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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Abby says
Thanks for sharing your recipe! Do these freeze well after the coating??
Beth says
I never freeze my cake balls after coating, but do know others that have had success. If you do, put them in a container and take them out of the freezer in the container. Set it on your counter for about 2 hours before opening. That way they thaw properly and shouldn't be too wet from condensation.
Gina says
This post made me want a corn dog. But American style hot dogs aren't available in Australia. Lots of different sausages but not a hot dog. But then I've never seen corn meal here either. I thought I'd try using semolina to make corn bread but haven't done it yet.
As for making a cake dog... As a diabetic, I try to avoid making cakes and other sugarful treats.
And really, my cooking efforts don't usually stretch further than 5 ingredients and 10 minutes for prep, cooking can take longer.
My first visit to this great site. Some wonderful creative ideas here. I'll be back.
Beth says
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Lori WhoNeedsaCape says
How adorable are these??? Very cute and realistic, good job!
Have you stopped over to our SUPER SUNDAY LInk Party and shared these? If not, please do! Our readers would also think these dogs are too cute!
Lori
Who Needs A Cape?
Not Your Average Super Moms!
Sande Sivani says
Wow, I love regular old corn dogs, especially those you get at the fair but your "corn dogs" look fantastic and I am going to try them for an upcoming birthday party. The gang over at My Personal Accent, we would like to invite you to party with us starting at 5:00 Thursday nights at our new Blog Strut Peacock Style Link Party. Share your creative ideas, recipes, and any other family friendly content . If you have a giveaway or contest you’d like to promote, feel free to post it on our giveaway page. Come on over and show us what you’ve got! http://www.mypersonalaccent.com/the-blog-strut-peacock-style-6/
Dippedstix says
I love these too! : ) I am going to make them for a party this weekend. Thank you so much for the idea! : )
beth says
Have fun making your cake pops. If you take pictures and would like to share them, I'd love to share them in my Reader's Gallery. You can send an image to beth@hungryhappenings.com.
Nat D. says
Soooooo cute! I can't even take it!
Mackenzie says
Beth, these are awesome! What a fun idea! You are so creative! 🙂