Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Sweetheart Popcakes



 This recipe is just like the cake pops in the stores, minus the sticks.  So I made up a new name for it, Popcakes!!!
So far I’ve made this recipe of popcakes for quite a few occasions and it’s been great so far.  I can make a peppermint cake with white/red candy melt for Christmas, or a pink and chocolate one for Valentine’s Day.  Not to mention it tastes so much better than the ones from Starbucks.  Seriously, it’s tasty!!!  You’ve gotta try it!!

Step I – Baking the cake

A Ingredients
Shortening                        55 g
Sugar                               240 g
Eggs                                    2 heads
Raspberry preserve             ½ cup

B Ingredients
Flour                              220 g
Baking powder                    1 tablespoon
Salt                                   ¾ teaspoon

C Ingredients
Milk                                110 g

Directions:
1. Beat the shortening and sugar with a mixer until incorporated.  Add the egg, one at a time until fluffy.  Then stir in the raspberry preserve. 
2. Measure all B ingredients into a bowl and sift.  Preheat oven 350°F/180°C
3. Add the flour and milk alternately into the batter, finish with flour.  Do not overmix. 
4. Pour the batter into an oiled 9 inch cake mold, bake in the oven for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.  Invert the cake into a big mixing bowl, break the cake with a fork.  Let the cake crumbs cool in the mixing bowl. 

Step II – Making Buttercream Icing

A Ingredients
Water                                   40 g
Sugar                                 125 g

B Ingredients
Egg white                             1 head
Salt                                       1 pinch

C Ingredients
Unsalted butter, cubed           ½ cup (115g)
Vanilla extract                       ½ teaspoon

Directions:
1. Measure all A ingredients into a small pot, cook on medium heat until the sugar measures 238-242°F(114°C-116°C)
2. While the sugar cooks, beat the B ingredients in a stand mixer until foamy.  Turn the mixer off to wait for the sugar to cook. 
3. After the sugar reaches 238-242°F(114°C-116°C), turn the mixer back on, medium high, add the sugar in a small stream into the egg white.  After adding all the sugar, beat for an additional 8-10 minutes to reduce temperature. 
4. Feel the mixing bowl to see if the sugar mixture is still hot.  If it’s warm to the touch, then it’s safe to proceed.  Turn the mixer on medium high, add butter one cube at a time.  Add the next cube only when the previous cube is fully incorporated into the batter.  Beat the icing for 3-5 minutes until smooth. 
5. Beat in the vanilla extract.  Scoop out the icing into a bowl, set aside.

Steps III – Combine Cake and Frosting

Combine the cooled cake crumbs and buttercream frosting with a fork.  Try not to use the food processor or mixer because it breaks the cakes too fine.  Scoop the cake mix with a cookie dipper or with a spoon, about two tablespoon full, then roll into a ball by hand.  Let set in the frig while melting candy melts. 

Steps IV – Assembly Popcakes
 
Special equipment: Peanut butter cup plastic candy mold (Wilton)

Ingredients
Candy melt, white               180 g
Shortening                               5 g  
Red food coloring, gel               to taste

Directions:
1. Chop the candy melt into small pieces, put in a glass bowl with shortening, double boil until melted.  Add enough red food coloring to make a desired color pink.  Then scoop a small amount into each slot of the peanut butter cup candy mold, about 2/3 full. 
2. Top one cake ball onto each slot right from the frig. 
3. Place the whole mold to set in the frig, 30 minutes. 

Steps V – Coating Popcakes

Candy melt, chocolate color            240 g
Shortening                                          10 g

Directions:
1. Chop the candy melt into small pieces, put in a glass bowl with shortening, double boil until melted.  
2. Remove the popcakes from the frig.  Wriggle the plastic mold so the popcakes are easily removed from the mold. 
3. Hold the base of the popcakes, dip the cake part into the melted candy melt, swirl to coat, shake off excess candy melt, invert and put it on a surface to dry.  Sprinkle the top of the popcakes before the candy coating dries.  Repeat to finish all popcakes. 

Serving: 32 pieces

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