The 12 Days of Christmas ~ Day 12: Cake Pops Christmas Tree

The last and final day of my 12 Days of Christmas and I had to end on a high note, so for my Twelfth Day I present my Cake Pops Christmas Tree!

I had always planned to do cake pops but just wasn't sure how best to present them and so I have to thank Buttercream Blondie for the inspiration after seeing her fantastic Cupcake Tree! Although it looks like a lot of work it really isn't too bad and to be honest I had so much fun making this. I made this for a party we were at and it was the perfect dessert to take as not only are they delicious bites of cake, but it makes a beautiful centerpiece for the table. It certainly got everyone talking – that is when their mouths weren't full of cake!!

After the success of my First Ever Cake Pops, I couldn't wait to get back to making some more so as with the original ones, these were made using my Cake Pop Maker meaning rather than traditional cake pops these are just little bites of pure, moist vanilla cake (so Cake Bites!). After icing the cake pops I decorated them with a combination of edible glitter, silver shimmer spray and coconut to create a beautiful frosted and sparkly winter tree.

For the Cake Pops: (makes enough for roughly 48 cake pops)

215g/ 1½ cups plain or all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

100g/ ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

185g/ 1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1½ tsp vanilla extract

125ml milk

To Ice & Decorate the Cake Pops:

1 bag of Wilton (or other) White Candy Melts

1/3 bag Wilton (or other) Blue Candy Melts

Canola or Grapeseed Oil

Edible glitter – I used shimmery silver white and blue

Unsweetened Coconut

Edible Silver Shimmer Spray (I used Dr. Oetker)

To assemble:

Approximately 72 decorated cake pops (1 ½ quantity of above recipe)

73 Cocktail sticks (toothpicks)

1 Styrofoam Cone

Tin foil (Aluminum foil)

Styrofoam block covered with foil (optional – but a good stand for letting the cake pops dry)

Shimmering star (optional) (mine was made from fondant that I sprayed with the Shimmer Spray then finished with a good sprinkling of glitter)

Silver snowflake wire or other decorations (optional)

To make the cake pops (or cake bites!) put the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl and mix.

In the bowl of a KitchenAid (or similar) free-standing mixer add the butter and sugar and beat until light and creamy. Add the eggs and the vanilla. Once everything is well mixed add 1/3 of the flour mixture then ½ of the milk. Mix together then add another 1/3 of flour followed by the remaining milk. Finish with the last of the flour then mix until everything is properly combined – do not over mix though.

Spray or wipe a little oil on the cake pop maker then heat it up (according to manufacturers instructions) until it is ready. Spoon tablespoons of the mixture into the holes then allow to cook for 4-6 minutes (5 seems to work for me). Carefully remove the cake pops from the machine (the whole thing gets very hot) and allow to cool on a wire rack. Repeat the process until all of the cake batter is used up.

Once the cake pops have all cooled melt the candy melts according to the instructions on the packet. Once completely melted and smooth add enough oil to make the coating thin enough to evenly coat the cake pops (I find the best consistency is when it drizzles evenly and easily from a spoon).

Dip the end of a cocktail stick (toothpick) into the melted candy coating then carefully put into the cake pop – just about ½ way through. Repeat this then pop the cake pops in the freezer for 10 minutes. This allows the sticks to properly harden and makes it easier to dip the cake pops.

One at a time dip the cake pops into the icing until evenly coated. Tap them on the side of the bowl to shake off any excess icing then carefully stick them in the cake pop holder or if easier I used a block of styrofoam that I covered with tin foil. While still wet decorate the cake pops with coconut or glitter if using. If you have shimmer spray use that once the icing has dried.

Once you have iced and decorated all of the cake pops and they are dry start assembling the tree. Cover the styrofoam cone with tin foil and if you prefer secure with a little tape. Starting at the bottom stick a spare cocktail stick into the cone to make a hole – this makes it much easier to put the actual cake pops into the cone. Carefully stick the first cake pop into the tree then repeat the process working your way around the tree until you get to the top. Finish with the last cake pops at the top. If using add the snowflake wire or other Christmas decorations then top with the star. It may take a bit of time but I had a lot of fun doing it and it really is worth all the effort! Merry Christmas!

Tips:

• After I decorated the cake pops I put them in our garage for about 20 minutes to harden and chill but if you have room stick them in your fridge or other cold place.
• I have quite hot hands so when assembling the tree I wore a pair of rubber gloves to avoid melting the coating and smudging them.
• If it's easier make the cake pops the day before then assemble them on the day – that way it breaks down the time needed! (Or alternatively you can make them and then freeze them until needed.)