Horrible Evil Cake Pops For Fiesta Friday #110
cake pops
I seriously doubt I will ever recover from the trauma of making cake pops. When I got a request to make cake pops for a childs birthday bash at school I thought gee, how hard could that be? She wanted oreo cake pops and honestly I was excited to make them thinking this will be a breeze, no baking, crush the cookies, dip them in white chocolate sprinkle with decorations and call it a day. I ambitiously said I would do 2 per child which would be 64 pops. I totally underestimated how challenging it would be to make these things. I bought these adorable Wilton cardboard cake pop stands, lots of decorations, tall sticks and was ready to make those pops. I read recipes online and watched video’s showing just how simple it is to make. Simple to make, yes, executing a successful cake pop was a challenge.
Cake pop stand assembly required and it didn’t work
I am bringing these cake pops with me to Fiesta Friday#110. This weeks co hosts are Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook and Apsara @ Eating Well Diary.
Back to the cake pops, I bought way too many oreo’s which will promptly be given away, the recipe calls for 1 package of oreo’s and 1/2 cup softened cream cheese to bind it. You crush or process the oreo’s so that they are like flour (I left some bigger crumbs for interest) add the cream cheese and it will become a cohesive dough. Scoop out some roll with your hands into a round and refrigerate. While they are in the refrigerator melt a little white chocolate to dip your stick in before inserting into the cake pop. Everything was going well at this point. I actually made 72 cake pops. The problem arose when I was finishing them. I melted some white chocolate over simmering water, got the cake pops out of the refrigerator. I noticed some cracks in some of them and smoothed them. The very first one I dipped in the thick warm chocolate fell off the stick and broke in half, hmmmmm…. I didn’t let that discourage me did it again. same thing.
The carnage
To make a long story short (er) it was pretty bad, I managed to get 32 cake pops with many disasters that went straight into the circular file. I was not able to use the cardboard stands because they would not fit together properly and the sticks were too tall anyway I used the bottom of it to stand the pops so the coating could dry. You have to be careful not to let it get too hard because the decorations won’t stick or do it too soon because the weight of the decorations causes the coating to run. I did manage to get some cute ones placed them in cellophane bags and off they go.
drying on the stand
cute
If I ever do cake pops again I will not use oreo’s I think it would have worked much better with crumbled cake mixed with buttercream like Starbucks cake pops. It will be a long time before I attempt this again if ever. I will probably stick to cupcakes and cookies.
apuginthekitchen 
Even though they were a struggle, they still do look delicious haha!
I hope they are alright. Thank you so much. They were pretty frustrating.
I had the exact same experience. I won’t try again!
Maria
I am so glad to hear that it wasn’t just me. I think the recipe I read must have been paid for by the people who make oreo’s
Sorry but LOL 😀 The horrible, evil cake pops you did manage to tame and cover look like a great success. I’m sure I wouldn’t have had your patience!
What a mess though I cannot guarantee what happens when they bite into them LOL!! Thank you!!
Oh my I was stressed out for you! They did turn out absolutely adorable though. Happy FF Suzanne. I hope you have a fun weekend planned.
It was incredibly stressful never again at least that type. Wow. Thanks Julie!!💕
Oh my a lot of hard work went into those! Hang in they’re not a total disaster LOL Have a good weekend!
It was way too much work to only get 32 pops but it’s ok I’ve recovered.
LOL some smiles will appear from the ones you made I am sure Suzanne.
Awww Suzanne! I can imagine the anxiety that you must have gone through!!
Nonetheless the cake pops that you managed to get through, are beautiful!!❤️
Thanks Sonal well there were a few that turned out ok.
Yikes. Glad I’ve never tried to make cake pops. I know there are variations on how to make them. There are some that are made with actual cake. Perhaps that’s easier but why make a cake just to scoop it into pops? Happy Fiesta Friday!!
Exactly thanks Michelle. I literally worked for 5 hours straight on those things.
They do look delicious Suzanne but thanks for telling us your experience. I always used to think making oreo cake pops is the easiest thing ever but now I know better 😉
Yea I thought so too. Maybe it needed more cream cheese but then they would have been more cream cheese than cookie I know I did something wrong. Thank you so much.
