Recipe Swap

Courtesy of Celia Thompson, instructor cake pop class at the Culinary Center of Kansas City.

Makes~ 48 cake pops

1 boxed cake mix, baked

 3/4 can vanilla frosting

3) 1 lb. packages white chocolate candy coating

1 package of 50 cake pop sticks

Multicolored candy corn

1 cake pop stand (available at most craft stores

1 pastry bag

1 small bag pastel-colored M&Ms

 will add another in the recipe  comments

In a large bowl, break up cake into fine crumbs, eliminating all chunks. Add frosting, then cream together with cake crumbs until mixture reaches a Play-Doh-like consistency. With your hands (wearing thin, latex gloves) mold batter into small, cone-shaped balls, then place on cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours in refrigerator. Do not freeze.

Melt candy coating, one package at a time, according to package directions. (Tip: if candy coating is too thick, add 3 tablespoons solid shortening per package to candy coating and reheat in microwave to achieve a thinner consistency).

Taking a few cake balls out of the refrigerator at a time, dip the end of an empty cake-pop stick into the melted candy coating, then pierce the center of the narrowest end of cone-shaped cake ball, pushing no more than half way through. Holding the stick with the pop facing down, dip entire pop into the melted candy coating. Remove pop slowly and lift upward, allowing excess candy coating to drip down toward the stick. Rotate (or spin) the pop as the coating drips down to achieve even coating and cover all "bald" spots. Set coated pops in cake pop stand. Add melted candy coating to pastry bag.

Using coating like glue, squeeze a thin layer on top of cake pops. Carefully arrange candy corns in desired colors to make the petals of the flowers. Squeeze more candy coating on the middle of the flower petals, and top with M&M of your choice.

Notes~ can add designs to the pops or other candies n etc.

Per cake pop: 249 calories (42 percent from fat), 12 grams total fat (6 grams saturated), 7 milligrams cholesterol, 35 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams protein, 115 milligrams sodium, trace dietary fiber.

Cake pops, made with crumbled cake mix and frosting are quickly becoming the new star in confections.

Cake Pop Flowers  or  Cake pops - those colorful dipped and decorated golf ball-sized rounds of cake on a stick - are everywhere.