HOLIDAY CAKE POPS RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, egg whites, food color and cocoa with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes. Pour into pan.
• Bake and cool as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan. Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. Crumble cake into large bowl. Add frosting; mix well. Shape into 1 1/2-inch balls; place on cookie sheet. Freeze until firm; keep refrigerated.
• In microwavable bowl, microwave candy coating and shortening uncovered on Medium (50%) 2 minutes, then in 15-second intervals, until melted; stir until smooth. Dip tip of 1 lollipop stick about 1/2 inch into melted coating and insert stick into 1 cake ball no more than halfway. Repeat. Return cake pops to cookie sheet. Refrigerate 5 minutes. Remove from refrigerator a few at a time. Dip each cake ball into melted coating to cover; tap off excess. Poke opposite end of stick into foam block. Sprinkle with red sugar. Let stand until set.

Steps:

• Prepare and bake the cake according to the package directions for a 9-by-13-inch pan. Let cool completely.
• Break the cake into pieces and place it in a food processor. Add the frosting and process until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, about 30 seconds. If the mixture doesn't come together, add more frosting 1 tablespoon at a time until it holds its shape.  
• Using a 3/4-ounce scoop, form the mixture into 46 balls and put them on a baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. 
• Meanwhile, place the candy wafers in a microwave-safe bowl and melt according to package directions. Dip a half inch of the tip of a lollipop stick into the candy and then stick the tip halfway into a cake ball. Repeat with the remaining balls and sticks. Refrigerate the cake pops until completely chilled, about 1 hour.  
• Microwave the candy again until melted and pour it into a tall narrow glass. Dip each cake pop into the candy and let any excess run off. If decorating, turn the cake pop upright and sprinkle with sprinkles while the coating is still wet. Stick the finished pops in two 9.8-by-11.8-inch Styrofoam blocks block and let set completely.