DIY Cakesicles for Valentine's Day

​I did not make a 2019 New Year's resolution; although "blog more consistently" would have been a good one. If you've been following me (or trying to) since my first post (May 2018), you know there's been quite a gap. 2018 was a regrettably memorable year for our family: significant deaths, various medical issues, and costly legal shenanigans (due to a greedy bakery located 600+ miles, and several states, away from me), on top of the general stress of raising a tiny human. "Blogging" fell off the priority list. 

We could not get out of 2018 fast enough, and in my rushed & desperate departure, I never paused to consider "How/what can I improve in 2019?" Rather, the mantras have been: "I'm still standing." "Still vertical." "2019 HAS to be better [no effort required]." Perhaps I will be more consistent with blogging, but it will not be the result of a strategic plan or resolution. With that, you should probably embrace this tutorial to its fullest, because I'm not sure when the next one will be! ;) 

A Valentine's Day-themed tutorial seems perfect for a blog re-launch. The holiday is one of my favorites, because I love pink, and sparkles...and also flowers and chocolate! And, there are a LOT of folks who DIY their valentine gifts. Cakesicles are a fairly new confectionary trend. They are comparable to cake pops (a chocolate/candy-coated ball of cake, set on a lollipop stick), but they are popsicle-shaped, and can be made using a "casting" technique, instead of dipping. 

"Casting" is a way to make "stuff" using a mold. Generally, a liquid like heated metal, plaster, or in this case: melted chocolate, is poured into a cavity. When the liquid cools/sets/hardens to a solid form, it takes on the shape of the mold in which it had been cast. I love the casting technique for cakesicles, because it produces a lovely smooth and shiny finish. 

This tutorial assumes that you have general knowledge of how to make cake balls (made from a baked cake that is crumbled and mixed with frosting to achieve a "dough" whichcan be rolled into a ball shape). If you do not know how to do that, I highly recommend reading Bakerella's book Cake Pops. The photos are beautiful, and the step-by-step processes are super user-friendly! 
 
To make these Valentine's Cakesicles, you’ll need the following:
 
Ingredients and Supplies
*Cake Balls, in your choice of flavor(s)
*Pink and White colored chocolate candy coating (such as Wilton’s Candy Melts)
*Mini popsicle sticks
*Piping bags for melted chocolate
*Sugar crystals, sprinkles, or any other festive edible topping
*Cake Pop Popsicle Mold, available from Baker's Party Shop
 
Most of these supplies can be purchased from your local craft or cake decorating supply store, or click here to find them in my "Supplies List" on Amazon

---

​To begin, make sure you have all your ingredients readily available...so you're not freaking out trying to find the popsicle sticks while the chocolate is hardening. Just a little pro tip for ya ;) 

If you have never melted candy coating, I recommend microwaving the chips in a food-safe, microwave-safe container, for 30 seconds at a time, at 50% power. Be sure to stir after each 30 seconds.

​
​Use a spoon to fill each cavity with melted chocolate/candy coating. 

​Then fully-coat the cavity, all the way to the edges. 

​Before the chocolate hardens, use one of the popsicle sticks to clear each hole where the cakesicle’s popsicle stick will eventually be inserted. Then freeze for 5-10 minutes.

​
After removing from the freezer, carefully press one cake ball in to each cavity of the mold, then insert a popsicle stick through the previously-cleared hole of the mold, and into the pressed cake.

​Use a spoon to cover the cake and fill the mold. If you are working in a cool/cold space, you may need to reheat the chocolate coating before you attempt this. Otherwise, it will harden before you are able to fully-cover each cakesicle (I learned this the hard way). Once all cavities are fully-covered, place the mold in the freezer for another 5-10 minutes.

​When the chocolate has fully hardened, and the cakesicles are fully-set, carefully remove each cast from its mold.

​
Prepare for decorating by filling bowl(s) with whatever sprinkles, sugar crystals, or decorations you've chosen. Fill a piping bag or a parchment paper cone with melted white candy coating. Set up the bowls of toppings before you prepare the piping bag. Otherwise, the piping chocolate may cool/harden as you're preparing the bowls. 

​Use the piping bag to decorate the top of the cakesicle in a "drippy style," similar to that of hot fudge or melted marshmallow cream on an ice cream sundae. Before the chocolate cools/hardens, sprinkle your toppings over it, then set the cakesicle aside to cool. 

​I hope you found this tutorial helpful and inspirational! Please, please, if you make your own cakesicles with the help of this how-to, I would love to see them (and would very much appreciate a shout-out/credit!). You can find (and tag!) me on social media as @SweetWhimsyShop 

Questions? Tips? Exclamations of excitement? ;) Please leave a comment!! 

Wishing you a sweet 2019,
​Becca