Chocolate Cake Pops - Guest Post by Joyti from Darjeeling Dreams

How are you all doing there? I know it has been ages since I last came here to say hello but you can imagine how busy I must be these days. By busy I mean shopping all day long! And searching for the fast food stall that I used to frequent years back, needs a lot of of time. Little monster is enjoying all the attention and doesn't even remember that she has a mom and dad too, and trust me I am enjoying it! But today I managed to take a break from all the fun and introduce to you someone whose work I really adore. I am thrilled to welcome Joyti from Darjeeling Dreams. Another blog that I fell in love with during the days when Indian Simmer was a little baby. More than that, I fell in love with Joyti's warmth. I not only looked up to having a blog as gorgeous as her's but she also inspired me to lend a helping hand to someone asking for one. I have no doubt you will fall in love with her as soon as you visit her blog but just look at what she made for us today... Cake Pops!! Now who can beat that?! Please welcome Jyoti!

When Prerna first asked me to do a guest post for her, I was thrilled. Of course, its flattering to be asked to be a guest on a blog as beautiful as hers. Its a blog that is filled with not only with beautiful photographs and useable, delicious food, but also the wonderfully friendly, charming spirit of the blog editor herself. And, at the same time, I felt intimidated as well. I’m sure you can understand.

It took me quite a bit of time to come up with a recipe to share. I thought that I should not only make something for Prerna, but for her little princess as well. For, after all, in Hindu households such as Prerna’s and the one that I grew up in, girl children are treated like princesses. It is believed that daughters are a living form of the goddess of good luck and prosperity, and thus, bring these in to their birth family. Also, having once been a little girl myself, I can still remember thinking that if a guest brought a gift or a treat, it should have been for me. So how can I be a guest in Prerna’s space without bringing something for her princess?

In that spirit, I made cake pops. I would imagine that most little girls would enjoy them, they look like adorable candies but are basically the smallest, cutest form of cake imaginable. Cake pops have become insanely popular in the last few years, but their popularity is deserved. They actually taste good. Yes, they’re cake, but deliciously moist candy-covered cake. And they are on a stick, so they make a perfect finger food. Or finger dessert – which should be a separate category of sweet altogether. Moreover, cake pops would be so nice and easy for little princesses to hold and still keep their hands clean.

Chocolate Cake Pops

Makes 32-36
- 1 recipe Glazed Chocolate Cake
(or any 9-inch round chocolate cake)
- 12 oz. whipped cream cheese
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 28 oz candy melts or other meltable white/dark chocolate
- optional: sprinkles, cake pearls, edible glitter, or fondant…
You will also need lollipop sticks, which you can find at craft stores, Sur la Table, or on Amazon.com.

Carefully cut the glaze or frosting off of the chocolate cake, reserve. Crumble the cake with hands or food processor, and put crumbs into a large bowl. Combine the reserved glaze, whipped cream cheese, and sugar in a medium bowl. Mix this mixture into the cake crumbs thoroughly.

Form 1 tbsp-sized balls, and stick onto lollipop sticks. Freeze for 2+ hours. Melt candy melts or chocolate in microwave or over double boiler. Be careful if using the microwave – do not overmelt or the candy melts/chocolate can seize. Roll the cake balls in the mixture. If using sprinkles or other décor, apply at this point.

Freeze for approximately 30 minutes to harden shell.