Oh Suzanne!! LOL!! You crack me up for sure, I am glad you got at least some of them to work!!
I made them once for a St. Patrick’s Day cooking class made them out of Stout Chocolate Cake and ganache, they did turn out, but I have never made them again!!! LOL!! 🙂
Yes I love the idea of using a cake and what did you add to the cake to bind it or did you just do cake. Love that idea but they are way too much work.
Yes they are WAY too much work!! I made Chocolate Ganache and mixing it in with the cake then dipped them in chocolate and sprinkled them with Green Shamrock Sprinkles. They were cute but never again!! LOL!!
hehe, these things always look so much easier on YouTube, don’t they? Well, we still think they look delicious 🙂
They certainly do, the lovely lady was breezing through them not a hair out of place. My kitchen looked like a war zone and I looked like I had been at war also.
Yup! Same here. You have to double the icing to keep them together! There must be a secret to them that’s under lock & key. Yours look beautiful 😊
You know I think it would have been easier using cake. Oreo’s cookies are pretty crisp and dry except for that creamy middle so maybe if I had used a moist cake with buttercream mixed in like Starbucks does it would have been a better outcome. Who knows and I seriously don’t think I’ll be trying again anytime soon. Thanks so much.
Oh goodness, Suzanne — I really do feel for you. I’m all too familiar with the frustration and other emotions that start when something that looks easy turns out to be a monster. But your finished cake pops are adorable. I think you won Battle Cake Pop. 😀
It had nothing to do with food, but my week had a lot of that kind of thing — should have been simple, but oh the stress. LOL. Have a fabulous Friday my friend. Mega hugs.
Thanks Teagan, it’s none of those weeks. I think it was in the cards that there would be difficulties. Hope you have a glorious weekend!! Thank you!!❤️❤️❤️💕
I will, Suzanne — You and Percy as well. Gearing up to announce a new serial on my blog Saturday. (Clue — So be getting your three 1969-1970 things ready!)
Now that made my day!!
Ahh cake pops! I also had bad experience in making cake pops. I also thought it was very easy like I could finish everything in just a snap of a finger. Although I didn’t make much as yours, I never did make cake pops again. Haha! So I admire your determination that you still continued making these pretty cake pops after the not so pretty stuffs you encountered, Suzanne. The end results are too cute to eat. Amazing job! 🙂 Thanks for sharing and happy FF! x
Another cake pop disaster survivor makes me feel better, thanks so much Jhuls.
I am so happy for you, Suzanne. 🙂
Ah ha! Now your post title makes sense. You have a lot of patience. 🙂 The finished product does look yummy.
Ha, maybe the title is a bit extreme but I was still in a foul mood after my cake pop disaster. LOL, thank you Mary.
The title is perfect. 🙂
I also had a bad experience with making cake pops, thankfully it was for a very understanding friends Halloween party, so I was able to dispense with the sticks. I had had the same experience of them coming off the stick and crumbling. I just had round cakes balls, made into eyeballs. The coloured chocolate I used was horrific though and dried really quickly, faster than I could cover, so I had to keep re-melting! It all clumped together. Yours look really good though, despite all the stress! Much better looking than mine. Although I did remind everyone that it was Halloween so the eyeballs were supposed to look scary!
Another bad experience. Those things are insidious. LOL, Yes I had that problem as well. The coating would harden so I couldn’t decorate. the cake pops crumbled. Egad. I have had the starbucks cake pops, they have it down they look great and even sell cake pop kits.Thank you for sharing it makes me feel so much better knowing so many others have had the same or similar experiences.
I’d never heard of cake pops – cute idea, but obviously not as cute to make 🙂
They are adorablely cute and quite delicious but not fun to make. Thanks so much
Wow you still made them look beautiful! What a mess and I appreciate you sharing, so many of us make these messes and then don’t post them! You are such a professional all the way around Suzanne! I had to laugh but felt your pain having gone through these things so many times!! xxx
Lynn, I had it all planned, I would easily make these beautiful cake pops, it would be effortless and I would post about it. As you can see it was pretty much the opposite and I decided I would post it anyway. Some of them were quite nice but others not so much but they went to the birthday party anyway. Hope they were ok. Thanks so much Lynn.
