Collegiate (USC) Cake Pops … Traveler Rides Again!

Yesterday I was too pooped to (cake) pop because…

… last Wednesday, I received an email asking if I could make 80 USC cake pops for a surprise 50th wedding anniversary this past weekend.  The couple met while both attending USC where he was a Beta, and she, a Theta. 

Being a hopeless romantic and an alum myself, I said, “Fight On!”, which in USC-speak meant, “Yes”!

USC Cake Pops 1089 copy

I experimented with different cake batter recipes before totally delving in.  I wanted my cake pops to be cake only and not mixed with icing so I bought a cake pop pan made by Nordicware.  This pan lets you bake a cake in a round shape not necessitating the need to crumble the cake and mix it with icing to form the mixture into balls.  It’s got to be a little less caloric even for a cake pop, don’t you think?

The way the pan is used is by mounding the batter into each indentation, and securing the top pan with provided clips to bake.  Initially, I didn’t fill the round cups enough so the cake balls didn’t rise up to the top of the pan.  I intentionally over filled them after that so they leaked out a bit from the steam hole in the top pan. 

USC Cake Pops 1083 copy

For my first batter experiment, I used a basic yellow cake recipe.  The balls turned out like dozens of interstellar orbs of light and fluffiness.

USC Cake Pops 1074 copy

Unfortunately, I found out this doesn’t work well to hold the weight of the candy coating when dipping the cake into the coating even with a secured straw inserted into the cake ball with set candy coating.  The weight of the coating will pull the straw out when turning the pop to tap off the coating.  It might not happen all the time but even a few times is frustrating and slows down the process.

If I used a pound cake recipe or fortified the yellow cake with pudding mix as I found on the Wilton site, it might have worked better but I decided to move on and try two other recipes – a red velvet, which did work well and a brownie recipe I found on the Nordicware package.

I called Nordicware to inquire if they offered any other recipe besides the brownie but they didn’t.  The brownie recipe was delicious and was easy to make but I found I needed more than one batch to fill 2 pans.

The brownie batter doesn’t rise as readily so I made sure I mounded the batter into the cups.  I over did it but at least I was able to achieve perfect fully-rounded cake balls that dipped beautifully.

USC Cake Pops 1085 copy

Since I had recently bought all these paper straws in various colors with no particular reason to use them, I thought they would be a colorful and festive touch instead of plain white sticks.  I loved how they added to the finished presentation of the pops.

As they say, “These aren’t your mother’s paper straws”.  They practically resemble cardboard and don’t disintegrate in moist settings.  I placed one in a glass of water for hours to test it and although it did soften a bit, it still kept it’s shape and hardened again when it dried.

In the photo below, I dipped the end of the straw in red candy coating, inserted it into the cake ball and spread the extra coating over the cake ball.  If you find any large air holes on the outside of your cake ball, this is a good time to patch it with coating and let it set before the first dip. 

USC Cake Pops 1079 copy

I dipped the pops twice into the candy coating letting it set until completely hardened between coatings.

I brushed super gold luster dust on the gold pops before adding the fondant heart and dot decorations.  It made the pops, well, “pop” and gave them an almost metallic shine. 

The Trojan helmet “sticker” was made by using my Canon printer with edible inks and paper.

Two cake pops, one Trojan and one hearts and dots were to be placed at each place setting. 

The first 40 layered in a big box– 20 red USC Trojans, 20 gold hearts and dots.

USC Cake Pops 1092 copy

And to mix it up a bit – The second 40 layered – 20 gold USC Trojans, 20 red hearts and dots.

USC Cake Pops 1095 copy

The pops were finished with small cello bags and red and gold grosgrain ribbon.

“Love on!”

To read the first USC Cake Pop post, click HERE!

SHARE THIS POST:Share on FacebookTweet about this on TwitterPin on PinterestEmail to someoneGoogle+

Comments

  1. You amaze me!

    Love and Hugs,
    Mrs. Kindergarten…aka…Madame Spoiled

  2. Mrs. K. You are too sweet! Are you sure you’re not part of the Trojan Family? 🙂

  3. Amazing as always!!!!!!

  4. Those are too beautiful to eat! I LOVE the straw sticks! Perfect addition to your works of art.

  5. You did it again, Sis. So amazing what you just “throw together”! 🙂

  6. Thank you, Tina, Dana and Cheryl! I gotta tell ya, I am lovin’ those straws. They added so much color and fun. 🙂

  7. Wow they are awesome! Love them…I bet they taste even better than they look!

  8. Hi Kathy,

    My son says they taste like Ding-Dongs, which I think is a good thing. 🙂

  9. These are amazing and I bet a huge hit at their party! Ding-dongs huh? Now I’m sure I could eat a few…
    xo Cathy

  10. WOW! That was a lot of work, but they are gorgeous– and that’s hard to say for a UCLA fan 🙂
    xo jj

  11. clanUSCmom says:

    These are FANTASTIC!!!! I’m a season football ticket holder and avid tailgater..these will be a huge hit this season. Thank you for the wonderful recipe and designs..you are amazing

  12. would love these for an upcoming USC event in July! how can i get a hold of you?!

    -Candice

  13. Candice,

    Send me an email. Link is on the sidebar.

  14. Thanks for you Bake Pops tips. I was given a bakepop pan for christmas and needed some hints, your blog is the most helpful for pops that are baked, not rolled. Thank you.

  15. It’s a little after the fact but wanted to let you know that we’ve just licensed and manufactured the first USC paper drinking straw in the U.S.

    Just in case you decide to make some more USC Cake Pops.