I’m tickled pink to share this absolutely adorable book written by Audrey Davidow and illustrated by Leslie Dallion.
It is just the cutest book about Coco Levine an adorable little girl who teaches her disgusting neighbor Larry Contray (who doesn’t know how to use utensils) all about delicious treats on sticks… most importantly “Cupcake Pops”!
Of Course this got me interested right away!!!
It is no surprise that Audrey wrote a children’s book about cupcakes. With a love for baking and as a former journalist for lifestyle articles that once graced the pages of major magazines and newspapers, it was a natural fit.
My kids loved it! It’s part cook book, part craft book and a lot about friendship!
This book ties in so perfectly with our mold that we had to ask Audrey if she would share a a couple of books with us to give to our readers.
Of course, we had to throw a couple of molds into the mix!
“GIVEAWAY TIME”!!!
Rules for Entering:
1. Tells us who you want this book & mold for?
2. Are they more like Shimmery, Glimmery Coco Levine? Or Pickle Pop, Hot Frog, Scum Skewer, Snail Kebob Larry Contrary?
~ There will be 2 winners.
~ Each winner will receive 1 book and 1 mold.
~ Winners will be chosen by my kids (ages 9 & 10) based on your responses. Make them good! LOL!
My very first love (when it comes to sweets that is) is chocolate chip cookies with milk of course! But then I got hooked on Cupcake Pops and my chocolate chip cookie making days went to the wayside:-( Something I actually miss……
But then my daughter put a bug in my ear to make Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcake Pops! YUMMMMMMMM!
She was definitely on to something here! I used my basic recipe but with a few adjustments so that there was no raw egg!!!
Great things about this recipe?
1. They are no-bake
2. They are easier to work with than Oreo Cookie and Cream Cheese!
3. Who doesn’t like chocolate chip cookies????
Taste tested kid approved!
RECIPE for Cookie Dough
2/3 cup butter unsalted room temperature
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda (for flavor and preservative qualities)
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chip (the miniature size ones)
Walnuts optional
Butter, sugar, Vanilla, flour how can you go wrong? Chocolate Chip cookies… heaven sent! Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcake Pops… Divine!!
I used the small chocolate chips.
I’m getting hungry just looking at these pictures.
It’s cute, informative and downright perfect if you ask me so check out it out! Christi made these absolutely gorgeous cupcake pops using our mold! I’m so impressed!
While you are visiting “Love From the Oven” make sure to enter to win our molds!
So you can spook all your friends with some yummy treats!
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and what a better way to thank someone for their donation or to show that you care by creating a little bit of pink perfection!
Most of you know the basic steps. Make dough, insert into mold, chill, dip, decorate!
As with most things in life to master any skill you will need to practice! However, a few tips and tricks will go a long way in solving many of your cake pop realted problems. The rest is technique and time!
See the nice rings of the mold? If your candy melts are the right consistency
(thin enough) you too will see this nice definition!
Problems:
MY CAKE POP FALLS OFF THE STICK:
Dough is too moist.
Dough is too dry.
Dough is not chilled long enough or has lost its chill and needs to be rechilled.
Not enough candy melts in the bowl and you are needing to dip the same cake pop multiple times to get it covered.
Candy melts are too hot.
Candy melts are too thick.
Solutions:
Use dough that is just moist enough to hold cake or cookies together in a play dough consistency. Follow our No-Bake Recipe at the bottom for the best results.
Chill dough in refrigerator for at least 1hour and only take out 2-3 balls at a time to work with, re-chilling after each use.
If in a hurry put in freezer for 10 minutes but do not let freeze. Then use refrigerator in between dips.
Candy melts should be melted and then cooled for a minute or two before dipping pops.
Colored candy melts or wafers almost always need to be thinned down with Crisco or another vegetable shortening.
See the ridges? Before dipping and after chilling make sure to tap down.
I AM NOT GETTING A GOOD SHAPE FROM THE MOLD:
Your dough is too dry or too moist.
Your dough is not chilled long enough or has lost its chill.
You are not pressing hard enough and making sure the edges of the mold touch each other completely before opening mold and removing dough.
Solutions:
Start off with our easy to make no-bake recipe.
Chill, chill and re-chill. Did I say chill? You will not get a good result if you work with unchilled dough or your dough has lost it’s chill. It should be very, very firm! And as soon as you have molded or dipped put back in refrigerator. This is where your pops should be unless you are working with them. Work fast and then rechill.
Make sure to work with clean hands at all times. Keep a towel close by and always wipe hands down and mold down. A clean work area will produce clean results.
Use a light dusting of powder sugar on the inside the mold to help get a great shape.
It is better to hand mix than to mix in a food processor or mixer.
The cream cheese stays colder this way and the texture is better to work with.
MY DOUGH IS STICKING TO THE SIDES OF THE MOLD AND BREAKING IN TWO WHEN I OPEN THE MOLD:
Mold may be dirty with too much cake pop dough.
