Decorate a cake pop to look like a fun carnival treat. These Cake Pop Corn Dogs look like a meal but taste like dessert.
As a kid you couldn't get me to eat a corn dog.
I used to think "corn bread around a hot dog, no thanks."
The only appeal they held for me was that they were on a stick and that they were usually found when I was having fun at an outdoor fair, festival or amusement park. I, instead, would choose to walk around holding a giant lollipop or cotton candy.
Now, as an adult I have to admit that I got over my aversion to this ever popular festival treat.
I was at a party many years ago and saw what I thought was a cheese puff on the buffet. I popped one in my mouth and was shocked when I bit into a juicy little hot dog surrounded by a sweet corn bread coating.
I grabbed another, and before long, I was hooked.
Interestingly, my very first blog post here on Hungry Happenings featured a bumble bee made using a corn dog. I had made them for Halloween one year, and thought they'd be a great project to do to launch my new site.
I even have to say that my aversion turned into a bit of an obsession this winter while we were at Disneyland. For lunch on our first day, my husband wanted a corn dog. My exchange student and I wanted pizza. So, we went our separate ways and bought our food then sat down together to eat.
I have a bad habit of wanting a bite of whatever my husband is eating and he is always happy to (well, O.K. willing to) oblige. So, I took my bite and didn't want to give it back to him. I did, as I had pizza to eat, but from that moment on I couldn't stop thinking about that corn dog. For those of you who have had a Disney corn dog, ya know what I'm talking about. They are amazing. Needless to say, we enjoyed them two more times during our 3 day visit.
I still have to admit that I'd grab a sweet snack over a savory one more times than not. So, as fairs and festivals are in full swing right now, I thought it would be fun to create a sweet version of the corn dog.
My hot dogs are made using cake ball dough and I dipped them in a blend of peanut butter chips, white confectionery coating and crushed graham crackers to give them a realistic looking crust. They are super easy to make, as cake pops go.After I took my first bite of one of these sweet corn dogs, I couldn't stop eating them. I finally had to give some to the neighbor kids, just so I wouldn't devour them all.
Do you have a food that you think about obsessively?
Instructions:
To make your cake ball dough, crumble the baked cake and stir in ¼ cup vanilla and 1 tablespoon chocolate frosting. If the dough feels dry, add more vanilla frosting until the dough is soft and will stick together.
I like to use my Kitchen Aid mixer to make my cake ball dough. It works great, but you can just mix it by hand, if you prefer.
Pinch off a heaping tablespoonful of the dough and roll it into a ball.
Then shape into a "hot dog." One cake should yield between 32 and 40 "hot dogs."
Melt all the peanut butter chips along with 6 ounces of the white confectionery coating.
Tip: The Reese's Peanut Butter Chips can be very thick once melted. I actually like my dipping candy to be a bit thick, but if it's just too thick, I suggest you add some paramount crystals to thin it out. If you don't have any paramount crystals, you can add a small amount of shortening.
Stir in graham cracker crumbs.
Dip the end of a lollipop stick into the melted candy coating. Press it gently into one end of your "hot dog." Slide it in until it goes about ¾ of the way down the "hot dog."
Allow the candy coating to set.
Freeze the pops for 10 minutes.
Pour the peanut butter candy coating over each "hot dog." then ...
twirl it around a bit over the bowl, allowing the excess candy coating to drip off. Don't worry about it looking smooth, corn dogs are bumpy.
Tips:
- Being the peanut butter coating is pretty thick, I found pouring it easier than dipping the cake pop into the bowl. Plus, I didn't want my cake pops to be perfectly smooth, so this method worked great.
- I usually dip a few cake pops at a time, then get them in the freezer. If the candy coating sits at room temperature for too long your cake pops will end up with white spots or streaks on them. If you notice the first cake pop, that you dipped, loses it's shine and is starting to look dry, get it in the freezer.
Melt your remaining 2 ounces of white confectionery coating/candy melts.
Color with yellow candy coloring.
Pour into a Squeeze-It mold maker squeeze bottle, disposable pastry bag or zip top bag. Drizzle it onto the Cake Pop Corn Dogs. You can, use candy "ketchup" in addition or instead, by using red colored candy coating.
Pop these in the freezer for 2-3 minutes until the "mustard" is set.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can wrap individual Cake Pop Corn Dogs in clear cellophane bags to give as party favors or serve them in small hot dog baskets.
Items used to create this project that are available on Amazon.com (commission earned for sales)
- Cake Pop Corn Dogs
- 1 baked yellow cake
- ¼ - ½ cup vanilla frosting
- 1 tablespoon chocolate frosting
- 20 ounces 2 bags Reese's Peanut Butter Chips
- 8 ounces white confectionery coating/candy melts divided
- optional: paramount crystals or shortening if needed to thin out candy coating
- ¼ cup graham cracker crumbs
- yellow candy coloringSupplies:
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Crumble cake and mix in the vanilla and chocolate frosting until mixture holds together.
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Scoop heaping tablespoonfuls of the dough and roll into hot dog shaped logs.
