Cake Pop 101 recipe: an easy how-to for even the baking averse

Cake pop mania is going strong! Cute cake on a stick. Yes, please. Made popular by baking genius Bakerella, cake pops are now everywhere, from every food blog (I dare you to find one without a cake pop post) to Starbucks. When cake pops look so pretty, who can resist? Especially when making them is such simple business. I can't promise you'll be able to replicate the Mona Lisa on a bite they way Bakerella surely can, but hopefully these tips can get you started. 1. Start with cake Any sheet cake will do. Pick one from your favorite recipes (mine: yellow cake, chocolate cake, red velvet cake and spiced zucchini cake) and bake it in one big 'ol sheet pan or two rounds--whatever the directions say. If you don't want to make a cake from scratch, try an all-natural box mix. I did that very thing and they were super tasty. 2. Grab a fork Once your cake has cooled, use a fork to crumble the whole thing into a bowl. How easy is that? 3. Mix with frosting Use your hands to mix the crumbled cake with frosting. You'll need about 16 ounces (or one can if you're buying it) of frosting for every standard layer cake, which is about one box of cake mix; two 9x9" cakes. Or wing it! You want a mixture that's a gooey brownie consistency, something that'll hold together when rolled. 4. Get rolling Roll the cake mixture into balls about the size of a quarter. Don't want to mess up your fresh mani? Try this cake pop mold for just $5.95. Then chill the cake balls in the fridge for a couple of hours or in the freezer for 30 minutes. 5. Think toppings Right before the cake balls are done chilling, melt candy melts on the stove or in the microwave--this is the chocolate candy coating on cake pops. 6. Grab a stick Dip a lollipop stick in the melted candy coating before sticking it 2/3 of the way into a cake ball and then dip the whole cake pop into the coating. Voila, your pop art canvas! Decorate as you wish...but don't stress. Here, simple is good. And just as delicious. 7. Let them dry Bakerella suggests that you stick the finished cake pops into a piece of styrofoam to dry. While this is a perfect solution for you crafty mamas who have styrofoam blocks lying around the house, the rest of us can use a colander to dry cake pops -- a genius tip I found from Quinn's Baking Diary. Done and done. Long live cake pops for all! If you need a how-to with pics, this cake pop tutorial by Elsie at A Beautiful Mess has a photo for every step, perfect for us visual learners.  [photos via A Beautiful Mess & One Hungry Mama]