MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT "CAKE POPS"

Mr. Will-W.'s Cake Pop Bells

Inspired by Bakerella's Toronto visit last week, I decided to try my hand at her signature Cake Pops - Candy-coated balls of Cake mounted on Lollipop Sticks. They're all the rage now.

I had a bit of a struggle finding shops Downtown which carried Candy Coating Wafers - an essential part of the Cake Pop - so I turned to the help of my friends on Facebook. I wound up venturing north of the City to Michaels Craft Store, which surprisingly has a large section devoted to Cake Decorating and Baking.  Luckily, Candy Coating Wafers from Weston were on sale, so I stocked-up hardcore!

I decided to make a Red Velvet Cake base for my Cake Pops, which would be shaped into Bells hence, Cake Bells.  After having found some amazing glittery silver Decorative Sugar at Williams & Sonoma yesterday, I was anxious to put some of that to use.  Silver Bells -  how festive, right?

I actually had enough Cake left over to freeze perhaps for another batch on Christmas. In a nutshell, this is how I went about making these Confectionary sensations:

PRODUCT WATCH: PRESIDENT'S CHOICE RED VELVET CHEESCAKE

President's Choice Red Velvet Cheesecake

If you're Canadian and watch Television, there's absolutely no way you've avoided the enticing Television Ads for President's Choice's Red Velvet Cheesecake of late.  Although only released in limited quantities, the Delight is selling-out already at Grocery Stores across the country.  I was lucky enough to get the last one at the Bloor Street Market in my area.

Incredibly dense and rich at over 400 calories per serving (100g), the Cake is at the top of its league in terms of Frozen Desserts.  The dollop of Cream Cheese Icing in the center is much larger of course on its packaging, but nonetheless, it is enough.  Built on a chewy Chocolate foundation of a Crust, the focal point of the Dessert is that distinctly tart and bitter, although predominantly sweet Red Velvet Cake in which that Cream Cheese Icing is embedded.  Nothing though will compare to the moistness of a freshly-baked Red Velvet Cake and whipped Cream Cheese Frosting.  Although a bit chewy like a Brownie versus moist and bouncy to the bite, this is still a wonderful treat for its less-than-$10 price point.

It is said that this Recipe was helmed by New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in the 1920s and subsequently was adopted at dearly-missed Canadian Department Store Eaton's in the 1940s.  A bit of history there for you.  Get it quick as no announcement has been made to whether it'll still be here after the Holidays.

Learn more about President's Choice's Red Velvet Cheesecake here.

(Photo credit: President's Choice)

PRODUCT WATCH: GODIVA BAKERY DESSERT TRUFFLES (INCLUDES RED VELVET CAKE)

I will seriously be anyone's Best Friend who buys me a box of these. The always on-point Godiva has just released this Deliciousness - The Bakery Dessert Truffles Collection. The boxes come in 12 ($18.75 US) and 24 piece options ($37.50 US) and contain the following flavours: Red Velvet Cake, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Lava Cake, Strawberry Tarte, Cheesecake and Tiramisu.  I love all of these but let's be real - can I go into the other boxes on the shelf and make a box of  all Red Velvet Cake only?  Yum.

Click here to order online.

KATIE HOLMES LOVES THE RED VELVET CUPCAKES

Yet another reason why Katie Holmes and me totally need to hang out while she's in-town. We both love Red Velvet Cupcakes!  BFFs Forevz.  ♥

People Magazine reports that Katie Holmes shipped in two dozens of Isabelle's Curly Cakes from Todd English's Food Hall in New York's Plaza Hotel, for Cast Mates and Crew of The Kennedys. The mini-series has just reached the half-way mark according to Director Jon Cassar on Twitter, although unfortunately most of it has been outside the city.

Click here to get the full recipe for the Izzy's Curly Cakes'  Red Velvet Cupcakes by 16 year-old Isabelle English, daughter of Todd.

Honestly Katie, Toronto's got lots of great Cupcakes you need to check out too, i.e. Yonge x Eglinton's The Little Cupcake Shoppe and Pusateri's in Yorkville.  Drop me a line, I'll show you!  We can take the Subway together.  Don't forget Tom and Suri!  How fun.  Yayyyy.

FOOD: VALENTINE'S DAY RED VELVET CUPCAKES/MINI-CAKES BY MR. WILL-W.

Red Velvet Cupcakes are all the rage as you know and in celebration of Valentine's Day, I decided to bake my Mavenati some goodies.  To save time, you can purchase Red Velvet Whoopie Pie Cake Mix from Williams & Sonoma at $20 CAN/box. It comes with Butter Cream Frosting Mix and rest assured, just because it's instant doesn't mean the quality's not there. They use the finest ingredients in their mix including exotic Callebaut Red Cocoa.  Otherwise, you can use your favourite Chocolate Cake recipe, adding a few drops of Red Food Colouring and some Vanilla Extract for a similar effect. 

1. Prepare your cake batter.

2. The secret to any moist cake is to add pudding to the mix.

3. I got these adorable heart-shaped pans from Crate & Barrel.  Grease these well and only fill them sparsely with about two tablespoons of batter.  Bake at 325° for 17 to 20 minutes.  Do not overbake - remember, we're baking cakes, not bloody Scones! Well bloody, yes. Scones, no.

PRODUCT WATCH: STARBUCKS RED VELVET CUPCAKES

They're back.  My beloved Starbucks is re-introducing Red Velvet Cupcakes once again, as they did last year for Valentine's Day.  Although the origins of the cupcake trace back to Californian Cupcake authority Sprinkles, Starbucks' delicious adaptation of the recipe is more than adequate.  Rich, moist and smothered in Cream Cheese frosting with red candied adornments, it tastes as sinful as it looks with its combination cocoa and vanilla batter.  Starbucks also has delightful Double Chocolate and Vanilla Cupcakes available, which you can buy also in groups of four at a discounted rate. Moregasmic.

Thanks Leslie for the reminder.