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Combine the peanut butter chips and 6 ounces of the white confectionery coating in a microwave safe bowl.
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Heat on high power for 30 second increments, stirring after each, until melted.
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Thin with paramount crystal if needed.
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Stir in graham cracker crumbs.
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Dip the end of a lollipop stick into the melted candy.
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Insert the stick into one end of a cake pop.
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Repeat.
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Freeze the pops for 10 minutes.
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Pour the peanut butter candy coating over each "hot dog." then twirl it around a bit over the bowl, allowing the excess candy coating to drip off.
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Melt your remaining 2 ounces of white confectionery coating then color using yellow candy coloring.
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Pipe it over the cake pops to resemble mustard.
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Freeze for 2-3 minutes until the "mustard" is set.
Embrace the beautiful weather that we are having and make some of these gorgeous and scrumptious Summer Fun Recipes.
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anyonita green says
OMG how trippy & amazing! 🙂 Haha the whole time I was reading this post, I kept thinking, "did she accidentally post photos of REAL corndogs?!" lol! These are really clever & adorable! I've pinned them to my Grub for Kids board 🙂 Also, I followed you here from the link party at Moonlight & Mason Jars & I'd like to invite you to link up with me at Tasty Tuesdays: http://goo.gl/c0vwvN
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
These are SO realistic Beth! You are amazing!
Melissa says
Very Cool! My kids would love them! 🙂
The Bearfoot Baker says
You are the cake pop master! These are perfect!
Gail @ http://biblelovenotes.com says
These are so cute! How fun these would be for adults or children.
The Partiologist says
I cannot believe how you did it again - they look so REAL! I will admit, I had to look twice to make sure I wasn't missing something. And yep, they are real corn dog cake pops - AMAZING work!
Diana - FreeStyleMama says
Super cute Beth!
beth says
Thanks, Diana.
Anonymous says
Oh Beth, you make me feel so old. When I was a kid, they didn't have corn dogs. lol I love showing my husband pictures of the treats you make. He thinks you are so talented and tells people at work about your creations. These are so cute I can't wait to fool someone with them. Thanks again Trish Butler
beth says
Oh, Trish, I don't mean to make you feel old, but I do understand how life has sure changed even in my lifetime.
I'm so happy to hear that your husband enjoys my creations and has shared them with others. Thank him for me!
Meg@MegaCrafty says
Such a cute idea- love it! And maybe if I used my mixer I wouldn't hate making cake ball dough so much. : )
beth says
Thanks, Meg. I can't remember who told me to use the Kitchen Aid to make my cake balls, but I love the texture when I use the mixer. They hold together really well too.
Sue says
I made a corn dog cookie a few years back which was a lot of fun, but these are AMAZING! They look so realistic, Beth! I enjoy fresh corn dogs (from Hot dog on a Stick) which are very good-with mustard:) Growing up in southern CA I have been to Disneyland many times, yet have never had one of their corn dogs, but you can bet next time I'm there I WILL be having a corn dog! I've got to make these for my corn dog loving daughter!
beth says
Oh, Sue, you definitely need to have a corn dog at Disney. The line will be huge, but it's worth the wait. I've not heard of Hot Dog on a Stick. Maybe they don't sell them here in Ohio.
I remember you corn dog cookies! They were great.
Erin says
These are absolutely adorable! I can't wait to make these. Thank you!
beth says
Enjoy making them!
Barbara Bradford says
Oh my gosh these are just too cute. Now I have to plan a picnic just to serve. Big Thanks for the share.
Barbara
beth says
I've hosted a party just to make a recipe before! I get it.
Julie says
I agree, these cake pops are ridiculously adorable. They would be great for April Fool's Day!
beth says
Although they are pretty small, the people I gave them to did think they looked pretty real, so they'd be great for April Fools' Day.
Nicky @ Pink Recipe Box says
These cake pop corn dogs are ridiculously adorable. You're so creative! I'd be thrilled if you'd come on over to Pink Recipe Box and link up at Creative Wednesdays: http://pinkrecipebox.com/creative-wednesdays-with-pink-recipe-box-3/
Tiffany@Fizzy Party! says
I love me some corn dogs. Your post made me think of every time my family went to the beach my dad and I headed straight to the Pronto Pup for a corn dog. I love these cake pops and now need to create a party just so I can serve them.
Lisa@hooplapalooza says
Beth, you crack me up with these corn dogs. gotta love 'em! 🙂
lizy b says
Have to admit, I'm a corn dog fan too! But I'm a ketchup girl, never could get used to yellow mustard.
I know I would love the cake pop variety!
beth says
I'm a ketchup girl, myself, so I don't really know why I chose to use mustard. Maybe it was for my husband who uses the corn dog as a vehicle for the mustard. The more the better for him!
Vanessa says
These are so fun!
beth says
Thanks, Vanessa:)
sugarswings says
so fun!! not a big corn dog fan either, but these i would try!
beth says
Yeah, I'd go for cake and chocolate over meat any day!
Susan Crabtree says
So cute & fun!
beth says
Thanks, Susan:)