Emoji Cake Pops haz all da feelz for Valentine’s Day. Cake pops + emojis = Valentine’s treats. Nothin’ could be sweeter.
Emoji Cake Pops
You will want a sturdy styrofoam block
Cake Pops
- 1 batch chocolate cake (recipe below)
- 1 1/2 sticks (or 3/4 cup) butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 bags Wilton yellow candy melts
- 1-2 tablespoons shortening (as needed to thin candy melts)
- Small candy flours of your choice
- 60 cake pop sticks or lollipop sticks or cute paper straws (stick recommended for beginners)
- 60 cake pop bags with ties or curly ribbon (optional)
Prepare, bake, and cool the chocolate cake recipe below. Break room temperature cake into pieces and place them into a mixing bowl with butter and powdered sugar. It’s important that the butter is softened (room temp) otherwise it will clump up and not mix in. Mix until butter and powdered sugar are mixed in and the dough becomes like stiff cookie dough. Form the dough into balls.
Using a cookie scoop, scoop level balls of dough onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. When done, you should have about 60 or so cake pop dough balls.
Take each ball in your hands one at a time and roll around to make a firm and well-rounded ball.
Place in refrigerator for at least half an hour or in the freezer for at least 15 minutes. While balls chill, melt candy melts. I use an electric fondue pot set on no higher than level two with occasional stirring or you can melt 30 seconds at a time in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave. Stirring in between intervals until you can mix the last bits in by stirring well. Stir in 1-2 tablespoons of shortening into melted candy if needed to make candy smoother.
Dip the tip of a cake pop stick into the melted candy then into a cake pop dough ball. Using a rubber wooden spoon (or similar utensil), dip into the melted candy and pour it over the cake pop. Continue this while turning the cake pop so all sides are coated. Then quickly dip the top of the cake pop it into the melted candy. Continue holding the cake pop downward so the excess melted candy drizzles off. Add candies where needed (see below) and place the cake pops into a cake pop stand. Repeat until all cake pops are done.
Make sure the cake pops are in a cool enough environment and allow to set up for a few hours or overnight.
If you would like to package them, be sure the candy coating is firm before doing so. Display in a cute vase or basket.
Chocolate Cake
Preheat oven to 350°F.
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 3/4 cup dark cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup hot water
Place dry ingredients into the mixer. Place eggs, buttermilk, oil, sour cream, and vanilla in a container and beat together well. Add wet ingredients with dry ingredients. Add hot water at low speed. Scrape down the edges of the bowl to be sure to incorporate all ingredients into the batter. Mix on medium speed for a couple of minutes.
Prepare two 8-inch round cake pans by coating with butter (making sure to cover all inside edges) then sprinkle with flour. Coat well but remove excess flour. The easiest way to prep your pan is to use non-stick baking spray.
Bake for about 25 minutes or until a fork poked inside comes out clean. Carefully touch the top quickly and see if the cake springs back up. If it does, it is ready. Cool to room temperature.
Royal Icing Recipe
- 3 tablespoon Wilton Meringue Powder
- 4 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar
- 5 -6 tablespoons water
- Wilton black food coloring
Place all ingredients into the mixer. Turn on low speed until powdered sugar is incorporated into a frosting. This prevents powdered sugar snow in the kitchen. Continue to mix until the frosting is stiff – like whipped cream. If you remove the whisk attachment, the frosting should stand up pretty much straight. Use a decorating bag and a simple round tip to decorate.
For Silly Face Emoji Cake Pops
Dip in yellow candy, place one eye candy (yes, I know) on the right side of where you’d like the face to be. Allow it to dry. Finish off the face using black royal icing and just carefully break a thin pink heart to make the tongues. After drawing the mouth, the tongue can be glued onto black frosting before it dries to complete the look.
For Poop Emoji Cake pops
Dip in dark chocolate candy, place eye candies in place. Allow it to dry (they can be carefully laid upon parchment paper on a baking sheet to dry since they’re kinda flat anyhow). Finish off the face using white royal icing to draw his stinky little smile.
For Love Emoji Cake Pops
Dip in yellow candy, place two red hearts for eyes. Allow to dry and then finish off the face using black royal icing for the smile.
If you like, you can let frosting on emoji cake pops dry overnight and then place a clear bag over the top and wrap a bow around the bottom of the cake pop. You can also carefully place the cake pop stick into matching, striped paper straws