Easy German Chocolate Cake Pop Recipe

Cake pops are such a fun bite sized treat that have been popular for a couple of years now. German chocolate cake pops were the first ones I tried out using this recipe and THEY WERE A HIT! Later, after googling them, I realized that the german chocolate cake pops are actually one of the most popular pops to make. Now I'm ready to venture out and try red velvet, oreo, s'mores... There are also really cute Fall and Halloween cake pops I want to try out, since it is getting deeper into October (my favorite month!).

Ok, so here is the recipe.

German Chocolate Cake Pops:

Ingredients:

-German Chocolate Cake Mix (I used Duncan Hines but you can use whatever brand)
-Coconut Pecan Frosting (Duncan Hines)
-chocolate candy melts or almond bark
-sprinkles (optional)

Additional Items:

-cake pop sticks
-cake pop cooling rack or something similar
-small scooper

Step One:

Blend cake mix according to box and bake in the oven.

Step Two:

Once cake has been baked, remove from oven and and allow it to cool. (between 30 minutes to an hour) When your cake is cool to the touch, it's time to get your hands messy. Use them to crumble the cake into, well, crumbs!

Step Three:

Now add your icing to the crumbled cake. Use only half of the container of icing for one cake mix. (I baked one cake mix into two 8"x8" pans) Mix and blend it together with your hands until it is able to be molded into a ball.

Step Four:

Now you need to roll little round cake balls. I've seen a zillion cake pop tutorials and they all seem to use ice-cream scoops, but I use a 1 tbsp measuring scoop. Works just the same! Just scoop the amount of cake it takes to level with the top of the measuring scoop and place it in your hand. Roll it into a ball.

Step Five:

One you have all your cake balls rolled you will need to melt your chocolate as directed on the package. While the chocolate is melting, place your cake balls in the refrigerator. When the chocolate is melted all the way, remove your cake balls and dip your cake pop sticks into the chocolate about half an inch deep. Then place the stick inside the cake ball. Do this to them all. Place in refrigerator for 5 minutes and remove. This process keeps the stick attached to the pop when you dip it into the chocolate.

Step Six:

Now submerge each cake ball into the chocolate. If you have sprinkles, NOW is the time to add them before the chocolate dries. You now have cake pops!

I hope you enjoy this tutorial. I'm actually waiting on red velvet cake to cool so I can make a batch of red velvet cake pops! Can't wait to see how they turn out! Happy baking!

Mesh Pumpkin Wreath Tutorial

Fall is in the air and I have to say this is honestly my favorite season. I love the cool and crisp air, the colors of the leaves, and I love love LOVE decorating for Fall. Of course if you know me, you know that I am a sucker for crafting and nearly all my decor is handmade by yours truly.

Yesterday while doing a google search for pumpkin door wreaths, I came across some really cute mesh ones and I HAD to give it a go! This is what I ended up with...

I think it turned out really pretty and I can't wait to decorate with it!

So for all you crafters, here's the How To:

Things You Will Need:

> wire clothes hanger or wreath base
> orange mesh
> orange ribbon or pipe cleaners
> hot glue gun or stapler
> anything you wish to put on the top of your pumpkin.
   for me it was:
                        -burlap
                        -yellow ribbon
                        -silk leaves


Step One:

Take your clothes hanger and bend it out until it resembles a circle. Unless you have super mad skills, it's probably going to turn out like mine and not be straight at all. Also, I painted the front part of my hanger orange so it will camouflage better.

Step Two:

Once that dries, take the orange ribbon and cut it into 10" strips. You will need 14 strips of ribbon. Tie 7 strips across the top spaced out evenly and across the bottom, leaving a gap on each side.

Step Three:

Take the orange mesh and bunch it up, leaving about 2" remaining at the end. Take the first ribbon on your top right (or left, it doesn't matter) and tie it around the pinched section. I double knotted mine very tight in the front and then brought it around to the back and double knotted it again.

Step Four:

Bunch it up again a few inches down, meeting the first bottom ribbon and tying it the same way you did the first one. You want to leave a little poof in the ribbon between tying it, but not a lot for now.

Step Five:

Now, will continue across the base in a zigzag effect, going back up to the next top ribbon. Bunch it up, pinch it, tie it.

As you get closer to the middle you will want to add a bigger poof to the mesh to give it a real pumpkin look. Here is a picture of it halfway finished. Ye, it's really poofy!

Step Six:

Continue all the way across, making it slightly tighter as you near the end. Once you are finished, trim the remainder of your ribbons. Take each end of the mesh and fold them under towards the back side of your wreath. You can either glue it down or staple it in place to hide it from showing. Trim excess mesh.

Step Seven:

Add your toppings. I used burlap, yellow ribbon, and green silk leaves for mine. You can arrange the top however you like but for me I bunched up the burlap that I had and used jute string and a yarn needle to weave and secure it onto the wreath.

