There is always room for more improvement and I would like to do as much as I can.

There are a few interesting things coming up in the next week or two! Keep watching and I hope everyone will participate and help out as much as you can.

Ok back to the post for today...I chose 'Kids Delight - Something Sweet' for the theme for the Blogging Marathon.

Since it was going to be my anniversary post, I wanted it to be something special for sure. Couple of months, I received a very cool gift from my friend in the East coast. It was a 'Babycakes - Cake Pop maker'. I couldn't wait to try it out. Its a very wonderful gift - Thank you guys!!...My kids are enjoying it a lot!

I am all for easy and simple dishes to make and this is the most easiest bake I have ever done!
It a very simple machine, more like a sandwich maker, only here it cooks the batter into small rounds for the cake pops.
Kids can help decorate and sprinkle stuff on it to make it fun looking!
Its so easy that I will be making this very often, and the most important part, easy clean up and 'Portion control' ...haha...but still it is a very cool kitchen gadget!

I made chocolate cake pops, with bittersweet chocolate coating and white chocolate coating. Sprinkled them with some fun colors and they were ready in an hour.
Only waiting time was to wait for them to cool down after baking. After dipping them in chocolate, I put them in the freezer for 5 minutes and the chocolate hardened quickly!

I used a very simple recipe from the cookbook which came with the machine and it worked wonderfully! :)

In case you don't own this piece of coolness....just bake a cake using your favorite recipe. After cooling, crumble it into tiny crumbs, either using hands or using a food processor. You can use jam or frosting to make small balls of the crumbled cake, insert a stick and dip into your favorite dip or melted candy melts. Decorate as you with.

Only difference with the machine is that, you don't need the jam or frosting to make balls, they are already in the shape of balls, into which we stick in the stick and dip!
So its only cake and no extra mess!

Makes about 24 pops

Ingredients:

3/4 cup all purpose flour, maida
1/2 cup sugar
3 tbsp cocoa powder (I used Hershery's)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 salt
3 tbsp oil (canola or vegetable)
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk
3/4 tsp lemon juice


Method:

Mix together - flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt in a mixing bowl.
Add in the oil, egg, vanilla extract, milk and lemon juice.
Combine well into a smooth batter.
Preheat the machine as directed.
Pour in about 1 tbsp of batter in each hole. Close and bake for 4-5 minutes or until done.
Cool and prepare for dipping.


Chocolate Dip:

3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
2 tbsp vegetable shortening

Melt the chips in the microwave. Add in the shortening and mix well.


White chocolate dip:

3/4 cup white chocolate chips
2 tbsp of oil

Melt the chips in the microwave and add in the oil little by little, only till you get the consistency you want. You don't have to add all the 2 tbsp.


Prepare for dipping:

First dip the stick into the chocolate dip and insert into the cake pop. Let it dry. For quicker drying, put it in the freezer for 5 minutes.
Next, holding the stick, dip the cake pop into the chocolate dip.
Slowly tap the stick so that the excess will fall out, if not it will drip down the stick.
You can let this dry or immediately sprinkle it with sprinkles.
If you want to add the other chocolate dip on top, let it dry then dip in the next one or use a fork to draw lines.
Let it dry completely before serving.

This machine came with cake pop stands which are convenient to let the cake pops stand and dry. Otherwise you can use a piece of foam to stick the pops in to dry.

Enjoy!!!

Sending this to Srivalli's Chocolate Mela

to Kavi for 'Kid's delight - Something Sweet'

to Srav's for her 'Chocolate fest'

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 12

In the meanwhile, I got some awesome awards from some awesome bloggers....Thanks You everyone....you are too kind.
Sharing these with all the sweet people who patiently read my blogs....please receive them and put them on your blog! Love you all!