Love Bug Cake Balls Recipes

LOVE BUG CAKE BALLS

Steps:

• Make and bake cake mix as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan. Cool completely, and crumble cake. Reserve approximately one-fourth of cake crumbs, and set aside. (These will be used to coat the love bugs.)
• With large spoon, thoroughly mix remaining cake crumbs and the frosting.
• Roll mixture into quarter-size cake balls, and place on waxed paper-covered cookie sheet. Place cake balls in freezer about 15 minutes to firm up. Then transfer them to the refrigerator to keep chilled and avoid freezing.
• Place candy coating in microwavable bowl so coating is at least 3 to 4 inches deep. Microwave uncovered on Low (10%) in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted and smooth.
• Remove 2 cake balls from refrigerator at a time. Dip tip of lollipop stick into melted coating, and insert into cake ball no more than halfway through. Dip and remove cake pop into coating in one motion without stirring, making sure entire cake ball is covered. If coating is too thick, add a little vegetable oil to help thin it and make it easier to work with.
• Remove and gently tap off any excess coating to fall off pop and back into bowl. Before coating sets, gently press cake crumbs around entire ball. Place stick in craft foam to dry.
• Once dry, remove cake ball from lollipop stick for decorating. Using photo as a guide, get creative with placement of desired candy decorations for fun expressions and details. Use melted candy coating to attach candy decorations. For feet, attach cake ball to a mini heart cookie. Use string licorice for antennae, heart candies for ears and eyes. Let dry completely; store loosely covered.

LADYBUG CAKE POPS

Steps:

• Make and bake cake mix as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan, using water, oil and eggs. Cool. Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. Crumble cake into large bowl. Add frosting; mix well. Shape into 1 1/4-inch balls; place on cookie sheet. Freeze until firm; keep refrigerated.
• In microwavable bowl, microwave red candy melts and shortening uncovered on Medium (50%) 1 minute, then in 15-second intervals, until melted; stir until smooth. Dip each lollipop stick about 1/2 inch into melted candy and insert into cake ball no more than halfway. Return to cookie sheet. Refrigerate 5 minutes. Remove from refrigerator a few at a time. Dip each cake ball into melted red candy; tap off excess. Poke opposite end of stick into foam block. Immediately attach mint for ladybug face. Let stand until set. Use melted black candy to attach candy eyes and licorice for antennae. Pipe melted black candy on cake pops for wings and dots. Let stand until set.

LOVE BUG BISCUITS

Steps:

• Put the flour, butter, sugar, vanilla and egg yolk in a food processor. Dribble in 1 tbsp water and blitz until the mixture comes together to form a dough. Tip onto a work surface and knead briefly to bring together, then wrap in cling film and chill for 20 mins.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Roll out the dough to the thickness of a £1 coin. Use your 8cm heart cutter to stamp out heart shapes - you'll have to re-roll the trimmings to make 20 biscuits. Put the hearts on 2 baking trays and bake for 12 mins, swapping the trays over halfway through, until pale golden and crisp. Leave to cool on a wire rack.
• Dye your lump of icing with red food colouring and wrap in cling film until ready to roll. Mix the icing sugar with enough water to make a thick icing. Dye the icing with the black food colouring. Pour the icing into a piping bag with a small plain nozzle attached (or use a small sandwich bag and snip off the corner). Roll out the red icing to 3mm thick and use your 6cm cutter to stamp out hearts. Stick onto the biscuits with a little of the black icing.
• Use the black icing to give your love bug a head at the pointy end, draw a line down the centre to give it wings, then add spots. Stick 2 pearly balls onto each love bug's head, then leave to set on a wire rack. You can pack your love bugs into boxes or cellophane bags to give as gifts for Valentine's Day.

LOVEBUG MINI CHEESE BALLS

Steps:

• Cut celery into 4 lengthwise strips, then cut strips into 36 (1-inch-long) pieces. Discard any remaining celery pieces.
• Use sharp knife or kitchen shears to cut 2 small hearts out of each pepperoni slice; reserve for later use. Finely chop pepperoni trimmings.
• Mix cream cheese, onions, bacon and chopped pepperoni until blended. Roll into 18 balls, using about 1 Tbsp. cream cheese mixture for each ball.
• Place mozzarella in pie plate. Roll cheese balls, 1 at a time, in mozzarella until cheese ball is evenly coated with mozzarella.
• Place 1 cheese ball on each cracker. Add 2 pepperoni hearts to each for the lovebug's eyes and 2 celery sticks for the antennae.
• Refrigerate 30 min.