Well this just seals the deal. I have only ever slightly thought about trying to make cake pops, but seeing as I can barely make a decent cupcake I now know I will never, ever make horrible, evil cake pops. I admire you for trying and getting through it all. I would have just chucked it all in the trash after the first few failed ones and driven to the nearest bakery. 😀 Bless you for persevering through it all for the kiddos, Suzanne! 🙂
I almost did give up, but I was determined to get at least one for each child. Thank you so much at least I can cross off my bucket list😄
I SO appreciate your honesty and sense of humor about this cake pop nightmare. Despite the challenges, the ones that survived are just beautiful!
Thank you, the pops that actually stayed together we’re really cute. I am not a great decorator but the kids liked them. Thanks so much❤️💕
OMG, Suzanne, this sounds awful. I put it in the camp of making sushi at home. The cake pops sound harder, but all the steps and craziness seem equivalent. They sure turned out well, but I agree: never again. 🙂
It was such a chore Rm, I hate it when things don’t work but luckily I got some good ones just not as many as I planned. Thank you so much💕
Oh bummer Suzanne! Don’t you just hate it when that happens? No worries though, to me they look absolutely yummy, and some of them did turn out just fab! I’ll give you an A for effort, I can see that you won’t be making those in a hurry anytime soon :). Have a wonderful weekend!
You got that right Loretta. They were a hit and the kids loved them so all a well that ends well. Thank you so much❤️
It appears your patience far exceeds mine, Suzanne… I would have made a trip to a bakery. 😉 The ones that you salvaged do look fantastic! I hope the flavors won your stamp of approval in the end!
I could not bear to even taste one but the children thought they were awesome and that made me happy. Thank you so much💕
These are far better than anything I could have mustered. Take heart -your pugs thought they looked tasty.
fiddledeedeebooks.wordpress.com
Oh thanks so much😄😄😄
Hi Suzanne, now I totally understand the title of this post. Well they certainly are adorable, the kids should go crazy for them, love all the decorations you put on them. Have a great week-end!
Luckily they were a success with the kids, got thumbs up. Only a few fell off the stick while they were eating them and I am so glad about that. They really are too cute and I enjoyed decorating them and think that if I only had to make a dozen it’s doable and I might try it again. Thanks so much Cheri.
They do look good! But I can understand your frustration with anything fiddly. And that sort of thing is so time-consuming. Still, your post title did make me chuckle!
Fiddly, good word Johnny they were way too fiddly but after the maylay I would do it over doing only a dozen or so because now I am determined to make it work. Decorating them was actually the fun part
They turned out nice, despite all of the stress they gave you. I love your decorations. I bet you wish, you had only committed to 1 per child 😀
You are so right about that Antonia, yes I was definitely overly ambitious and confident that it would be easy peasy. Thank you so much.
They look good Suzanne after all that frustration that you went through ! I’ve never tried with Oreos but a crumbled cake mix did work out well in my case 🙂
Thats what I thought Freda, did you mix the cake with buttercream? Like starbucks? Thats what I will try next, Thanks so much.
No Suzanne, no buttercream, I used plain cream cheese and little condensed milk 🙂 it really was simple and the dough came together really nicely .
Good to know thank you!!
🙂
So glad it paid off in the end with happy kids, but what agony! I wish things worked they way they should and recipes always turned out, but that’s hoping for too much, I guess. From the beginning of cake pops, I’ve always been wary of them and stayed away, so thanks for confirming my beliefs!
Well you were wise Dave, I also never really wanted to make them only admiring how cute they are from afar, Now that I got up close and personal I am not so enamored anymore. Thank you so much.
I really hope that my little one will never ask for cake pops! But, seriously Suzanne, yours are cute! Especially the once with the little flours!
It took incredible patience and it was so frustrating I felt like a total failure. If you do don’t use oreo’s use cake and buttercream. Thank you so much!!
Well, now I don’t feel so bad that I found them very difficult to make- I gave up after the second time (I was thinking practice would make perfect- wrong!).
Oh I am so sorry for not seeing this earlier, catching up and honestly I seriously doubt any amount of practice would make those cake pops easy to make.
