Daring Bakers, April: Cheesecake Pops

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It's that time of the month again ... meaning it's Daring Bakers time! Every month, hundreds of Daring Bakers are assigned a baking project by that month's host, and we have all month to bake it. At the end of the month, on the assigned day, we post our final product! This month, Elle and Deborah assigned cheesecake pops! At least a few had to be covered with straight chocolate, but we could also use whatever other "roll-ins" we wanted. I made a small, simple, straight-forward batch--just enough to make a couple handfuls of flavors.

Daring Bakers, April: Cheesecake Pops

These were pretty yummy! The cheesecake had an almost flan-like flavor. Between the snappy chocolate coating and the crumbly coatings, one had to be careful with eating these, though most held together pretty well. It's either the kind of dessert you have to eat while standing over the sink or with your plate right under your chin with your face jutted forward over it, or fed to you decadently while reclining in the tub or on a chaise lounge. Woot!


My flavors were chocolate sprinkles, honey apricot, ginger cookie, muddy buddy (peanut butter, chocolate ganache, vanilla, butter, and powdered sugar), chocolate peanut butter, peanut butter with chocolate sprinkles, almond, blue sugar, and dark chocolate.
Daring Bakers, April: Cheesecake Pops

Daring Bakers, April: Cheesecake Pops

Daring Bakers, April: Cheesecake Pops

A recurring problem with this recipe amongst the DBers was that the cheesecake didn't seem to want to set up within the prescribed bake time. That was frustrating to read, since I'm a stickler about published recipes being well tested. I halved my recipe, and I had to cook it the full time to get it to set well enough to have workable cheesecake--we had to be able to scoop it up into balls, or at least form it into balls with our hands. I was able to use spoons to form "quenelles." Although the recipe called for shortening, I decided to just use tempered chocolate, melting it, then letting it cool to body temperature, which also resulted in a thicker chocolate for dipping. Tempered chocolate will give you that bon bon "snap," and it will still set up quickly, especially since they're going straight into the fridge after dipping. I was really happy with the result, and really happy that I got to avoid having to buy shortening. The non-chocolate-dipped pops (honey apricot and peanut butter chocolate)

I combined all the crumblies left after coating to make a "special of the day."
Daring Bakers, April: Cheesecake Pops

Comments

Phoebe said…
The special of the day is mui favorito! :)
Anonymous said…
They look great! Nice job!
Robyn said…
Great job, they look excellent!
Deborah said…
Great job on this challenge! I love the special of the day!
Anonymous said…
Like the majority, I also love the special of the day. You went crazy with the flavours!

The honey apricot got me drooling the most though.
Lis said…
I would like 2 of each please! :)

The last one "the special of the day" reminds me of the crunch cones I use to get at the Dairy Queen when I was a kid. :D

Beautiful!!!

xoxo
Shelby said…
WOW! Julie, you did a great job!
Andrea Meyers said…
Oh my word, those all look SO GOOD! Beautiful! I would be all over the ginger cookie pop.
Unknown said…
Your pops look so good. I want them all I can't decide which one is my favorite!
Lunch Buckets said…
Nice job - gotta go. Sorry!

Have to go demand to be fed cheesecake pops while lounging in the tub.

Great idea!
Unknown said…
I agree with the majority!! The Special of the Day looks AWESOME!
Being a cheescake lover and a frequent visitor of the Cheesecake Factory, I would have tried a white chocolate/macadamia nut coating or some praline... mmmm!!! But you had a nice selection! WTG SIS!!
Sheltie Girl said…
You did a fabulous job on your cheesecake pops. Simply beautiful.

Natalie @ Gluten A Go Go
Anonymous said…
Just love the way you did your toppings; outstanding!!!
... said…
Your balls look amazing.
Great work.

Iisha of
http://thefablifeofi2daj.blogspot.com/
creampuff said…
They were definitely a bit too easy to eat and I'd certainly want to eat all of yours!!!
Barbara said…
They look scrumptious!
Ritsumei said…
They turned out so pretty!

Come see mine.
Dolores said…
Yep... a LARGE part of the challenge this month was in not eating them all in a single sitting. I vote for lounging in the tub and being fed. :) Great job!

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