Royal Popcakes

Ingredients:

• 3 cups sifted cake flour

• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoons salt

• 1 3/4 cups sugar

• 2/3 cup butter or margarine

• 2 eggs

• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

• 1 1/4 cups milk

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. 

• Grease bottom of two 8-inch round cake pans and line with waxed paper or parchment paper. 

•  Sift together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. 

• Cream sugar and butter together until light. 

• Add eggs and vanilla to creamed mixture and beat until thoroughly mixed.

• Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. 

• Continue beating one minute. 

• Spread batter evenly in prepared pans. 

• · Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool layers in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans; Let cool completely. 

Cream Cheese Icing

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened 

• 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese , softened 

• 8 cups confectioners' sugar (about 2 lbs.) 

• 1 tablespoon milk 

Instructions:

• In large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese with electric mixer until light and fluffy. 

• Gradually add confectioners' sugar and milk. Beat on high until smooth (30 - 60 seconds). 

•  Note:  If icing seems too thin, add confectioners' sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. If it seems too thick, add more milk 1 teaspoon at a time until icing reaches desired consistency.

Royal Icing 
 

This smooth, hard-drying icing is perfect for making decoration that last. It is also useful as a "cement" to fasten decorations together. Royal icing is edible.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons Meringue Powder Easy-Add Meringue Powder

• 4 cups (about 1 lb.) sifted confectioners' sugar

• 6 tablespoons warm water 

                        Makes about 3 cups of icing.

Instructions:

• Beat all ingredients until icing forms peaks (7-10 minutes at low speed with a heavy-duty mixer, 10-12 minutes at high speed with a hand-held mixer). 

• Keep all utensils completely grease-free for proper icing consistency.

• Optional:  For stiffer icing, use 1 tablespoon less water. 

• To thin royal icing, for pouring, add 1 teaspoon water per cup of royal icing. Use grease-free spoon or spatula to stir slowly. Add 1/2 teaspoon water at a time until you reach proper consistency.

Let’s Make Cake Balls

Steps:

1. Cut cake. In large mixing bowl, use hands to crumble the cake half until no large chunks remain.

2. Add 1/2 cup of creamy icing. Wilton Creamy Decorator Icing works well along with most brands of ready-to-use icing.

3. Blend in icing completely with a spatula until it is completely combined and holds together cake crumbs.

4. Fill measuring spoon and make 1” balls.

5. Roll back and forth in hands until you create a smooth round ball.

6. Place cake balls on a cookie sheet or baking pan lined with Parchment Paper. Chill for at least 2 hours before inserting sticks.

Inserting the stick:

1. Dip the end of your Lollipop Stick in your Royal icing.

2. Insert stick in chilled pop.

3. Place pops on a parchment-covered cookie pan or sheet. Chill at least 2 hours until set. Until harden.

Dipping In!

1. Holding the stick securely, dip pop into melted Candy Melts or Candy Dips.

2. Tap pop lightly to smooth surface.

3. Place pops in Pops Decorating Stand. Chill for 10-15 minutes.

4. Decorate as desired

Original Article: Royal Popcakes