Octopus Cake Pops

Welcome Summer!  I love everything about this time of year.  Beach parties, lake trips and day hikes . . . . I am ready!

I created these Octopus Cake Pops to bring a little "beachy" goodness into our dessert line up. 

They would be great for an Ocean Wonders or Under the Sea party, don't you think?  And making them with five legs vs. eight legs is just part of the fun!

Place them in a bed of brown sugar and it is an instant presentation on your dessert table.

They were fairly simple to make; however, the legs are delicate and do break easily. 
Suggestion:  pipe them directly onto where they will be presented.

Roll the cake pops into an oval shape, dip and let set.  Put the remaining melted candy coating into a squeeze bottle and make a center circle directly onto the brown sugar.  Pipe curls for legs.  Then place the oval cake pop in the center circle and decorate. 

I hope you try these for your next Ocean themed party.  They will make you and your guests smile!

Summer Candy Apples (with freebie printable)

Oh boy, Summer is upon us!  Kids are preparing for the end of the school year and families are planning the activities for the warm months ahead.

 

Whether you are hitting the beach or heading to the lakes here is one activity the whole family can join in on . . . Oh Boy Summer Candy Apples named in honor of  Diahann Darwood's new book Oh Boy Summer.

What I love about making Summer Candy Apples is that they are fun, delicious and easily portable.  With a little assembling ahead of time the kids can jump into this activity and get creative by decorating their own apples  . . . there is no wrong way to do it!   So let's get to making these sweet Summer treats.

 

 

You will need to buy one bag each of Candy Melts by Wilton in the color of your choice at your local Michaels Craft Store or A.C. Moore.   While you are there, pick up some popsicle sticks and you are ready to go.  At home wash and dry your apples and insert the popsicle stick in place of the stem.  Make sure your bowl is wide and deep enough to easily dip your apple. 

 

 

Then melt your Candy Melts in your microwave safe bowl on the defrost setting of your microwave for about 1 minute.  Mix in a little Crisco shortening to help thin the consistency and continue to microwave for 30 second intervals until the candy coating is nice and smooth.  

 

 

 Now on to the fun part . . . get dipping!  Let the kids choose which color they'd like to try first and dunk their apples.  Let the first color set for about 5 minutes then dip your apple into the second color about halfway up.  While your candy coating is setting print out these free and adorable Summer decorative circles courtesy of Shindig Parties To Go. 

 

 

I hope you will try these yummy Oh Boy Summer Candy Apples and have fun getting creative with your families this Summer!