Cranberry Orange Vanilla Cake Pops

  0.0 – 0 reviews  • Fruit
Level: Intermediate
Total: 4 hr
Active: 1 hr 20 min
Yield: 10 to 12 servings

Ingredients

  1. Nonstick cooking spray, for spraying the cake pans
  2. 6 ounces all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the cake pans
  3. 8 ounces cake flour
  4. 1 teaspoon fine salt
  5. 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  6. 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  7. 3/4 cup heavy cream
  8. 1/3 cup sour cream
  9. Zest of 1 orange
  10. 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
  11. 3 cups granulated sugar
  12. 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  13. 6 large eggs
  14. 1 Granny Smith apple
  15. One 8-ounce bag frozen cranberries
  16. 1 cup granulated sugar
  17. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  18. 1 orange, zested and juiced
  19. 6 ounces egg whites
  20. 1 pound granulated sugar
  21. 5 sticks (1 1/4 pounds) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  22. 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
  23. White chocolate, as needed for coating
  24. Nuts, sprinkles or chocolate chips, optional, for topping

Instructions

  1. For the cake pop: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two 10-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray, dust with flour and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. Sift together the all-purpose flour, cake flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a medium bowl and set aside. Mix the heavy cream, sour cream, orange zest and scraped vanilla bean in another bowl and set aside.
  3. Add the sugar and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on medium speed until the color lightens slightly, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs 1 at a time and beat until the mixture is smooth. Add one-third of the dry ingredients and mix on low until combined, then scrape the bowl. Add half of the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Add another one-third of the dry ingredients followed by the remaining wet ingredients, mixing on low after each addition and scraping the bowl. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
  4. Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans and bake until a cake tester inserted in the middle of the cakes comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely.
  5. For the cranberry compote: Cut the apple into small pieces. In a medium saucepan, add the cranberries, sugar, cinnamon, orange zest and juice and apples. Cook over medium heat until the cranberries start to pop open and the mixture thickens slightly. Transfer to a medium bowl and let cool.
  6. For the orange buttercream: Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment. Mix the sugar and 1/2 cup water together in a medium saucepan, place over high heat with a candy thermometer and heat the mixture to 238 to 240 degrees F. While the mixture is boiling, mix the egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. When the boiling sugar reaches 240 degrees F, pour it slowly into the egg whites with the mixer on low. Once all the hot sugar has been added, increase the mixer speed to high and whip until thick, glossy and cooled. Reduce the speed and add the butter 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, mixing until the buttercream thickens. Whip in the orange zest.
  7. To assemble the pops: Crumble the cooled cakes into small pieces. Mix in enough buttercream to hold the cake pops together. Add the desired amount of cranberry compote; there should be some in every bite. Scoop balls of the cake pop mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment. Press a cake pop stick into each ball and freeze until firm.
  8. Melt the white chocolate gently over a double boiler. Dip the frozen cake pops into the white chocolate and place on the parchment to set. (If adding toppings, right after you dip the cake pops in the chocolate, dip them in in the desired toppings such as nuts, sprinkles or chocolate chips.)

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 12 servings
Calories 1169
Total Fat 67 g
Saturated Fat 39 g
Carbohydrates 139 g
Dietary Fiber 3 g
Sugar 109 g
Protein 9 g
Cholesterol 259 mg
Sodium 307 mg

 

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