Cake pop dough isn’t chilled enough.
Cake pop dough is too moist.
Solutions:
Keep hands and mold clean at all times wiping both down with a towel frequently.
Use a dusting of powder sugar or cocao on hands and mold.
Dough that isn’t chilled long enough tends to break apart.
Too dry dough crumbles and too moist dough separates. Chilled dough helps many of these problems.
Remedy for a too hot kitchen… a bowl of ice.
MY CANDY MELTS ARE DRIPPING ALL OVER THE PLACE:
Candy melts are too hot.
Kitchen is too hot.
Cake pop is being decorated too soon after dipping in candy melts.
Solutions:
After melting candy wafers let wafers stand for several minutes to cool.
Candy wafers should be melted and warm but not hot.
Keep pop upside down until wafers are set but not dry. This can be a learning curve to get a feel for how long it takes candy melts to dry. If your kitchen is cold your candy melts will dry quickly, if your kitchen is hot your candy melts may take a very long time to dry.
Wait a minute or so to add sprinkles. Timing will depend on the heat of your kitchen.
Use a bowl of ice to cool dipped pops. The quicker the candy sets the less drips you will get. Place dipped pops in the refrigerator to harden.
No-Bake Recipe:
1 – 16.6 oz pkg Original flavored Oreo Cookie
- Grinded to fine crumbs in food processor.
7 oz cream cheese.
- Hand Mix
FINAL TIPS:
Work in a cold kitchen.
Keep your work area clean.
Don’t try to rush the process.
CHILL AND RECHILL. If your pop is not firm and cold to the touch you will not get a good result!
If this is your first time or you are working with your children do not get discouraged and just have fun with it and enjoy the process. No matter what your pops look like they will taste amazing and more than likely your kids or friends will think they look great!
Send us an email LAUREN and we’ll get your beach bling out to you!!
The winner was picked by Random.org.
We are SOOOOOO HAPPY summer is finally here on Cape Cod and everywhere! Summer is a time for having fun with the kids with no school year agendas or pressures… It is also a time to relax and celebrate with friends and family with lots of good food and sweet treats, enjoyed best with smiles and sunshine. And of course…a little Bling for your beach bucket!!
Since we are so excited summer is finally here we thought it might be fun to share the excitement and pass on a little My Little Cupcake fun and beach bling to our fans…
Our Beach Bling giveaway includes: Everything you need to make these cute beach buckets for a perfect summer party treat.
And a few things to make your summer extra special!
A beautiful new beach towel you can’t hit the beach without it!
Cool blue beach bucket.
Your own My Little Cupcake Mini Mold™ in our Cupcake Shape.
Fondant to make your own little beach buckets.
Blue fondant coloring to get that perfect ocean color.
Gumballs to use as your beach ball decoration
and the “icing on the cake” (pun TOTALLY intended…)
an 8Gb iPod Touch to keep the tunes coming all summer long….!
So how do you go about entering our Beach Bling Giveaway?
It’s simple…. Just leave a comment below, telling us where your favorite beach is! That’s it!!!
Contest ends Monday, July 11th, 2011 at midnight. Winner will be picked by Random.Org and announced on our blog “right here” on Tuesday July 12th.. We will email the winner as well.
What kid wouldn’t love these patriotic pinwheel pops? They were a quick and
easy way to put a fun “spin” on our red, white & blue pops!
My son went nuts over this one!
Well, until he saw this one. Then he had a new love. But when the gum was gone he was back to the pinwheel pop… so the way I see it you can’t really go wrong with either!
This patriotic Double Bubble I thought was the best. What’s more nostalgic than Double Bubble? And red, white and blue to boot! The pinwheels I found at Michael’s Craft Store. They are on a wooden dowel that is really easy to cut down to size. Both add a whimsical touch to the patriotic pops that kids and adults love!
If your more of a beach bum or a sailor at heart, here is a spin on the traditional red, white & blue theme. (This one was my husband’s favorite, since he can’t wait to get his boat in the water this weekend!)
Adding cute patriotic ribbon can dress up your pop for any party. It really finishes the pops nicely and makes it feel like you’re giving a gift when you hand them out!
And an oldy but goodie! You can’t go wrong with any patriotic theme in my opinion. The red/white & blue speaks to all of us here everyday, but especially on the 4th of July as we celebrate the freedom of our country and thank those still serving to protect it.
So grill out with family, watch fireworks with friends, thank a soldier, pass out some pops and….
We would like to take a moment and send our best thoughts out to Bakerella, who has been ill as of late. We wish her a healthy and quick recovery. Bakerella is an incredibly gifted woman and has inspired me a great deal. I have a lot of respect and admiration for her and hope to see her back in the kitchen soon, amazing us all with her incredible talent. To check out her ideas, please visit http://www.bakerella.com/.
Get well soon, Bakerella… ~ Jeanette
Lauren