My Summer Reading List -- Crazy for Bake Pops by Molly Bakes (Review)

Oct 2011

978-1612430447
Trade Paper
6 1/2 x 9
160 pages
Buy now at Amazon for only $10.17.

Synopsis:

Cake pops are the hottest trend in baking and it’s easy to see why. With creative shapes and delightful flavors, they’re as fun to make as they are to eat. Crazy for Cake Pops teaches you the secrets for creating these mouthwatering mini treats like a professional baker. Packed with over 75 color photos, Crazy for Cake Pops leaves nothing to chance as it guides you step by step through each part of the process including baking, crumbling, shaping, frosting, and decorating. 

Plus, it offers loads of different frosting and cake flavors from classic vanilla, chocolate, and lemon to adventurous red velvet, toffee, and peanut butter cake. With tips, tricks, and techniques for foolproof pops, this book provides everything you need to bake child-pleasing, guest-impressing, cute-as-can-be, cake-on-a-stick creations. And with so my styles to choose from, no matter what the occasion, you’ll have the perfect handheld dessert option, like: 

• Tricolor Dips • Marbled • Clouds • Gift Boxes • Bird Pops • Tropical Fish • Purses • Ice Cream Cones • Tea Pots and Cups • Flowers • Sheep Pops • Teddie Bears • Poker Chip and Dice Pops • Valentine Hearts • Easter Eggs • Pumpkin and Skull Pops • Christmas Snowmen 

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My Thoughts:

As many of you know, we recently celebrated Savannah's 2nd birthday.  Now that she is getting older, she is beginning to understand and wants to partake in celebrations, especially when all the attention is on her.  So, when I began planning her birthday, I had to decide if I would have a cake or go with something easier for young children to eat, like cupcakes or cake pops.  We ended up having a small cake for the adults, and also to be able to put a candle on it, and then had cake pops for the kids.  

Prior to this, I had only tried cake pops that I bought at craft or holiday fairs.  I had never attempted to make them myself, nor had the molds or maker.  What swayed me to go with the cake pops was the book, Crazy for Cake Pops.  I couldn't believe how cute many of the cake pops were in the cookbook, filled with 50 delicious recipes, all accompanied by color photos of most of the cake pops

We ended up having a Toy Story themed birthday party and bought an edible icing for the 1/4 sheet cake.  I didn't find character recipes in this book, but decided on the donut and monkey cake pops.  Like I said, I had never made them before, so didn't know how time consuming or difficult they would be to make.  I ended up making a dozen of each cake pop, and was impressed at how easy it was to make, as I followed the step by step directions.  Decorating was not as difficult as I thought -- let's just say you don't have to be a pastry chef to pull out a cute cake pop -- but, you do need patience, and a quiet space to concentrate, if working on an intricate design.  

How was the cake itself?  Tasty!!!  I couldn't believe just how moist they were.  And, when it came time to showing off my first try at cake pops at Savannah's party, they were an instant hit. Both parents and children alike, loved the cute cake pops.  Everyone kept complimenting me on the design and how moist the cake was.  I can't wait to get back in the kitchen and try out a few more cake pop recipes just in time for the holidays.  I am thinking about doing the red velvet present cake pop.  Argg, I am getting hungry just thinking about them. :-)

 Disclosure:  I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.