As promised, we have a DIY tutorial for chocolate dipped cakeberries. These are like cake pops, but cleverly shaped and decorated to look like chocolate covered strawberries! They work wonderfully at outdoor parties, or anything with a red/fresh theme, such as our Ladybug Baby Shower. This idea is the brainchild of Lindsay Morton of Dollhouse Bake Shoppe. If you watch Food Network's Cupcake Wars, you'll recognize her as the winner of the premiere episode (you can watch it here). Lindsay has a blog and a website filled with yummy recipes.
Let's Make Cakeberries! (courtesy of Dollhouse Bake Shoppe)
Using the Dollhouse Bake Shoppe "Red Velvet Cupcake/Cake Kit" or your favorite recipe (you can even try strawberry flavored cake), bake an 8" cake and prepare frosting as directed. Once cake has completely baked and cooled, crumble it up and mix with frosting until it is almost a dough consistency. (You can use a fork or electric mixer, but I like to just use my hands. Kids LOVE this part and squishing it between their fingers to fully incorporate.)
Roll mixture into balls and mold into a cone shape, with the point of the strawberry facing up and the part where the stem will go against your work surface (Making a little volcano). Then you can flip it over on its side and round out the edges on top a little, to make your strwberry shape. Mine were about the size of an average strawberry. Place on wax paper covered plate or cookie sheet, and chill in the fridge or freezer until stiff, but not frozen solid.
Dye regular toothpicks green by rubbing a cotton ball dipped in green food coloring, all over the toothpick. Let dry completely.
Once cakeberries are firm remove from fridge/freezer. Holding the pointed tip of the cakeberry, dip top half (about 1/3 of the cakeberry) into melted red candy melts and stick green toothpick in the top for the "stem" while red candy is still wet. Lay on wax paper to dry.
Once red candy has dried, use the green toothpick "stem" as a handle to dip the bottom half of the strawberry into melted dark or white chocolate chips or candy melts. Lay on wax paper to dry.
With a flower shaped cookie cutter (daisy cutter) or scissors, cut out leaves from green candy (laffy taffy, air heads, gum drops, etc.) Push leaves through "stem", attaching to top of strawberry with a dot of melted chocolate. Drizzle with chocolate once dry, or roll in chopped nuts or sprinkles while chocolate is still wet. You can use any color combination or toppings you desire.
If you try this recipe, or if you have your own twist on it, please leave a comment and let us know. If you just have a craving for cakeberries now, let us know, too!