Even though it seemed like a challenge, it came out beautiful, Suzanne! Great job and happy FF 🙂
Thank you so much. I was pleased with how they looked most of them that is. It was a hard lessson for me never to think anything so seemingly simple will be that, simple that is. Too many turns in the road.
Reblogged this on ravenhawks' magazine and commented:
They look very good.I too have tried cake pops it was a one time experience that will never be repeated.
Lol I am feeling less and less like a failure knowing I am not the only one that had trouble! Thank you❤️
Fixing errors in cooking disasters is probably the toughest thing to learn and is the hallmark of a great chef. You have clearly demonstrated by turning the situation around and still making cute pops, Suzanne. Kudos to you. Happy FF!
Thank you so much apsara, it was truly a lesson in patience and humility and for that I am glad I did it.
I think you deserve a medal just for volonteering! I always thought that they were not easy to make! I think you are too hard on yourself! They look pretty good to me and I’m sure the children loved them! Bra a, Suzanne!
LOL, thanks Francesca, I did feel like I ran a marathon after tackling those cake pops. They 32 pops I managed to turn out were very cute and in the end I had fun decorating them. The kids loved them. Thank you so much Francesca.
Shame Suzanne, nothing is worse than going through all that ! I feel for you, seriously. Never mind, even with the disaster, and frustration they looked good, and I am sure the kids just wolfed them down.
I have to admit, reading your story, I am not too sure whether I will even contemplate trying even cake, cake pops.:-) I will stick to just normal cake and cupcakes 🙂
Have a great weekend
Cupcakes and cake and cookies are definitely less stressful. Honestly though, after reading recipes and watching video’s I truly thought cake pops would be so easy, Just goes to show you can’t believe everything you see and read, good marketing for cake pops but it really made me feel better reading the comments here that others tried and had a hard time. I am not alone. Thanks so much Lynne.
You had me laughing out loud, simply because this sounds exactly like the kind of thing that would happen to me….except that being a night owl and thinking these would be “a piece of cake” I’d probably start them in the evening and then be up half the night. Then oversleep in the a.m.!
My deepest sympathies and commendations for your valiant efforts, but the ones you did are darling!
LOL, Mollie, it was rather comical, now that I can look back at the whole debacle. While it was happening I was really frustrated and not a happy camper at all. Poor Percy even felt my anguish trying really hard to cheer me up. I had made a decorated a special one for the birthday girl and when I was putting it in the bag it split in half, I think I scared Percy when I screamed and almost started crying. LOL. I worked on those pops for almost 5 hours straight, non stop. It really was hard but I felt like it was a major victory getting just enough so each child could have one. Thank you so much.
Ugh. How aggravating! I can completely relate- felt your pain with every word. One would never know how much trouble these were to make when looking at the successful cake pops you’ve shared. 🙂
I’ve tried baking them with my daughter in a Nordic Ware cake pop pan she received as a gift. About 50 percent successful too. I think the crumbled cake and buttercream a la Starbucks style does seem like the way to go.
It’s interesting Josette we both had about 50% success rate. Yes I think Starbucks idea of mixing cake with buttercream is the way to go, it would definitely work I think and may just try it on a much smaller scale to see if it works. Thanks so much.
It looks like you did a great job!! They look so pretty 🙂
I, however, will not be making any any time soon 😉 x
LOL, stay away far far away Elaine. Now what about a healthy version, hmmmm…. dates and nuts and dried fruit and seeds formed into a ball on a stick and covered in dark chocolate.
Sounds like a plan…you can do that next time!!! 😉
Wow! All the effort! The pops look pretty. Oh, the frustration. I get it. 🙂
Thank you , yes frustrating for sure. So glad I got some good ones out of the mess.
Some of the recipes I have tried are not as easy as the cook claims they are. You really hung in there!
Trouble it may have been, but you made the finished product look so professional and appealing.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
Thanks so much David!!
Oh dear! You still got some pretty ones out of the batch! I think you’re right that cake crumbs and buttercream would be better. Oreos plus cream cheese and chocolate coating is just too heavy to go on a stick easily. Hang in there and try a different recipe next time!
You are exactly right, it was too heavy, what didn’t break apart slid down the stick. If or when I make another cake pop it shall be cake and buttercream for sure. Thank you so much.
