Macaron Marshmallows and a chance to win Sweets on a Stick

Yup - I'm just sticking macarons on everything now :)

While I was whipping up my macaron cake pops earlier in the week I thought that macarons on marshmallows would be just as cute.

Macaron Cake Pops from earlier in the week CLICK HERE for post and instructions

Of course I was right......really everything looks cute on a marshmallow and even cuter when you pop it onto a stick. It's so cute you just have to smile.

Which brings me to another thing I wanted to mention.

Alison Lawson Cake's is running a competition over on her blog for decorated marshmallows, with a theme of make us smile and the prize is a copy of Sweets on a Stick.

Amazon link to Sweets on a Stick

Or Fishpond (Aus/NZ)

So take these little macaron marshmallow pops as a bit of inspiration and whip up your own fantastic marshmallow on a stick to delight us.

and make us smile of course, well specifically me as Allison has kindly asked me to help her judge the competition.

Competition details are over at the Alison Lawson Cake's Blog HERE.

Looking forward to seeing all your fabulous marshmallowy creations, entries close Friday 20th July.

Marshmallow Macaron Pops

12 marshmallows

12 mini macarons - CLICK HERE for a macaron recipe, just pipe them a bit smaller

100g (3 1/2 oz)white chocolate melted (or wilton candy melts)* mixed with copha or paramount crystals in a shallow bowl

12 lollipop sticks

Holding one end of a lollipop stick, dip about 1cm (1/2") of the end into the melted chocolate and then push it into the center of a marshmallow (see picture for example), repeat for remaining marshmallows.

Allow to set.

Once the marshmallow pops are set, pick up the end of the lollipop stick and dip the top half of the marshmallow into the chocolate. Lift it out carefully and allow any excess chocolate to drip off before turning the whole pop upright so the marshmallow is at the top and setting the stick into a styrofoam block (or cake pop stand).

When the chocolate is nearly set pop a macaron on the top (see picture for example) and hold until is it secure. Repeat for remaining pops.

*I used nestle white chocolate melts mixed with a ratio of 10 (chocolate) to 1 (copha) and then mixed in flo-coat and violet americolor with a ratio of 5 (flo-coat) to 1 (food color). When I use Wilton candy melts I use a ratio of approx 7 (melts) to 1( copha).

Macaron Cake Pops - Bite sized Best of Both

Oh!

Hello there Mr Macaron, that's mighty handy you found your way up onto that cake pop.

'Cause sometimes I just can't decide.

Cake pop or Macaron.....Macaron or Cake pop. Certain people might think it's not polite to take both.

Why you sweet little thing. You've solved all my problems and you come on a handy stick as well.

A bite sized best of both worlds. An insy tasty cake macpop....hmmm that name doesn't sound right, it might need a little work..

But you my little capopoon don't need any work at all.

Macaron Cake pops were made using the Strawberry cake recipe from Sweets on a Stick by Linda Vandermeer (yes that is me). But you can use which ever cake pop recipe you like.

Sweets on a Stick is available from most online book stores including Amazon:

Or here at fishpond (Aus/NZ)

Macaron recipe can be found by clicking HERE from the Bubble and Sweet Blog. I made them pink, small and filled with raspberry flavored ganache.

For the chocolate coating you can buy ready colored Wilton type candy Melts but for these ones in the pictures I colored my own Nestle White Chocolate Melts using gel food color and flo-coat. You MUST use flo-coat or a similar product if you are using water based food color otherwise the chocolate will become thick and you will not be able to dip properly or achieve pretty smooth pops. I mixed a ratio of 1 part food color to 5 parts flo-coat, mixed together and then added to the already melted chocolate. Note that oil based food color that is suitable for coloring chocolate does not need any flo-coat.

I always add copha to my nestle white chocolate melts at a ratio of approx 1:10 (1 part copha to 10 parts chocolate) when I use Wilton candy melts I use a ratio of 1:7 (1 part copha or paramount crystal to 7 parts candy melts).

To assemble pops roll cake pop mixture into balls. Melt chocolate, insert sticks, chill, dip whole pop into chocolate, pop into a stand to set upright and before the chocolate has a chance to set attach the macaron holding in place until it is secure.

Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days.
 

Ant picnic in the park cake and cookies and a little secret

This fun ant picnic cake was for a friend's picnic in the park party for her son's birthday.

Shh don't tell everyone but I'm going to share a secret.......although the bottom cake is super delicious chocolate buttercake covered with butter cream frosting the top 6" cake is actually a styro foam (fake) covered with fondant and then topped with hand made ant picnic figurines and decorations.

Sometimes I do that with the cakes and make a fake cake for the top tier.....although it's pretty much just as much work (well apart from making the cake and frosting) you don't end up with all that left over cake and you can make it a little bit in advance. It's a neat trick if you know you'll be a little rushed for time before the party.

When Daneve from Ah-Tissue mentioned she was throwing together this super fun filled party, I offered to help out with the cake, so she kindly directed me to her pintrest inspiration board.

and I totally did not spend hours looking at perfect white kitchens, fabulous shoes and hairstyles that I could never actually do, let alone wear.

Ok maybe I did just for a little bit :) Afterwards I had a peek at Daneve's party inspiration board, and noticed a bit of red gingham and quite a few ants......

Anyway so ants.....I'm not a huge fan of ants on food so I thought I would try a kinda cute cartoonish ant look for the treats, in the hope the kids would like them and so that it wouldn't completely freak me out.

To match the cake I made these square cookies with hand cut details for the ants, fondant red gingham and ant track drawn on with edible black pen.

and a plate piled with red macarons with filled with white chocolate raspberry ganache finished off my contribution.

Seriously Bubble and Sweet are having a totally awesome time

I'm not quite sure what's going on with the pose in this photo ???

WOW the actual party was so fun, with little picnic blankets, kids meal packs, and a great selection of sandwiches and salads to make your own picnic lunch.

As mentioned above Daneve from Ah-Tissue styled the party with a cute gingham theme. And I think quite a few of the party table pieces were from Creatively Bespoke Weddings & Events.

I truly loved all the little food packs it was such a great idea, and the suitcase of park friendly toys like frisbees and balls was a great touch.

 Make your own ice-cream stand - YES please

It was a fabulous fun filled morning.

 YUM!

 The Birthday Boy - awe he was such a sweet little host (photo by Darren Frankish)

Head on over to the Ah-Tissue blog if you want to see more photo's of the super cute picnic in the park party.