After adding the burlap as thick as I wanted it, I placed my leaves where I wanted them and hot glued them on. Then I took my yellow ribbon and made three loops in it, leaving a long end on each side to drape over the pumpkin. I hot glued that into place over the leaves. After looking at it for a while I called it finished.

Let me know if you try it. I'd love to see pictures! Happy Fall Y'all!

Memorial Day: Healthy Berry Desert Pizza

Happy Memorial Day! Isn't it great to honor our Veterans? If you see one today, hug them- thank them- shake their hand! If you don't see any in person, I know you could thank at least one through social media!

Are any of you going to a special service or barbequing today?  We are doing both!

I was searching for healthy red/white/blue color themed desert recipes and I found this one over at Undressed Skeleton and fell in love. If you want, you can go to her website for the recipe or you can keep scrolling here. 

Healthy Berry Desert Pizza

Things you will need:

~box of graham crackers

~2 cups lite cool whip

~6 ounces vanilla Greek yogurt

~1 medium banana

~1 tbsp honey

~diced strawberries

~blueberries

Place the graham crackers in a large bowl and crush them with a cup. Keep them a little crunchy, you don't want them too fine. Them, slice the banana and add it to the crumbles. Mix it with your hands until it is all moist and place on a greased cookie tray.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread crust with hands from the center going outward. Once it is in a flat circle, pinch the edges to make a border. Then, drizzle the honey over it and spread evenly with a spoon. Place in oven for 20 minutes. Once you remove crust, let it cool down or it will break in half! Also, it needs to cool so the topping doesn't melt over it.

Meanwhile, while the crust is cooling mix your topping. Stir the lite cool whip and the vanilla Greek yogurt together and place in fridge for 20 minutes to thicken. Then, spread it across the top of the crust starting at the center and working your way outward. Place strawberries and blueberries as desired. Place in fridge until ready to serve.

This is the first time I've posted about a dish I made. I hope you enjoy this! Happy Memorial Day! 

DIY: Fabric Bow Headband

I did a guest post for Allison back in February and decided to share it with you all today.

DIY Fabric Bow Headband

Things You Will Need:

~fabric

~scissors

~velcro

~pins

~sewing machine

~tape measurer

~hot glue gun

time length: about 30 mins

Step 1: fold a long strip of fabric about 3 1/2" wide. Cut out.

You should have 2 strips of fabric now. I make my length extra long so I can trim it to where I need it to fit around my head. Pin together, right sides facing!

Step 2: Wrap around your head and measure where it meets, leaving and inch or so extra on each side for the velcro. (Optional)- cut 2 slanted strips on each end of the fabric strips.

step 3: sew 3 edges together. Leave and edge open to turn inside out.

step 4: Fold raw edge in and top stitch as close to the edge as possible! To match, do this on the other slanted edge as well. Iron even.

I didn't quite like how thick mine turned out (it's all on preference) so I folded it in half longways and top stitched each long edge evenly.

step 5: Cut 2 pieces of velcro about an inch in length and pin them to the edges of the band. Remember they have to be pinned on opposite sides so they don't twist when they meet (if that makes sense.) Sew them on.

step 6: Now for the bow! This is simple. I didn't really measure, but I cut 2 pieces of fabric (right sides facing) in a rectangle shape. About 3 1/2" x 5"

Pin them together right sides facing. Sew up 3 sides, turn inside out, fold raw edge under, top stitch over both shorter sides very close to edge.

step 7: I didnt photograph this, but it's simple enough to follow. Cut 2 strips of fabric about 2 1/2" long by 1" wide. Sew right sides facing very close to edge, leave one edge open. Turn inside out. You don't have to sew closed because it will be hidden. 

step 8: bunch up the bow in the center and stitch it down. You are done with the sewing part. Now, wrap the smaller strip around the center of the bow and glue it together underneath. You might want to glue the inside to the bow to reinforce it.

step 9: Glue the bow onto the band in the spot you want it to go. I also glued the edges of the bow down, to tame it a bit.

And Voila! You have a cute fabric bow headband!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! 

God bless!

DIY: Lace Stencil Jar

Ok, for all you Victorian/Country style lovers, I have the perfect project for you! Lace Stencil Jars! These are super easy to make and they are great for decorating an outdoor gathering, for weddings, or even a flower vase for the table!

Things you will need:

~ jar
~ lace
~ spray paint
~ tape

Here's the HOW TO:

Measure your strip of lace around your jar. Cut off any excess. Use tiny strips of tape to secure the lace together. Remember to pull the lace tight to the jar to get an even pattern.

 Spray paint the jar. Ok, I probably should have did this with the jar standing up, because I had to wait for each side to dry, but I will remember for next time!

Let the paint dry and carefully remove the lace. That's it! This project took maybe 15 minutes to do, not counting the wait for the paint to dry. I am definitely making more of these!

Add a tea candle for night time fun!

 Has anyone tried this project before? I'd love to see it!