Can I say that I admire your ability to throw the “bad” ones in the circular file? I suspect I would have filed them in the stomach file.
LOL, Sarah I was so sick of oreo’s at that point there was no question they went straight to the circular file. Thank you so much and hugs to Choppy!! I always try to find him and never can quite pinpoint where he is.
I am not sure I could get tired of Oreos (though I have to eat them when I am not going out, because they just stick in my teeth for hours). And you’re not alone in not finding her – it’s pretty common. And I would be right there with you, except I take the pictures so I cheat (/already know).
I guarantee you could get tired of oreo’s if you were making oreo cake pops, LOL!!
Oh I love these! I guess it is not easy to make them right.
No they were quite difficult to make, I honestly thought it would be so easy. Not at all but in the end they looked quite nice. Thank you so much.
Your finished pops look fantastic. I don’t blame you for not wanting to make them again, but I am sure you made some children very happy with those adorable treats.
Luckily they were well received I was very nervous about it thinking they would fall apart as the kids ate them. Turns out they stayed together. They did look cute I felt very lucky for that thank you so much Hilda!!❤️
This happened to me as well during my daughter’s B’day and your post is so inspiring – definitely where there is a will -there is a way… gorgeous pops -it looks so colourful. ..
I’m sorry you had the same or similar experience with cake pops it’s really funny to read so many people have had problems. I wanted to give up but knew I had to at least try to get enough pops for at least 1 for each child. There were 32 kids in the class several had food restrictions so couldn’t eat them so the teacher and school security each got one. Was so glad they were a success after such a hard time making them. Thank you😄
That seals that, I’ m never going to make cake pops . I admire your patience and willingness to finish. Good for you . Have a relaxing cake pops free Sunday. Hugs!!!
Thanks Gerlinde, I live in a cake pop free zone now. LOL! Have a wonderful Sunday and hope you have a great week
Haha this post made me chuckle! I’ve been through this trauma too, they look so easy but actually finishing them is almost impossible I swear! I used cake and frosting for the balls though and didn’t have any problems with them cracking or falling off the stick, it mostly making them round and getting the chocolate to coat smoothly! I’ll stick to cupcakes I think!
Your finished ones do look yummy though!
Thanks Michelle, yes the finishing is so hard. If you do like starbucks and mix cake crumbs with frosting you can easly scoop and form rounds at least on the video, the tricky part is coating them, the white chocolate was thick and I had to keep it warm which melted the chocolate holding the pop on the stick so they fell off, ugh… yep will stick to cupcakes or cake for sure.
Well done you – your cake pops look divine. I fear I might have given up at the first hurdle. Have a good week. 😉
I couldn’t disappoint the children, had to at least give it a go and thankfully I got enough so each child had one. Thanks so much.
Oh my that sounds like a very frustrating experience, I don’t think I’ll try to make cake pops anytime soon, especially not with cookies! The ones that didn’t fall apart do look really good!
I initially thought it was just me that had problems and my lack of cake pop ability but it sounds like ti’s pretty pervasive. I don’t know if I will ever try it again but if I do it’s a long time from now. The ones that held together for the most part were cute, what an experience though. Thanks so much.
I’ve never tried… and now I don’t think I will, lol. But yours are adorable!
I didn’t mean to discourage you could be the person who is the cake pop Queen. LOL!! I don’t know what happened but it was a mess for the most part. Thank you so much.
I have had a similar experience Suzanne! I have tried it with cake crumbs and frosting and they still fell off the stick! I have become smart now. I make only cake balls or truffles which is very forgiving and doesn’t have anywhere to fall off! The ones that you did complete look adorable! I am sure the kids loved it!
Really so you did the cake crumbs and frosting and they still fell apart. That’s terrible. Yes, the kids did love the cake pops that turned out, I felt so lucky to get enough so the kids could have 1 apiece. Thank you so much Suchitra.
They still look delicious!! 🙂 Im so sorry the cake pops didn’t behave – they can be a pain sometimes! I made cake pops too (and coincidentally shared it at FF too!). The best part of it is that even if the fail, they still taste absolutely delicious! 🙂
Ha, Dini you are so right. They still taste good but really were very naughty.
