FoCo Joe: Trix Cereal Cake Pops
Before I begin this week’s column about cake pops, I should reveal an important disclaimer here — I do not normally eat cake pops. For whatever reason, I don’t really like them! I think they’re are overrated, and I’m not a fan of the overly sugary frozen frosting. Both the flavor and texture of the frosting does nothing for my taste buds, and if I want cake, I will eat cake. Not a cake pop.
My aversion for cake pops started at a young age. I think it was largely caused by repeated mishaps with other foods presented vertically — ice cream in cones (I always order cups), kabobs, corn dogs — none of them really do it for me, and their fragility does not help.
This cake pop recipe, like so many FoCo Joe creations before it, was developed largely on the spot. I cannot say that this is a perfect recipe — you will read more about why below — but I can say that the flavor combinations were most definitely on fleek. Or on point. The flavor combination was awesome.
The overall concept for these “cake pops” was to create a cake pop base with FoCo cookies and marshmallow spread, and then dip the final product into a bowl of Trix for a colorful and crunchy conclusion. You will need quite a bit of kitchenware: two bowls, two spoons, one knife and one translucent cup.
Step 1: In a bowl, place a warm FoCo cookie and a hefty amount of marshmallow fluff — found with the other spreads just past the cereals.
Step 2: In a second bowl, place one to two scoops of Trix cereal. The bowls are important for both steps one and two because they ultimately are easier to work with than plates or cups.
Step 3: Using one or two spoons, depending on how dexterous you are, mix the cookie and marshmallow spread into bite-size circles. I used two spoons, please do not sue me. The exact proportions of cookie to marshmallow are mostly irrelevant, but will likely lean toward more spread than cookie. Having more marshmallow spread allows for the Trix cereal to adhere more easily in the end. The warm cookies are meant to be used as a filling— like a regular cake pop — but instead of cake batter (of which we have none in FoCo – we get real cake instead!).
As a small side-note, this step is certainly the most difficult and time-consuming of them all. While the cookie and marshmallow mix easily, they are almost too malleable to be eaten as a single bite like a traditional cake pop. Thus reveals the biggest shortcoming of this dessert — the cake pop is not hard enough to truly satisfy in the same way a regular cake pop does. If you can picture those things Starbucks sells, you’ll know what I mean. Those are cake pops.
To solve this problem, I suggest performing step 3A. Alas, results for this procedure were mixed at best, but I have yet to think of an alternative. I suggest step 3A for those who are especially keen on recreating the true cake pop experience, otherwise skip this step and enjoy yourself with whatever version of this dessert you make for yourself or others.
Step 3A: Place spoon of cake pop material into a cup of ice. Tilt the cup so that spoon rests flat and shape of the cake pop material can solidify. Be careful not to let the ice melt onto the cake pop mixture, but honestly it is not worth fretting if they melt a little bit. For once, I am not a perfectionist!
Another idea is to use solidified cookies instead of warm and gooey ones, but the already difficult task of mixing the marshmallow spread and cookie becomes tougher. It won’t work.
With or without this step, your cake pop attempts will satisfy your stomach. But at the same time, it is moments like these when I wish I had more chem-major friends.
Step 4: When it is ready, transfer the cake pop base from its spoon to the dull side of a knife. It might be helpful to try a sort of scooping motion with the dull side of the knife to maximize the amount of cake pop base that makes the trip.
Step 5: Dip the cake pop carefully into bowl of Trix. Spin the cake pop around so Trix covers most, if not all, of its surface area.
Step 6: Marvel at your pretty creation and enjoy this bite-sized treat! Remember that it is most likely one bite, so make sure to savor what you have worked so hard for. That being said, why waste the extra materials?? Eat them together as well!