Cakesicles
In this episode of In The Kitchen With Matt, I will show you how to make cakesicles. This easy homemade cakesicle recipe is very similar to cake pops but you use a popsicle shaped mold instead or rolling the cake mix into a ball. They turn out awesome and taste so good! You can wrap them in treat bags as gifts or to sell if you want. I love cake and I love cake pops and cakesicles. If I can do it, you can do it. Let's get started!
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Follow the easy steps below or watch the video tutorial or do both! :)
Ingredients and Tools
You may print the recipe here if you like.
Ingredients:
- 1 standard cake mix, with ingredients (or homemade cake, I have several Instructables for those)
- 2 heaping tbsp of frosting, you may need more, winds up being around 1/2 cup (homemade or storebought)
- 2 to 3 cups of chocolate, or more (Candy melts, candy bars, chocolate chips, Candiquik)
Tools:
- Small cakesicle molds
- Large cakesicle molds
- Gloves
- Treat bags
- Spoon
- Bowls
- Pastry brush
- Cake spatula or knife
- Bags
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Bake and Break Up That Cake
Begin by baking your cake. I have several from-scratch cake recipes here on Instructables or you can use a standard box cake mix along with the required ingredients. Once the cake is baked, allow it to cool completely.
Then break the cake apart in a large bowl until they are small crumbs. I usually don't wear gloves, if I am making these for myself, my hands are always clean. But if you are making them and giving them away, it is a good idea to wear gloves.
Another method is you can take the cake and put it in a bag and then break it apart in the bag. This works well if you don't have gloves. However, you want to break it up, go for it!
Cake Play Dough?
Now it is time to turn those cake crumbs into edible cake playdough. Well kind of, haha. Add a couple of heaping tablespoons of frosting, either storebought or homemade frosting, and use your hand and mix and knead the crumbs until they stick together and the texture/consistency is like playdough. The same technique as if we were making cake pops.
Make the Cakesicle (Method 1 - the Dipping Method)
There are a few methods for making cakesicles. I am going to show you two different ways. The first I call the dipping method. This works well with the smaller cakesicle mold.
Take your mold and then press in enough cake mixture to fill it up to the top, pack it in tight, but don't overdo it, just until it is level on the top.
Then gently slide in the popsicle sticks that come with it. There is a little lit that they fit in. Push the stick in a little more than halfway. Now, place the mold in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes so it firms up.
Dipping the Cakesicle
Once the cakesicle firms up, it can be dipped in melted chocolate. It is up to you what kind of chocolate you use. I like using the Candiquik brand because it melts very thin and runny, you can find it at places like Walmart or even online. Candy melts and chocolate chips, chocolate bars, etc. will all work as well.
Melt it in a microwave-safe bowl with the defrost mode or half power for 30 seconds, then stir, again 30 seconds, and stir until completely melted. Or you can do it on the stovetop using the double boiler method. Use a pot of water about one inch deep, and then place a bowl on top of the pot. Set the heat to medium, as the water heats the steam warms the bowl allowing the chocolate in the bowl to melt gently.
Leave the chocolate in the bowl or pour it into a glass, a narrow glass makes it a little easier to dip.
Remove the cakesicle from the mold by gently pulling on the sides, and then pushing it out from the back and then gently push the stick and pull the cakesicle out. Then dip it in the chocolate. Tilt the glass or bowl as needed and the cakesicle to make sure it gets coated fully. Raise it up over the bowl or glass and allow the excess chocolate to drip off. Then place it on a sheet pan or cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat to set.
Make the Cakesicle (Method 2 - Painting Method)
Now for the second method for making the cakesicle. I call this the painting method. This tends to work better with the larger mold because since it is so big, and heavy, there is more chance of the cake falling off the stick if you try and dip it.
Melt your desired chocolate, and then spoon some into each mold. Use the back of your spoon or a pastry brush to paint up the sides of the mold as well. Or you can tilt the mold all-around at different angles to allow the chocolate to coat the sides. Then spoon out the chocolate if there is a lot left, you don't want there to be too much chocolate in it.
Instert the popsicle sticks just a little bit so the hole doesn't get covered. Place the molds in the fridge for about 10 to 15 minutes so the chocolate can set.
Fill Them Up
Once the chocolate sets, remove the molds, then paint another layer around the edges so the walls are a little thicker, and cover any bit on the sides you may have missed. Heat up the chocolate again as necessary.
Pack the cake mixture in but don't go to the top, leave a little room for a top layer of chocolate. Now you can gently push in the sticks so they are a little over halfway in the cake and press down the cake again so it sits firmly in the mold and around the stick.
Cover, Scrap, and Chill
Now cover the top with more chocolate. Scrape any excess off with a cake spatula or the back edge of a knife. Then place it back in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes for the chocolate to set.
Remove and Decorate
Once the chocolate sets, remove the molds from the fridge and gently tug on the sides and push up from the bottom, push the stick and pull the pop out of the mold. Don't push too hard on the stick, however.
You can decorate them however you like. I like to just put some chocolate in a bag, snip the corner off, and do a drizzle design on them. But there are so many design possibilities. Have fun with it!
Then just let the design set a bit.
Package Them
Something fun you can do, is get treat bags and place the cakesicle in it, and then put a twisty tie or ribbon around the bottom. It is a fun way to present them as gifts, or if you wanted to sell them.
More Cakesicle Pictures!
Here are some more pictures of the finished cakesicles.
Video Tutorial
Now watch those steps in action with this video tutorial.