Suzanne,
Your pops look so pretty. If a pro like you had trouble making them, I am not even going to try them:)
Well you might make them really well, they were obviously not in the cards for me. Thank you so much Sandhya.
LOL, they look cute, though. I’ve actually never made cake pops with either crumbled cake or cookies, etc. I’ve only made cake pops with real cake batter and bake in a cake pop maker (mould). It really is a piece of cake! So much easier. There’s always next time, right?! 🙂
I don’t think there will be a next time Angie. I should have done them as you said in thge mould, with real cake not oreo cookies but I think this exercise in frustration cured me of my desire for cake pops. Thanks so much.
The good ones look good. 🙂
Lol, thanks so much Fae.
Oh Suzanne! thanks for putting up your near disaster. You know it makes all of us feel so much better about our kitchen catastrophes! (and I have a long list of them!) You were so kind to volunteer to make them and the ones you ended up with looked delish! I’m sure the kids loved them! xo
Too kind Rhonda, it was a little embarassing to have these things with no baking or supposed skill involved a total disaster. Well, I feel like it was a learning experience and was still glad to have brought one for each child and they did turn out really pretty in the end. Thanks so much Rhonda.
I think it’s the old adage– if we don’t fail now and then, we’re not trying enough new things (or something to that effect). Anyway, I would love one of your cake pops!
Thanks Rhonda!! Happy Easter
The ones you eventually made and decorated looked lovely, Suzanne, and I’m sure the children loved them. But making them must have been so frustrating. It’s funny how the Oreos didn’t work well, and it would be interesting to know how the crumbled cake works instead. It was good of you to share your experiences! Not everyone likes to talk about bad experiences in the kitchen.
After a coupld of weeks to recover I can look back and laugh now but it sure was a frustrating experience, I may just try cumbled cake and frosting. Even if I have to buy a cake like a sara lee pound cake or something and mix it with frosting. I do want to see if it works. Thanks so much Milie.
I’d like to see your post if you try it again. 🙂
If I do I will post it. Thanks. I went to starbucks today and noticed their cake pops are dipped so that the coating covers about 1/4 inch of the stick. Maybe thats why theirs sticks so well.
Well, I imagine that’s what you’ll be trying next time. I hope it works, because you’ll probably keep trying until you find a method that does! 🙂
Reblogged this on lynz real cooking and commented:
One of my favorite people ever! I loved this post, so real!
Thank you!!
most welcome!
It’s too bad they cost so much agony to make. They look delicious 🙂
Thank you Laine, it was just really frustrating. They were adorable and the kids loved them at least the ones that turned out. Thanks so much.
Lots of work involved, but they look very good! Lynn sent me over, I am glad I did. Happy Friday to you! 🙂
You know, I really do not think they are bad looking at all and am sure they tasted great! 🙂
Thank you Marisa the ones that worked were cute but it was such a challenge or really frustrating. Thank you so much and Happy Easter🌷
And to you as well my dear 🙂
Oh my gosh! Thanks for the laugh! I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. But, at least you had the courage to “try” them. I would have run away and sent the school a “out sick” note.
Thank you, I honestly had no idea how difficult it would be to, I thought that it would be a breeze but nope it wasn’t. Several times I almost gave up but didn’t want to disappoint the children. It felt pretty good to at least succeed in making some work.
I’m glad you were able to get some of them to work! They were very pretty. But seeing what you had to go through to get them, I felt terrible for you!
They look great! That was some good persisting there. I only made cake pops once and afterwards drew a cartoon of me in despair surrounded by broken cake pops! lol. Haven’t made them again. 🙂 Seeing yours is actually inspiring me to try again maybe… Thank you for the lovely story.
Thanks Lili, it was not a pleasant experience for sure, I was not amused at the time but now I can look back at it and chunkle. Thank you there were quite a few people that commented here about failed cake pops as well it makes me feel better that I am in such good company.
You’re welcome … I feel the same way – I thought it was just me missing something at the time. lol. Cake pops are my nemesis! 🙂
They cam out great! I recently made some halloween lollipops and would love for you to check them out 🙂 http://www.lifeismyblog.com