Cake Pops

Equipment

Foam block

Small ice cream scoop, or tablespoon

Mixing bowl

Cake pop sticks

Ingredients

White chocolate, or candy melts

Leftover cake, or shop-bought Madeira cake

Homemade or ready made buttercream. My lemon drizzle cake post has a recipe for buttercream, or you can buy a tub of Betty Crocker frosting or similar.

Hundreds and thousands, or other sprinkles - let's get creative!

Gold lustre dust (optional)

Today's no-bake recipe is for my amazing and delicious cake pops! This recipe is simple and easy to do for all the family, and makes a great activity to do with your kids. You end up with a great snack at the end too!

1. In a large bowl, crumble the cake until no large chunks remain.

2. Gradually add the buttercream to the cake, a tablespoon at a time. (You will not need to use all of the buttercream!) You need to mix it until it is dense, but still crumbly enough to form a doughy texture. Be careful that the mixture does not get too soft or moist, as it will not hold on your cake pop sticks. Refrigerate for 30 minutes until chilled.

3. Next we mould the mix into balls. I like to scoop out with an ice cream scoop to get the perfect amount, but if you don't have a scoop, get about 2 tablespoons of the cake mixture and roll into a tight, uniform ball with your hands. Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for about 1 hour.

4. Remove the chilled balls from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, melt white chocolate or candy melts according to the package's instructions. Optionally, you can add some gold lustre dust for a bit of sparkle! Get creative! You can make your own designs, or have a look at Pinterest. Leave too cool slightly, stirring occasionally. If you find the chocolate is too thick, add a little drop of vegetable oil.

*Top tip - Candy melts are the best because they have a wide range of colours, and they have the perfect dipping consistency when melted. They're also great for giving bold solid colours!

6. Dip a cake pop stick in the melted chocolate, and place in the middle of a cake ball half way through. Allow to set at room temperature, or place back in the refrigerator for a couple of minutes.

7. Then, fully dip the cake pop into the chocolate until completely covered. Gently tap the stick against the edge of the bowl to remove excess melted chocolate.

8. If using decorations like hundreds and thousands to cover the pop, apply immediately before it sets.

9. Stick each pop upright in the foam block to harden and set (about 15 minutes).

10. Allow to set completely before serving immediately, or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

And there you have it: a no-bake, deliciously satisfying treat for the whole family!