Easy Birthday Party Treats By Edan Goode

A birthday celebration doesn’t HAVE to mean cake, at least not in the traditional sense. Here is an idea for a tasty treat that the party guests can even help make (that’s one less party activity for you to plan, Mom!) For more ideas, read “Blow Out the Candles On Boring Birthdays” in the July issue of Colorado Parent magazine.

Cake Pops from Betty Crocker

Recipe and Photo Courtesy of BettyCrocker.c om and Arlene Cummings, CookingwithSugar.com.

1 box Betty Crocker® cake mix (any flavor)

Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box

1 container (12 oz) Betty Crocker® Whipped frosting (any flavor)

1 bag (14 oz) candy melts (any flavor)

1 teaspoon shortening

Craft sticks (flat wooden sticks with round ends)

Assorted candy sprinkles

Block of white plastic foam

1. Line several cookie sheets with waxed paper. Make and bake cake mix as directed on box for 13×9-inch pan, using water, oil and eggs. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

2. With fingers, crumble cake into large bowl. Add frosting; mix well with fingers until dough forms. Shape into quarter-size balls; place on cookie sheets. Freeze about 15 minutes.

3. When ready to assemble, in small microwavable bowl, microwave candy melts uncovered as directed on bag. Stir in shortening until smooth and mixture runs off spoon.

4. Remove cake pop balls from freezer. Dip tip of each craft stick into melted candy, then halfway into 1 cake ball; place on waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.

5. When all cake balls have sticks, gently swirl 1 cake ball in melted candy to coat well; allow candy to drip back into bowl. Dip ball into candy sprinkles to decorate; place in plastic foam to allow candy to harden. Repeat with remaining cake balls and melted candy.